5

H.-2,

The Public Works Department has practically called upon, this Department to carry out all the plumbing-work, and up to the present a considerable amount of work had to be done in the matter of dismantling all connections to the old buildings, pulling out all pipes and fittings, and rearranging same to suit the new buildings, and putting in new material where required. Electric.—The most important works done during the year were the reconstruction of the 3,300-volt Whakarewarewa line, the 6,600-volt Okere line for about 60 chains from the Rotorua Substation, and the construction of a 6,600-volt line to Malfroy Road for a distance of approximately one mile. The 6,600/2,000-volt transformers at the Rotorua Substation were overloaded, and the building of the new 6,600-volt line and the erection of six 15 kv.a. 6,600/1,500-volt transformers has reduced the loading on the substation transformers to a safe value. As required, this new 6,600-volt line can be extended, and by using 6,600-volt transformers in place of 3,300-volt transformers the substation transformers can be kept down to safe loadings. The 3,300-volt transformers that are taken down are used again on other parts of the supply system where 3,300-volt lines are still available. Along with the above work, a considerable amount of alterations and reconstruction has been done in the areas adjacent to Malfroy Road. The electric-range load continues to build up steadily, and to cope with it requires a considerable amount of reinforcement of the old low tension distribution-lines. Maintenance-work has been carried out on the system as required, and the whole is in good working-condition. Our main supply has been drawn from the Public Works Department power-stations at Horahora and Arapuni, and we have also continued to make as much use as possible of the Okere plant. Up to the end of November it was operated for sixteen hours per day to meet the Public Works Department requirements, and since then has been operated one shift per day to meet our own requirements. The plant does not seem to be in any worse state than it has been for some years and may continue in its present state for several years longer. The Diesel plant has been run as required for maintenance purposes, and 011 a few occasions has been used when supply was not available from the Public Works Department. Maintenance-work has been carried out as required for the baths and sanatorium, electrical and electro-medical apparatus, and the gardens motor lawn-mowers. In connection with the new bath buildings a large amount of temporary electrical work has been done for the Public Works Department workshops and offices, and the temporary staff quarters. The Department's transport equipment has been maintained in good working-order. Acclimatization. The acclimatization branch of this Department's activities has passed through a strenuous year, and the rangers and many sportsmen's reports go to show a great improvement in all classes of sport throughout the whole of this extensive acclimatization district. Ranging. —An addition to the staff of two rangers was made by the appointment of an assistant temporary ranger to assist in the patrolling of the various trout-streams during the close season. Mr. Kean, the assistant ranger at Wairoa area was transferred to the Department of Internal Affairs, and his place was taken by the transfer of Assistant Ranger Frame from Rotorua to Wairoa County. The whole of the district, including the recently added territory of the Opotiki Acclimatization District, has been effectively ranged. The frequency of the rangers' visits, both day and night, tended to minimize any poaching raids that were contemplated. More than the usual number of complaints were received, necessitating a considerable amount of careful inquiry, and where the circumstances warranted and the evidence was sufficient prompt action was taken to prosecute the offenders in the law-courts. Action was taken in thirty-three cases, resulting in thirty convictions being obtained for breaches of both the Animals Protection and Game Act, and the Fisheries Act, and their respective regulations. The total amount of fines and costs was £145 12s. Breaches of both the Acts were viewed seriously by the Magistrates, and the infliction of heavy penalties in the cases of illegal taking of trout, opossums, and game during the closed seasons cannot fail to have a deterring effect. One individual offender was fined £17 and costs for spearing trout with a hay-fork, and three young women who were assisting in the offence were warned by the Bench that they would be wise to refrain in future from assisting with such practices. Proceedings were also instituted under the regulations of the 1921-22 Animals Protection Act, against several persons, for trafficking in the skins and feathers of native and imported game. Numerous specimens of indigenous birds had been mounted and given to various shopkeepers, who exposed them for sale, while others had kits and mats manufactured with the feathers of some protected birds. The convictions recorded against the Various defendants have been sufficient to prevent any further open sales of such specimens. The use of car and motor-cycles enabled the rangers to cover long distances in the shortest possible period of time. Deer-shooting.—The deer-shooting season was again opened, throughout the various herds of the district during March and April. The season for shooting Japanese deer was opened during the same period, while the season for dealing with the herd of Sambur deer was opened for the first time in July and August. More licenses were issued than in any previous season, and the fact of widely advertising the details of the herds under this Department's control, together with the quality of the heads taken over previous years, have gone far this year towards creating a record for the number of licenses sold.