H.—2.

1900, showing a total decrease of £112 5s. 6d., which the Board attributes to unseasonable weather and the depression of the goldfields districts. It is regrettable that this falling-off in revenue should have occurred, especially as last summer the influx of visitors at all the other important resorts was the largest on record. Te Aroha has hitherto been supported very largely by visitors from the Thames and surrounding districts, and any depression in those districts would adversely affect it. The Domain Board has done good work in controlling and improving the Hot-springs Domain, but a very general opinion prevails that it would be to the advantage of the district and the colony to have the springs and Domain reverted to direct Government control, and brought into line with the other resorts now under Government control. I have arranged for periodical visits of the Inspector of Works and the Gardener in Charge at Botorua to Te Aroha to assist the Board as they may desire. These two officers, from their long experience of the springs and landscape gardens at Botorua, are specially qualified to give expert advice to the Board. The Te Aroha Hot-springs Domain Board's annual report is as follows : — Te Aboha Hot-springs Domain Boabd Annual Beport. The following is a summary of the Board's revenue for the financial years ended 31st December, 1900, and 31st December, 1901, exclusive of Government grants :— 1900. 1901. £ s. d. £ s. d. Bath fees .. .. .. .. .. 1,031 1 5 920 12 7 Library subscriptions .. .. .. .. 11 18 0 16 11 0 Towel-hire .. .. • • .. .. 79 1 10 72 12 2 1,122 1 3 1,009 15 9 This total shows a diminution of £112 5s. 6d. as compared with that of the previous year, but it was hardly expected that the continued advance in revenue, an advance extending'over a period of eleven years, would continue indefinitely. The unseasonable weather prevailing last summer and the depression in the goldfields districts undoubtedly tended to bring about the reduction of revenue referred to. With the exception of the extension of the lawn and construction of a bowling-green—referred to later on—no new work of any magnitude has been carried out during the year, the condition of the Board's finances not being favourable. For some years past the Board has experienced a continuous loss through towels being stolen by bathers. All attempts —such as branding the towels—to effectually stop the practice proved futile. Acting on a suggestion from the hotel-proprietors at Botorua, the Board decided to import a specially manufactured towel, and some months ago an indent was sent to an English manufacturer for twelve dozen towels. These have now been received and put into use, and it is satisfactory to find that the pilfering has been practically stopped. The towels are of a substantial nature, 58 in. by 30 in., and have the words " Te Aroha Hot Springs Domain Baths " woven into the texture, so that the towel would have to be considerably mutilated before it could be appropriated to private use. During the year an additional asphalt tennis-court has been laid down. This was rendered necessary on aocount of the limited accommodation provided by the one existing court. The need for the extra court has been shown by the fact that the two courts have been almost continuously occupied during the whole season. The Board has reverted to the former practice of charging for tennis privileges. For the last two years this charge had been abolished, and players provided their own rackets and balls, and were granted the use of the courts free. As visitors frequently came unprovided with either rackets or balls, this was found to be a disadvantage, so now the Board has procured a supply of both these articles, and hires them out to the public for Is. per week per set. In addition to this a charge is made for the use of the courts to the extent of 5s. a yearly ticket for gentlemen and 2s. 6d. for ladies, with a uniform charge of Is. per week for casual subscribers. Tl:ese charges, while not unduly oppressive to players, recoup the Board for any outlay for tennis material and leaves a small surplus. The extension of tee lawn and construction of the bowling-green, a contract which, through various unavoidable delays, extended over a period of nearly eighteen months, has at last been completed, and the result cannot be considered other than a great improvement. The bowling-green was undertaken at the repeated request of visitors, and cannot fail to add to the existing attractions of Te Aroha. The completion of this work, by reason of the unexpected and unavoidable extras, considerably exceeded the grant allowed to the Board by the Government for the purpose, and proved a considerable drain on the Board's financial resources, rendering it necessary for members to seek temporary accommodation from the bank, which was only granted on members' personal security being given. Becently the sum of £500 was remitted to the Board's credit by the Government, this being the first instalment of the £1,350 authorised for Te Aroha Domain improvements by Parliament last session. This sum will be used for the erection of two new bath-houses over Nos. 1 and 4 baths. The existing buildings being in an exceedingly disreputable condition, the Board will now be in a position to rectify matters in this respect, and so remove a cause of complaint. Acting under instructions from the Department, Mr. Corlett, Inspector of Works from Botorua, recently visited Te Aroha to confer with the Board concerning a scheme of works to absorb an additional grant of £500 proposed to be made by the Government. The various works which the Board would like to see oarried out were shown and explained to Mr. Corlett, who will report to his departmental headquarters in due course. During his visit Mr. Corlett gave the Board some useful hints on bath-oonstruction and the conservation of hot water as it comes from the springs. The Board sincerely trusts that more frequent visits may be made by that gentleman, whose long experience in similar work at Botorua enables him to advise the Board on sound lines. There is room for much improvement in the Domain, both as regards laying out the grounds and reDOvating buildings. With reference to the former, the Board would again urge upon the Department the need for a oompetent landscape gardener being sent along to plan a scheme of work, so that whatever was undertaken by the Board in that direction from time to time as funds allowed would form part of the general plan. Only by some such means as this oan anything really satisfactory be done. Another urgent need in connection with Te Aroha is an increase in the subsidy at present granted to the Besident Medical Practitioner. At present £50 is granted per annum by the Government for the purpose, but it must be apparent that this is very inadequate. The private practice available is not sufficiently remunerative to enable a doctor to come to Te Aroha for that alone. Since the subsidy was first granted no less than five doctors have given the place a trial, and all have had to leave. Invalids complain very much of the lack of opportunities for getting professional advioe as to the proper use of the baths and waters, and outside doctors do not care to send their patients here until they know that a resident dootor's services are available. An annual subsidy of at least £150 should be granted. Wm. Hill, Secretary. BOTOBUA. The popularity of this resort is advancing by leaps and bounds. Prom the thousands of visitors of more or less note one hears only a chorus of appreciation regarding its unique and interesting surroundings. The past year has marked an era in its existence owing to the visit of Their Boyal Highnesses the Duke and. Duchess of Cornwall and York, and the large party accom-

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