3
H.—U
Rotorua. Revenue. —The general revenue from all sources shows an increase of about £3,616 on the figures of the previous year. Tho increase is mainly in electrical supply revenue, but other sources, such as sale of fishing licenses, sanatorium fees, passenger booking, and miscellaneous revenue, show increases. Gardens. —Two pieces of waste ground, lying respectively between the Queen's Drive and the kitchen-garden, and the laundry and Hincmoa Drive, have been cleared of shrub and dug over. The long dry season experienced in the summer, coupled with the friable nature of our soil, caused the surface of the grass tennis-courts to break up badly. An experiment is being made with two of the grass-courts in the matter of laying down a coating, 3 in. deep, of volcanic deposit from Tarawera. This deposit is of an adhesive quality, and it is hoped that a hard smooth surface will be obtained, and thus overcome a condition that is a continual source of complaint from tennis-players. Electrical. —The outstanding feature of the year's operations has been the establishment of an auxiliary plant in the form of a Diesel engine of 240 b.h.p., directly coupled to an alternator of 187 K.V.A. capacity, generating at 3,000 volts. The auxiliary plant was purchased from the To Aroha Borough Council, and has been housed and set up on a site on the Wairba Road. The plant is now in operation, and has enabled us to supply the full need of all requirements. The number of units generated at Okero during the year was 759,219, and the number of consumers at 31st March was 1,005. Water-supply. —The work of replacing the wooden mains with cast-iron ones is still in progress. As regards the town proper, the replacement has been completed, and the only wooden mains now in existence are a portion of the main delivery from the reservoir to a point near Whakarewarewa. The iron pipes for replacement of this portion are now on the ground, and the work is in progress. It has at present reached a point half-way between Whakarewarewa and the Homo Gorge. Drainage. —This system is far from satisfactory in certain portions of the town, more particularly those portions where sulphur is most prevalent in the soil. The action of the sulphur has a disintegrating effect on the cement at the pipe-joints and the brickwork on the manholes. Blockages are frequent, necessitating the opening-up of the sewer at various points to effect clearances. This affords clear evidence of serious trouble at tho pipe-joints ; and tho matter is being investigated by the engineering staff of tho Public Works Department, with a view to remedial measures being devised and undertaken. Acclimatization. Fish. —The most noteworthy feature of this section is the wonderful improvement in the condition of the trout found in Lake Taupo and its contiguous streams. The two closing months of last season (April and May, 1923) yielded good sport to anglers from all the waters in this district, and gave promise of even better conditions for the opening of the present season (October, .1923, to May, 1924). These expectations have been ampty justified, and the wonderfully fine specimens which have been secured at Taupo are the theme of general comment, and have been the subject of many Press notices. Some splendid specimens have been mounted and sent to the British Empire Exhibition, so the fact that the fishing in the Rotorua district is at present equal to what it was in the palmy days of some fifteen years ago has been made known in many parts of the world by the spread of this knowledge, which must eventually be a considerable feature in inducing anglers from overseas to come here. Indeed, this result has become an accomplished fact during the past season, as the number of anglers from overseas has appreciably increased. Their catches have given them the utmost satisfaction as regards numbers, weight, and condition of fish. Last season trout from 11 lb. to 191b. were caught, while this season definitely ascertained catches of an average of 9-| lb., 1.1 lb., and 12 J lb. have been secured. Individual fish weighing 201 lb. have been caught, and it is expected that even this will be exceeded before the present season closes. An angler found a fish stranded during a heavy flood in the Tongariro River (feeding Lake Taupo) which scaled 261b., and doubtless that angler's life-long regret will be that he had not the opportunity of catching it. The fishing in Lake Rotorua has not yielded such abnormal, catches, but it has maintained a very good average, particularly at the mouths of the different fishing-streams, while many have been caught on the fly. The average weight of the fish was from 7 lb. to 8 lb. The fish, taken from tho various other lakes of the thermal region have been in good average condition. Okataina and Rotoma trout, though fairly large in size, and of good flesh, are not very numerous. Owing to the absence of suitable spawning-streams feeding these two lakes, it will be necessary to stock more heavily next season. Reports received from Lake Waikaremoana show that there was good fishing in both lake and river in that district, and several trout weighing over 10 lb. were caught in the smaller lake, Waikareiti. The Department's policy of annually stocking these waters with fresh trout-fry will be continued for a further period in order to bring the fish to a still higher standard. The river fishing has been only fair, though the Whakatane and Tarawera Rivers yielded some fine trout, while tho Rangitaiki River is now attracting the attention of many anglers. This is one of our finest trout-streams, and when it is properly stocked will provide very fine fishing, particularly in its upper reaches. This will also apply to its tributary stream, the Whirinaki River, which flows through the Galatea and Te Whaiti country. This will be stocked with fresh fry during the season. Deer-shooting. —The deer-shooting season closed on the 26th April, 1923, and some very fine heads were secured by a number of licensees. Only four of the various herds were open for stalking. The Tokaanu herd area was opened for the first time, with a limitation of three licenses only, allowing two stags per license, with not less than ten points. This is a young herd which was established ten years ago, the animals being bred from the famous English deer of Warnham Court, and the opinion of those who shot over the Tokaanu herd was that if it were properly stocked and culled it would prove one of the best herds in the Dominion. The best head was a magnificent sixteen-pointer, shot by Mr. R. Levin, of Feilding. The Galatea herd, which was closed in 1922 and well culled, yielded good sport, a limit of fourteen licenses, and two stags being allowed per license. Several twelve- and fourteen-point heads and one of fifteen points were obtained, and the general condition of both heads and stags was distinctly good. The whole of the Galatea deer-country is ideal for the purpose, and the herd is now spreading down the
Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.
By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.
Your session has expired.