C.—lo.

Volcanic Activity. The Manager at the Chateau advises that in April last the Crater Lake on Mount Ruapehu erupted and large quantities of volcanic mud and small stones were thrown up and deposited on the Whakapapa, Mangaturuturu, and Whangaehu Glaciers and also northward towards Le Heu Heu Peak. It is considered that the eruption reached a height of at least 1,000 ft. Mount Ngauruhoe has at times shown activity and large columns of steam were seen, but no actual eruption has taken place during the year. Winter Sports and Excursions to the Park. The following clubs have kindly submitted short accounts of visits of their members to the park during the year under review, and extracts from these accounts are quoted : — Ruapehu Ski Club (Inc.)" Although war conditions restricted activities to a considerable extent, a large number of members managed to visit the park during the year. " The snow was somewhat late in starting, but built up to a fair depth and lasted well. " A feature of the season was the number of relatively long, fine, and comparatively windless spells. These, although enabling the fullest use to be made of all time available on the mountain, produced somewhat icy conditions. " Skiing was possible on the 6,000 ft. level from June to December, and ontlie glacier right through the year. Although small fissures formed, there was no break up of the glacier surfaces as in some years. " The extension of the access road to the Salt Hut is much appreciated by those fortunate enough to make the trip. " Although the club's activities were mainly confined to the Whakapapa Glacier area, small parties visited most points of the mountain, and further attempts to explore the outlet stream from the Crater Lake were made." Tarawa Tramping Club (fnc.).—" Thirty-nine members of the Tararua Tramping Club took part in the annual winter sports trip organized by the club. In spite oi the fact that there was less snow than usual on the skiing-fields, all members of the party enjoyed themselves Successful ascents were made by a number of the members to the summit of Mount Ruapehu, Te Heu Heu, and the Crater Lake, and also a small party made a successful ascent of Ngauruhoe. In addition to the official club trip, the National Park area was visited on many occasions during the year by small privately organized parties, and also a number of members took advantage of the facilities ofiered by the ' Snow Trains.' " Resignation of Secretary. It is with regret that the Board records the resignation of Mr. S. Gambrill as Secretary to the Board. Mr. Gambrill was appointed Secretary in 1924, and relinquished his active official duties on the 31st December, last from which date he commenced three months' leave prior to his retirement from the Public Service. He carries with him the best wishes of members for a happy period of retirement. EGMONT NATIONAL PARK BOARD. (W. C. Weston, Chairman.) In presenting its report for the year ended 31st March, 1941, the Board desires to state that in spite of war conditions and restriction on all travelling for pleasure the resorts on the mountain have managed to carry on successfully and the respective committees in charge of them have been enabled to maintain the house and other amenities for the use of visitors. Throughout last winter the various climbing clubs were enabled to hold successful skiing meetings in the snow season at all the resorts. The ranging of the reserve has been continually prosecuted and a regular toll of goats destroyed has been reported each quarter, a total of 1,527 for the year, which, whilst undoubtedly reducing the total number of goats in the reserve, does not yet put the Board m the position of clearing them out, as, whilst many farmers on adjacent lands permit the Board's Ranger and honorary Rangers to clear their farms, there are still some farmers who cling to the idea that goats help to clear their farms and many escape into the reserve and start breeding again. The other menace to the bush, opossums, was also attacked systematically, the Board appointing its own trappers on all sections of the reserve. With the legislation now put through enabling the Board to trap all the year round without restriction, a more extensive programme for the 1941 i season has been entered upon with the same men, and improved tallies from all of them point to a satisfactory destruction of these pests during the season, as the Board will continue systematic trapping as long as the value of the skins will remunerate the trappers. The main roads in the reserve have been maintained in good order, except that the road from Stratford Gate has required expenditure beyond the funds of its Committee, and the lower section has become very rough, whilst the condition of the Plateau Road-w., the road from the Stratford House to the 4 000 ft level —is giving the Board serious concern. The Stratford Committee has not the revenue to keep this in order, and unless considerable repair work is done irreparable damage by scouring will be caused not only to the road itself, but to the mountain-side.

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