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erection of the necessary building or advertise a suitable lease to enable such a building to be erected by private enterprise. Should the Board adopt the first alternative and erect the building, it will be necessary for considerable funds to be provided. The Board's present commitments in roading and development work will absorb all available present financial resources. If, on the other hand, it be decided to offer a suitable lease with appropriate conditions for a modern building, &c., to be erected by private enterprise, the Board would be absolved, if such a lease were taken up, from the necessity of providing capital moneys for this purpose. The question is a very important one of policy, and is receiving the closest consideration of the Board with a view to its determination without unnecessary further delay, as the Board recognizes that but little further development can be usefully done until a modern hostel is erected at the park, by which means the necessary accommodation and attractiveness will be provided alike to the people of the Dominion and to oversea visitors. In the meantime it will probably be necessary to provide further accommodation at the Whakapapa huts, and the question ©f erecting a central social hall and dining-room with kitchen, &c., and caretaker's quarters, is now under consideration. Pamphlet.—A revised edition of the pamphlet containing notes and information of general interest to visitors was printed and circulated during the year. It is proposed later on to issue a more extensive publication, with illustrations of the many spots of beauty and interest within the park boundaries. By-laws.—Comprehensive by-laws governing the internal administration of the park have been prepared, and will shortly come into operation if approved by the Government in terms of the Act. These provide suitable measures dealing with the preservation of the native fauna and flora, regulating of camping, fires, prevention of hunting, trespassing stock, &c. Areas for Leasing.—The Board has under consideration the question of setting apart, with the approval of His Excellency the Governor-General, areas for leasing within the park with a view to subdivision and disposal of bungalow-sites. For this purpose three areas have been selected in suitable localities, and a preliminary survey is being made to determine the size and lay-out of the subdivisions. The terms and conditions under which it is proposed leases will be granted, regulating, inter alia, the design and size of the building to be erected, will receive careful investigation and consideration. It must, however, be clearly understood that it is not the intention of the Board to recommend the leasing of areas all over the park. The operations in this respect will be confined to a few spots near the main highways, where the scenic attractions and features of interest will in no way be prejudicially affected. The principle of leasing bungalow-sites has been well established in some of the Canadian parks with marked success, and there is no reason why such a scheme should not be successful at Tongariro. The rentals received from such leases will be wholly available to aid in the development of the park. Bruce Road.---Excellent progress has been made during the year in the formation and metalling of Bruce Road. The construction to date is—Formation and culverts complete to 2 miles 50 chains from junction ; metalling completed for 1 mile. A temporary structure to enable motor-cars to cross the Whakapapa is now in hand. This will be replaced later on by a substantial bridge. The length of Bruce Road from the junction with the Waimarino-Tokaanu Road to the Whakapapa huts is a little over 4 miles, and the total estimate of cost is £7,760. Milling Operations at Hauhungatahi. —Prior to the constitution of the Board the Prisons Department had acquired from the State Forest Service certain milling-rights over a block of timbered land, containing 331 acres, situated between Erua and Waimarino, which was included within the boundaries of the park by the passing of the Act in 1922. To enable the Prisons Department to carry out the programme already formulated and commenced the Board was empowered by section 71 of the Reserves and other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Act, 1923, to grant to the Minister of Justice a permit to continue cutting operations. The estimated volume of timber is 4,582,000 superficial feet, the upset price of which was originally fixed at £7,395. A portion of this amount —viz., £957 7s. 4d. —was paid to the State Forest Service prior to the passing of the 1922 Act. The balance of the money accruing from the cutting of the timber will be payable to the Board in instalments spread over a period of nine years. It must, however, be mentioned that to avoid any unnecessary damage to the bush the Prisons Department is co-operating with the Board and felling the mature trees in accordance with an approved scheme. The original price will require to be reduced commensurate with the reduction in quantity consequent on the putting into operation of the scheme referred to. Ohakune Mountain Track. —This track leads to the Ohakune Mountain hut from a point near the Ohakune Railway-station, the total length of track being approximately 8| miles. Within the two points mentioned the track rises from 2,018 ft. at Ohakune to 4,620 ft. at the Mountain hut, a rise of 2,602 ft. During the year the sum of £100 Bs. was spent on improvements to the track, consisting of " corduroying," draining, and some new formation work. Further improvements to this track are urgently required, and will be taken in hand as soon as funds are available. Liberation of Trout.— The Warden reports that during the last fourteen years he has been successful in obtaining from the Department of Internal Affairs a regular annual donation of 100,000 rainbow-trout fry for liberation in the streams on the western side of the park. Last September 200,000 were liberated. The distribution of the fry is undertaken by the Waimarino Acclimatization Society. Animal and Bird Life. —In connection with this subject the following extract from the Warden's report is of interest: " The native birds are fairly plentiful in the bush, but the sparrow-hawks, which have increased of late, are taking heavy toll of the tuis. The only native birds found in the open country aie the hawk and the pihoihoi. Hares are very numerous and large. Rabbits are not in evidence on the western side, but are fairly abundant on the eastern and southern sides. Stoats and weasels are becoming numerous. Native pigeons appear to have increased during the last few years, and kakas appear to be holding their own. Parakeets, which were at one time plentiful in the bush back of my camp, appear to have been driven away by flocks of starlings, which have taken possession of their nesting-places. Red deer appear to be getting well established in the bush in the park. Several stags were roaming about in the open country between Waimarino and the Whakapapa huts. Two stags came right into the enclosure at the end of March."