H.—2

7

Storting. This Department has distributed a very large amount of ova at the sporting resorts under its control. Particular attention has been paid to Waikaremoana, where 200,000 were liberated. Ova was distributed in other lakes and rivers as follows:— Rotorua .. . . . . . . . . .. 30,000 Kakahi .. .. .. 30,000 Taumarunui .. .. .. .. ..20,000 Te Teko .. .. .. .. .. 30,000 Pongakawa .. ... .. .. .. 5,000 Mohaka .. .. .. .. .. .. 50,000 Okataina .. .. .. .. .. 30,000 Total .. .. .. .. .. 195,000 During the year cloven red deer from Paraparaumu were liberated within or near the Rotorua Acclimatization District. Mr. Chirnside, who has been a good friend in the past, has again, presented the Department with four deer from his herd at Werribee Park, Victoria, and these will be sent, after a short period of quarantine, to Rotorua to strengthen the herd there. The usual reports from officers are attached. B. M. Wilson, General Manager. REPORT OF RESIDENT OFFICER, ROTORUA. I have the honour to submit my report for the year ending 31st March, 1916. The lack of funds has prevented any new work of considerable extent being entered upon, and consequently the year's operations have been uneventful, being entirely in the nature of routine maintenance-work. The decreasing stock of local metal, which at best is of extremely poor quality, has rendered it necessary to import blue metal in increasing quantities, with a resultant increase in our maintenance cost. During the year some 153 cubic yards of local metal has been quarried and spread, and 288 cubic yards of imported blue metal has been used. An experiment has been made with a preparation for road-treatment called " soltar." Sections of streets totalling in length 1,025 ft. have been coated with " soltar," and as far as can be seen at. present, the experiment bids fair to be satisfactory. As regards asphalt footpaths, 2,391 lineal feet have been recoated with tar and sand, while 1,206 ft. of old asphalt-work has been, picked up and replaced with new asphalt. Six wooden and five reinforced-concrete culverts have been made and fixed at various points throughout the town where necessary. The levy on the Town Account made by the Waikato Hospital and Charitable Aid Board for the current financial year was £206, to meet which a rate (on capital values) of -|d. in the pound was struck. The levy made by the Fire Board amounted to £351 (an increase of £100 on that of the previous year), which was met by a rate of fd. in the pound. The Fire Board during the year purchased a motor hose-tender, and the fire-fighting equipment. is now in first-class condition. Twenty-three building permits were issued for new buildings and additions to existing ones,: the total value represented being £7,310. The capital value of the town is £506,713. Wm. Hill, The General Manager, Wellington. Resident Officer. Rotorua Town Balance-sheet for Year ending 31st March, 1916. Separate Account. No. 1. Hospital and Charitable Aid Rath Account. Receipts. Expenditure. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s, d. Rates—Arrears .. .. 89 16 9 Debit balance at 31st March, 1915 74 1.10 Current, 1915-10 .. 184 15 11 . Waikato Hospital Board ..206 13 5 274 12 8 Printing and advertising .. 4 4 2 Debit balanco at 31st March, 1916 .. 11 7 1 Postages. .. .. .. 10 4 285 19 9 £285 19 9 £285 19 9 No. 2. FIRE-PREVENTION RATE ACCOUNT. Receipts. Expenditure. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Credit balance, 31st March, 1915 .. 0 12 1 Rotorua Fire Board .. .. 333 17 9 Rates —Arrears .. .. 135 13 4 Printing and advertising .. 410 1 Current, 1915-16 .. 218.19 4 Postages .. .. .. 10 5 354 12 8 — ■ 339 8 3 . . Credit balance at 31st March, 1915 .. .. .. .. 15 16 6 £355 4 9 £355 4 9