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travellers had visited Egmont than in any previous season. The climbing season was unusually prolonged this year, owing to the fine autumn. The necessity for better accommodation for travellers is very apparent, the existing mountain-houses (four in number), though exceeding!}' useful, being unsuitable to the requirements of any considerable tourist traffic. Various improvements to roads and tracks have been made during the year; but it is necessary, if this grand mountain is to be exploited as thoroughly as it should be, that good driving-roads to the principal mountain-houses should be provided. The Annual Report of the Chairman of the Egmont National Park Board will be found in the Appendices hereto. TE PUIA (EAST COAST). As reported last year these springs were inspected by the Department's officers, and as a result several adjustments in the reserve boundaries are recommended in order that the fresh-water supply may be protected, and the reserve much improved. MORERE SPRINGS. During the year I visited this locality and found that several improvements were necessary. Some 50 chains of fencing has been finished, at a cost of £50, and the erection of improved bath-houses is well in hand. LAKE WAIKAREMOANA. The opening of a first-class accommodation-house at this lake has greatly increased its popularity as a holiday resort. The new oil-launch " Kolnirangi," placed on the lake to enable visitors to make excursions, has greatly added to the attractions. Unfortunately the season at the lake is a very short one, why, it is difficult to any : 279 persons visited the house, but all within a very short period, and during that period the bedroom accommodation was much short of requirements. Additions to this house will have to be provided for at an early date. The receipts for the year amounted to £441 2s. od. Improvements at this resort, consisting of fencing paddock for grazing, erection of jetty and skids, also the building of a small three-roomed cottage for the accommodation of servants, are now being undertaken. The laying out and planting of lawns, gardens, and orchards is also well in hand. A change in the management has taken place during the year, Mr. Mayo having resigned, Mr. J. P. Ward being appointed to fill the vacancy. Lake Waikaremoana will never attain the position as a tourist resort that its beauties deserve until it is made easy of access from Rotorua. At present visitors may drive from Rotorua via Galatea as far as Te Whaiti (about sixty miles), and ride another twenty miles over a very indifferent road to Ruatahuna. Thence to the lake shores (about seventeen miles) there is a very rough bush track, better suited for walking than riding. It is necessary that the formed road from Te Whaiti to Ruatahuna should be put in good order for vehicular traffic, and that the gap intervening between the latter point and the lake should be completed. As was pointed out in the last report of this Department, this road when finished will open up one of the finest scenic districts in the colony —the Urewera Country —and will enable coach travellers to make the trip from Rotorua to Waikaremoana in two days. The Urewera route is undoubtedly one of the future great coachingruns in New Zealand, and it will liave the additional advantage of directly connecting two of the colony's chief pleasure resorts. The isolation of this resort from the colony's telegraphic system no doubt militates against its complete success, and I would strongly urge the extension of the line from Frasertown to the lake. The Department has in the meantime inaugurated a carrier-pigeon service between Lake House and Wairoa, which will be in full working-order for the coming season. MARLBOROUOH SOUNDS. During the past year attention has been given to the need for bringing under notice the attractions of the Marlborough sounds as a pleasure resort. Pelorus Sound and the many other indentations of this beautiful region are exceptionally fine holiday-grounds, and the only wonder is that they are not more popular amongst New-Zealanders, and particularly Wellington people. The Sounds County includes one of the most magnificent series of sheltered harbours in the world, and the yachting and fishing is excellent. Considerable space is devoted to Pelorus Sound and other leading scenic districts in Marlborough in the Department's descriptive guide-books now being compiled. A list of places of accommodation for travellers in this sound and vicinity is kept by the Department, for the information of intending visitors. WESTLAND. The great glaciers of the Franz Josef and the Fox, in South Westland, are not visited by many tourists, owing to their remoteness from the ordinary tracks of travel and the difficulties of access. However, for those who like a spice of adventure in their pleasure, a ride or drive from Hokitika to the Waiho, or a climb over the Alps from Mount Cook Hermitage to the western glaciers will be found a remarkably fine trip, traversing some of the grandest scenic districts in the colony. On Lake Kanieri a small jetty is needed at the landing-place near the Dorothy Falls. Some little work will require to be done in the way of tracks to open up the upper falls to sightseers; the beautiful forest surrounding the lake is one of Kanieri's greatest attractions, and it is desirable that the whole of the bush should be preserved. A lock is necessary on Mahinapua Creek, near Hokitika, in order to improve the navigation of this waterway to Lake Mahinapua. The Dpeartment has been asked to undertake this work, but, in my opinion, the whole cost should not be borne by the Government.