C.—l 3.

It is rather remarkable —more than a mere coincidence—that this outbreak of Ngauruhoe should have synchronized exactly with the tremendous eruption of Kilauea Volcano, in Hawaii, the greatest lava-crater in the world. The New Zealand volcanoes and those of the western part of the Friendly Islands and Kilauea are all on the great " line of fault" —or, say, fissure in the earth's crust— all the way across the Pacific. The vulcanologist whom the New Zealand Government is appointing to keep a watch on our smoking mountains will fill a useful place in linking up with Hawaii scientific observations in this highly important field. The watch is needful, even if such blowing-ofE of steam as Ngauruhoe has given us is harmless. We never know what may happen yet!

ACCOUNTS. TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK BOARD. Statement of Receipts and Payments for the Period Ist April, J 925, to 31st March, 1926.. Receipts. £ s. d. Payments. £ s. dTo Balance, Ist April, 1925 .. .. 4,153 9 3 Caretaker's salary .. .. .. 270 0 0 Park fees .. .. .. 306 8 6 Expenses of Board meetings .. .. 33 16 1 Sale of maps .. .. .. 5 0 0 Expenditure on park buildings .. 37 810 Subsidy from Wellington City Council Expenditure on park equipment .. 124 2 0 (balance) .. .. .. 500 0 0 Fuel .. .. .. .. 38 0 0 Government subsidies— £ s. d. Horse feed and shoeing .. .. 30 17 2 Wellington City Coun- Insurance on huts and dining-hall .. 17 16 8 cil (£1 for £1) .. 500 0 0 Maintenance of buildings .. .. 36 1 0 Public Works Depart- Maintenance of telephone .. .. 0 7 1 ment (£1 for £1) .. 1,000 0 0 Maps .. .. .. .. 2 4 0 Grant .. .. 270 0 0 Ohakune Track improvements .. .. 50 0 0 1,770 0 0 Postages, telegrams, &c. .. .. II 18 4 Interest— Printing and stationery .. .. 27 10 4 Post Office Savings- Road-construction—Bruce Road .. 3,949 17 3 bank .. .. 52 5 11 Secretary's honorarium .. .. 53 4 6 Government debenture 82 0 6 Track, drains, &e. .. .. .. 68 8 2 134 6 5 Travelling-expenses .. .. .. 31 3 3 Recovery on account of fees previously Treasurer's honorarium .. .. 12 0 0 written off as irrecoverable .. 17 0 Miscellaneous expenditure .. .. 019 3 Miscellaneous receipts .. .. 2 3 0 Balance, 31st March, 1926 — £ s. d. Timber royalties .. .. .. 1,560 15 10 Bank of New Zealand .. 11l 7 4 Post Office Savings-bank 3,505 3 3 In transit, 31st March, 1926 21 5 0 3,637 15 7 £8,433 10 0 £8,433 10 0 Revenue Account for the Year ended 31st March, 1926. Dr. £ s. d. Or. £ s. d. To Caretaker's salary .. .. .. 270 0 0 By Park fees .. .. .. .. 306 8 6 Depreciation Account .. .. 147 1 4 Government grants and subsidies .. 270 0 0 Expenses of Board meetings .. .. 23 10 4 Recovery of park fees previously written Fuel . . .. •. 38 0 0 off as irrecoverable .. .. 17 0 Horse-feed, shoeing .. .. .. 30 17 2 Sale of maps .. .. .. 0 3 0 Insurance on huts and dining-hall .. 17 16 8 Interest— £ s. d. Maintenance of buildings .. .. 36 1 0 Post Office Savings-bank .. 52 511 Miscellaneous expenditure .. . . 019 3 Government debentures .. 97 9 7 Maintenance of telephone .. .. 0 7 1 149 15 6 Postages, telegrams, &c. .. .. UIS 4 Printing and stationery . . .. 21 7 0 Secretary's honorarium .. .. 53 4 6 Travelling-expenses .. .. .. 31 3 3 Treasurer's honorarium . . .. 12 0 0 Unserviceable and lost equipment written off .. . . .. .. 20 19 3 Balance transferred to Capital Account 12 8 10 £727 14 0 £727 14 0

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