C—l.

Baths. The total number of baths for each month under their different headings was as follows:—

The total amount of cash received for bath-fees was £290 4s. 9d. This shows an increase of £50 over last year, and also an increase of 1,846 in the number of baths taken this year. Improvements. During the year the Postal Department put a small porch on to the office. This is a great convenience to the public and ourselves. There has also been a small room, 10 ft. by 10 ft., built at the back of the old bath-house for a massage-room. This work was formerly carried on in one of the baths. Two awnings have been erected, one over ladies' swimming-pool, the other over gentlemen's. This is a great improvement in summer time, and makes a bath in the pool very enjoyable. There has been a water-supply pipe laid on to the bowling- and tennis-greens. Painting and Repairs to Bath-houses and Cottage. During last winter and spring we gave the two bath-houses and cottage three coats of paint and varnished the inside of the old bath-house. This has greatly freshened up the appearance of the buildings. New Plantations. Last spring we planted 4,200 trees on the south and east boundaries of the enclosure. This completes the new plantation around the springs 66 ft. wide, with seven rows of trees. Thermal Action. On the 27th February, at 9.10 p.m., there was a sharp shock of earthquake, which caused the springs to be very active for several hours afterwards. New Works and Salaries. £ a. a. Material and cartage ... ... ... ... ... 142 10 3 Gardening and general work ... ... ... ... ... 141 12 0 Supplies to baths ... ... __ . .... . ~. ... ... 27 10 6 Piles for sanatorium... ... ... ... ... ... 18140 Caretakers' salary ... ... ... ... ... ... 220 0 0 Subsidy to doctor for medical attendance at springs ... ... 100 0 0 £650 6 9 J. Rogers, Caretaker.

Report by Visiting Medical Officer. During the past season the tourist traffic has been very extensive, the present well-conducted accommodation-houses being inadequate to cope with it. While the greater number of the visitors has been of the tourist class, there has been a large number of invalid visitors. There seems reason to believe that, on the completion of the Government Sanatorium, the latter class will considerably increase. Visitors have come from all parts of this island, and also from the North Island, while even Australia has contributed a few. Many tourists complain of the length of the journey to Hanmer, and some have asked about the possibility of an issue of special excursion tickets from remote parts of the island. During the past season about twenty-five of the visitors have been patients of mine. I have little doubt that were my circuit less wide this number would be increased considerably. ;

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1896-97. Is. 8d. 6d. Free. Totals. Number of Visitors taking a Course of Baths. April May June July August ... September October ... November December 7 3 8 1 4 6 14 13 44 28 19 15 695 282 131 191 101 351 365 756 744 1,292 1,026 779 284 131 19 34 40 88 119 228 568 562 265 208 22 1,008 416 158 226 145 474 547 1,023 1,382 1,905 1,341 1,002 110 43 29 27 22 48 60 84 128 140 103 73 29 49 26 26 28 31 January... February March ... 157 6,713 2,546 211 9,627 867