H.—22.

The following details refer to the financial year only. The deer killed were of several species, the numbers of each being—Red deer, 30,044 ; fallow deer, 163 ; Virginian deer, 56 ; Japanese deer, 12 ; sambur deer, 38 ; wapiti deer, 59. A geographical analysis of the year's results is as follows : — North Island— t i w i tt f1 > 528 deer killed. .Lake Waikaremoana - Urewera area .. .. .. < i \ 80 pigs killed. National Park - Kaimanawa Mountains area .. .. f 2 ,791 deer killed. 5 goats killed. Ruahine Mountains area .. .. .. .. 3,746 deer killed. f 1,618 deer killed. Tararua Mountains area .. ~ .. <( 655 goats killed. 38 pigs killed. South Island— Fiordland National Park-Lake Wakatipu area .. 2,268 deer killed. South Westland- South Canterbury - Otago area .. 17,785 deer killed. f 280 deer killed. South Westland - South Canterbury thar and chamois area 906 thar killed. 1,497 chamois killed. Stewart Island .. .. .. .. 356 deer killed. South Westland Goat Colony .. . . .. 818 goats killed. (2) Sphere of Operation and Taction employed. North Island—(a) Lake Waikaremoana - Urewera Area: A permanent highly trained field officcr and an assistant were established in this area, with very satisfactory results. It is proposed to extend this principle to the Tararua Ranges and the Fiordland National Park after the end of this season. In the Urewera country two men operated during the winter and five men during the summer. There is evidence that their operations have been very successful, and already there are signs of an improvement in the state of the forest surrounding the lake. (b) National Park - Kaimanawa - Kaweka - Ahimanawa : This undertaking was fully reported on last year, and the results represent the closing stages of the operations. (c) Ruahine Range Area : This divide constituted one of the danger spots from the point of view of deer damage to forest and erosion. The season's experience shows that the commencement of operations there was timely. (d) Tararua Range Area : During the period since the last operations in this area deer have increased, with consequent damage to the forest. This damage and the erosion resulting therefrom constituted a very grave menace and called for immediate drastic action. It has been decided to appoint a permanent officer here as in the Urewera-Waikaremoana area. It having been discovered that colonies of goats were established in a few limited areas and were doing damage to the bush, a special goat party using dogs was employed and has done good work. South Island. —(a) Fiordland National Park - Lake Wakatipu Area: This undertaking was fully reported on last year, and the results represent the closing stages of the operations. (6) South Westland - South Canterbury - Otago Area : Parties commenced operations at various times during October and November in various localities. These operations have embraced the whole of the deer-infested country from Mount Aspiring to Mount Cook on both sides of the Southern Alps. (c) South Westland - South Canterbury Thar and Chamois : Various parties were in operation at different times, with satisfactory results. A large proportion of the animals inhabiting the area were killed, so that the undertaking can be regarded as. fully successful. (d) Stewart Island : A permanent control was established at Stewart Island, and excellent work has been done. This officer's operations have been extended to the killing of rats and cats as a means of affording further protection to the bird-life. (e) South Westland Goat Colony : The colony existing in the State Forest near Harihari was reduced to almost negligible numbers. (/) General Winter Work : During the winter months a number of men were engaged in the cutting of tracks and the erection of " miners' chairs " over rivers in the portion of South Westland from the Wanganui River to the Karangarua River to permit of the thar and chamois operations referred to above. (3) Personnel. Difficulty was again experienced in obtaining the required number of men with the requisite skill and stamina. As from the Ist January, 1939, wages and bonuses were increased, and this should go some way towards attracting more men of the type required. XIII. ROTORUA ACCLIMATIZATION DISTRICT. A. The Fishing Season. The fishing season opened on the Ist November, 1938. During the early part of the season conditions were unsatisfactory, due to rough weather and strong westerly winds, which continued generally to the middle of February. During the months of February and March little rain fell, and

16