H.—2

14

Mineral-water Supply. In view of the great extension of the bathing accommodation, the question of the sufficient supply of mineral water becomes a matter of importance. At the present moment we are using during the season the whole of the output of the Rachel spring, and it will be necessary within the next year or two to supplement the supply of alkaline water. This can very easily be done by drawing on the inexhaustible sources of Whakarewarewa, the only serious difficulty being the expense of piping. This, I anticipate, can be overcome by the use of giant bamboo pipes, as is done in Japan—pipes which would be cheap, easily handled, and fairly good non-conductors of heat. Several springs in the immediate neighbourhood of the new baths will supply ample acid water. Attendants. Considerable progress has been made during the year in the systematic training of attendants, and I wish to record the excellent work done by the head attendants in giving instruction in massage and medical gymnastics. In this direction a very complete system is being gradually brought into use, and one that enables much more efficient medical measures to be prescribed than was formerly possible. To curtail unnecessary expense, I would advise that in future appointments temporary attendants should be engaged for the routine unskilled labour during the season, retaining a nucleus of skilled attendants for permanent work all the year round. The Sanatorium. Work has gone on here smoothly and with a minimum of friction, and much credit is due to the whole staff —House-Surgeon, Matron, nurses, and domestics. As I reported last year, the Sanatorium accommodation is totally inadequate to cope with the demands on it. Out-patients. A noteworthy feature of the past year has been the great number of patients who have received free medical attendance. These have been persons practically without means who have come up to Rotorua expecting immediate admission to the Sanatorium, and have been unavoidably disappointed. During the winter months the vast majority of patients come from within New Zealand, and it is from their ranks alone that the whole of the free patients are drawn. During the summer season comes the influx of patients from other countries, and how large this is will be shown by the fact that one-third of all new patients seen by me during the year came from outside the country, aud these are all paying patients. The amount of free treatment accorded is very large, and is steadily increasing, a fact which I think' is scarcely sufficiently realised by those who complain that Rotorua caters for the rich man only. Nationality of Visitors. I have no means of determining the countries from which come the visitors to Rotorua, but from the record of my own patients the proportion for the past year is—New Zealand, 66'6 per cent. ; Australia, 20 per cent. ; Great Britain, B's per cent. ; United States, L4 per cent. ; South Pacific islands, South Africa, India, Shanghai, Singapore, 3'5 per cent, in the order named. I believe that there is in Singapore and eastern India a rich field for future exploitation, and that when a better steamboat service is obtained between Singapore and Australasia, New Zealand, with its cool bracing climate and its thermal springs, will speedily become the recognised health and holiday resort for these localities. Amusements, &c. The day has long gone by when taking the baths was looked upon as almost the only form of recreation available at Rotorua, but there is still ground for the complaint —as also at Te Aroha and Hanmer —that the place is too dull. A band, be it ever so modest in numbers, playing every day, wet or fine, should be looked upon as an absolute essential in every health resort. No other single means will go so far to dispel the ennui of enforced idleness; and there is no great ii antagonistic influence to the process of recuperation than boredom and depression of spirits. Arthur S. Wohlmann, Government Balneologist. Receipts. Year ended 51st March, 1906. £ 8 . d. Sanatorium fees . • • • • • • • •. .. . •. 1,014 2 4 Out-patients' fees .. ... . - • .. .. . .. 673 17 0 Bath fees . - - 2,518 19 2 Mineral water . • ■ • ■ • ■ • • • > • 181 18 4 Dry massage and electrical treatment . . . . . .. 270 14 0 Players' lees .. • ■ • • • • • • • .. 120 10 0 Total £L7BO 0 10