C.—6.

APPENDIX B. KAPITI ISLAND RESERVE. (H. W. C. Mackintosh, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) The past year has been a record one as far as growth of vegetation is concerned, the almost continuous rains and absence of gales providing ideal growing-conditions. Although the plants made wonderful headway, the trees, with some exceptions, produced very little fruit. Of the larger trees, the karaka was the only one which produced any berries ; there were hardly any on ngaio, tawa, hinau, titoki, matai, or miro. Some of the smaller trees, however, had fair crops, especially the mahoe. The kotukutuku, or fuchsia, produced its usual wealth of blossom and berries, much to the delight of the honeyeaters. The same may be said of the coprosmas, particularly the taupata and the karamu. Amongst the shrubs and small trees, the flowers of the karo and tawhiri provided the honeyeaters with plenty of nectar, and these trees were always well patronized. The seeds of these species are, however, never eaten by the birds. The vines were disappointing, too, in that they did not produce much fruit. The parsonsia, kohia, kareao, and tataramoa or bush-lawyer did not flower as usual. The flax (harakeke) had no flowers at all, and with the kohia flowerless the parrakeets were deprived of a good quantity of their food. The climbing rata had a fair showing of flowers, but only a few of the rata trees produced any bloom. The few pohutukawa on the island bloomed extremely well. Why the rata should fail and the pohutukawa be covered with flowers is a puzzling matter. It is interesting to note that during a ramble through the Te Rere Valley with a party of naturalists in January last, Mr. A. Morris Jones found a fern not hitherto found on the island. This is the Blechnum patersoni, and there are two healthy clumps of it. Mr. Wilkinson desires me to thank the following donors of plants and seeds : — Mr. A. Morris Jones, Kelburn, Wellington .. .. .. Plants and seeds. Mr. Norman Drummond, Whangarei .. .. .. Seeds. Mr. Max Roberts, Kilbirnie .. .. .. .. Plants. Mr. Edgar F. Stead, Christchurch .. .. .. .. Plants. Captain Sanderson, Paekakariki . . . . .. .. Plants. Mr. A. Ainsworth, Kilbirnie .. .. .. .. Plants. Mr. R. Sutherland, Hinakura . . . . . . .. Plant. Mrs. R. Stidolph, Masterton .. .. .. .. Plants. A considerable amount of planting was done on the island during the year. Mr. Wilkinson also desires to thank the Wellington Acclimitization Society for a donation of three sacks of barley for the water-fowl. Trapping of vermin has been carried out vigorously throughout the year. Over one thousand rats have been destroyed, while opossums are being gradually thinned out. I must again record my high appreciation of the able and painstaking manner in which the Caretaker, Mr. A. S. Wilkinson, carries out his duties. I append hereto extracts from his report concerning the welfare of the birds :— " Excepting for the tui and korinu.,ko, the hush birds seem to have had a fair season. We saw very few young tui or korimako, but plenty of young whiteheads, robins, and fantails. The long-tailed cuckoo was scarce on the island during the breeding season, which was to the benefit of the whitehead, for this parasite not only imposes on the whitehead by laying in its nest, thus forcing the whitehead to rear its young, but it also takes young birds out of nests. Even when the young have left the nest they are not safe from this pirate. For some reason tomtits seem scarce, although more are seen now than twelve months ago. A few years ago fantails were scarce, but are now plentiful enough. These birds, of course, could fly to and from the mainland if they so desired. One black fant-ail from the South Island was seen during the year. " The parrot family had a good season, judging by the numerous young parrakeets about, and we have seen several young kaka about Rangatira. Moreporks likewise were successful in their breeding operations. "We did not find a pigeon's nest during the nesting season. None of those near our house bred. Nor did we see a young pigeon anywhere on the island, so it looks as if they had a spell. The kiwi seem to be multiplying, as they are now heard calling in many new places. Their feathers can be found attached to the hooked grass, matau-a-maui, pretty well all over the sanctuary. Wekas are also doing well. " The birds of the open places had a very good year. Our house pipits reared two broods very early in the spring, and then had a rest. " Stilts and dotterel nested at the north end in larger numbers than usual. We saw a flock of forty stilts flying about the lake. Amongst them were quite a number of young. Several dozen young dotterel were also noticed. " Water-fowl also had a good season. The paradise ducks reared three broods of young on the Webber property, and the pair that live about Rangatira reared nine young ones. These young left as soon as they reached maturity, but almost daily return to the beaches where they were reared, and for hours squat with their parents.

7