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Waikaremoana. The receipts for the year again show an increase in all branches of this resort, which go to show that its popularity is increasing, even with very unfavourable weather at the holiday-time. The extensions to the house are now completed, and everything is very comfortable. The accommodation for the year was taxed to its utmost at times, although one day in January no less than twenty-eight people cancelled their rooms on account of the road being impassable, on account of bad weather, between the outlet and Lake House. The Public Works Department are now metalling that part of the road, so next year the road will be passable at any period of the year, under all weather conditions. The electric light was installed during the year, and has been the greatest comfort to the guests, and cooking with electricity has proved a great success. The launch and boats were in great demand, and same have been painted and renovated, and are in very good order and condition. The launch " Wai-iti " was sold, as it was not suitable for passenger accommodation. This is the first year that vegetable-growing met the full need of the hostel. Prom the Ist January the season was very favourable for same. The Waikare-iti Track has been cleared, and during the season many visitors have availed themselves of the opportunity of visiting this beautiful lake. Te Anau - Milford Track. The track was kept open from the Ist November, 1926, to the 25th April, 1927. The receipts did not quite come up to the previous or Exhibition year, but were well above the preceding one. They would have been better except for ill fortune in the destruction by fire of the huts at Sandfly Point and subsequent heavy snow on the pass. The lack of accommodation at Sandfly Point was met as well as possible by the erection of tents, and these served well in the fine weather, but were not so comfortable during heavy weather. I hope to have the new hostel at Milford well in hand by next season. The Department is in negotiation with a southern company regarding the running of a regular service from Southland to Milford and back by way of intermediate sounds, and this will be a splendid adjunct to the track, making a return over the same ground unnecessary. One unfortunate happening during the season was the disappointment caused by the failure of the trip across the track by the doctors attending the Australian Medical Conference. A combination of untoward circumstances led to general disappointment. After all the Department had done to bring about this trip and the trouble taken to ensure its success, it was disheartening to have it result in failure. Overseas Agencies. Mr. W. R. Blow (Sydney Agent) reports as follows: — " I have the honour to submit my report for the year ending 31st March, 1927. " Tourist traffic to New Zealand and passenger-booking business : It gives me very much pleasure to again report a record year as regards booking tourists through New Zealand. For the year under review the large sum of £3,533 7s. 4d. was collected, being an increase of £823 17s. Bd. over what was collected for the previous year. The general prosperity of the Commonwealth and the absence of shipping strikes has been the cause of the bookings being so much better this year than last. " Settlers for New Zealand : As in past years, good work was done in persuading Australians and others to reside permanently in New Zealand. Most of these folk were farmers dissatisfied with conditions in the Commonwealth, the others being professional men and artisans. " Permits to foreigners for temporary residence in New Zealand : For the Customs Department in New Zea and work was carried out during the year in connection with issuing temporary permits to foreigners who wished to visit New Zealand for pleasure, business, or health. In this connection 585 permits were issued. A large proportion of these permits were issued to people who proposed touring through the Dominion, and wherever possible their bookings were secured. " Advertising : A large number of New Zealand scenic views were hung in prominent positions in hotels, clubs, boardinghouses, and restaurants. These pictures have proved to be a grand advertisement for the Dominion. In addition to the above, the Dominion obtained good advertisements through the following mediums : (1) By lecturettes which I gave over 2FC wireless station ; (2) by advertisements which I controlled on your behalf and which appeared in the Aussie and New Nation magazines ; (3) by the regular showing once a week of New Zealand scenic and industrial films in Sydney (this was arranged through the New Zealand Publicity Department) ; (4) by the distribution around New South Wales and Queensland of Moore's pictures (this was arranged by the New Zealand Publicity Department) ; (5) by the loaning of magic-lantern slides and photographs to lecturers and publishers. " Commercial work carried out on behalf of other Government Departments : I am pleased to report that other Government Departments in New Zealand have again made every use of the offices during the year. The Departments that gave the offices the greatest amount of work were the Public Works, Post and Telegraph, Customs, Industries and Commerce, and Publicity, and for these Departments much important work was carried out and large sums of money were expended. Although the above five Departments made the greatest use of the offices, practically every Department in New Zealand instructed me to carry out some duties during the year. " In every way possible the offices have been kept before the travelling public, and every encouragement has been given to inquirers to visit the Dominion. In this respect the public have been encouraged to write or call at the offices for information, and in all cases parcels of literature have been distributed. In addition to this, literature has been constantly sent to the leading hotels and clubs for distribution to their guests. At times requests have been made for magic-lantern slides to illustrate lectures that were to be given on New Zealand, and in each case numbers of slides have been loaned.

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