H.—22,

B. General. (1) Fry and Ova. At No. 1 Hatchery, Ngongotaha, 5,985,000 eggs were laid down ; of this number, 120,000 were stripped from brown trout and 4,813,000 were received from the Tongariro River Hatchery. The number of ova collected at No. 2 Hatchery, Tongariro River, was 10,737,000, of which 1,386,000 was sold in New Zealand and 1,200,000 overseas. In addition, 205,000 fry was sold to the Tauranga Acclimatization Society. The hatchery at Waikaremoana handled 800,000 ova from the Tongariro River. The following are the numbers of fry planted in the various districts : — Taupo District.—Tongariro, 139,000 ; Waitahanui, 104,000; Tauranga-Taupo, 200,000; Hatepe, 126,000 ; Waimarino, 120,000 ; Waiotoka, 77,000 ; Waipehi, 55,000 ; Western Bay, 1,309,000. Rotorua District.—Rotorua, 1,117,000 ; Rotoiti, 1,266,000 ; Rotoehu, 206,000 ; Rotoma, 279,000; Tarawera, 675,000; Rotokakahi, 216,000; Okataina, 492,000; Okareka, 262,000 ; Okara, 63,000; Rerewhakaitu, 100,000 ; Bay of Plenty rivers, 1,059,000. Brown Trout. —Rotorua, 30,000 ; Taahunaatara, 45,000. (2) Food-supplies for Trout. The unseasonable weather affected the food-supply to some extent. Insect-life was late in making an appearance and the numbers were to some extent not so plentiful as usual. The smelt, particularly in Taupo, were very late in coming in to the shallows in all lakes. (3) Shags, Hawks, &c. Bonuses were paid oil 581 shags, 811 hawks, 65 stoats, 30 weasels, and 11 hedgehogs. The Department's officers accounted for 59 shags and 27 hawks. (4) Game Farm and Game Liberations. The total number of pheasants liberated was 1,727, and 506 mallard ducks were also released. The number of pheasants reared during the season was 1,002, in addition to 608 mallard ducks. (5) Bird-life generally. Black swans have increased and it is a common sight to see between 250 and 300 at Hamurana. Spoonbills are not so numerous. Black teal are becoming more plentiful. The Urewera country still provides the principal home for native birds. Pigeons have increased at Waikaremoana, particularly in the vicinity of Lake House. They have also been seen in numerous localities near Rotorua. Smaller native birds are holding their own and are to be seen in any large areas of bush. The kaka has been seen in certain localities. (6) Opossums. Five licenses and II permits were issued. The number of skins stamped was 13,860, of which 11,365 were stamped at Wairoa. (7) Ranging. Fines for breaches of the Animals Protection and Game Act, Fisheries Act, and Taupo Harbour Regulations (46 cases in all) amounted to £198 10s. XII. WAR GRAVES. Seven hundred and twenty-three (723) notifications of deaths of returned soldiers were received during the year. Of these, 109 were accepted as war graves, the cause of death being attributable to disabilities sustained on or aggravated by war service. The total number of war graves in New Zealand at the close of the year was 3,785. Temporary wooden crosses were placed on 401 graves, and headstones to the number of 79 were ordered. Additional constructional work was carried out in the soldiers' cemeteries at Mangatera (Dannevirke), Opotiki, Gore, Maunu (Whangarei), Greytown, Bromley (Christchurch), and Masterton. Veterans' graves continue to be attanded to, and during the year renovations were carried out to historical graves at Mahoetahi, Huirangi, and Bell Block (all of Taranaki), the Wakefield graves (Wellington), Tauranga, and Paeroa. New Zealand war graves overseas are being cared for by the Imperial War Graves Commission, of which New Zealand is a member. XIII. DISTINGUISHED VISITORS. Among the many notable people who visited the Dominion during the past year were the Right Hon. R. G. Menzies, K.C., Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia ; the Right Hon. A. Duff Cooper and the Lady Diana Cooper ; Brigadier-General Patrick J. Hurley, who is to be United States Minister to New Zealand ; the Right Hon. Sir Ronald Cross, Bt., M.P., United Kingdom High Commissioner in the Commonwealth of Australia, and Lady Cross ; Mr. W. Holmes, C.8.E., Past President of the Trades-union Congress and General Secretary of the National Union of Agricultural Workers in the United Kingdom ; the Hon. E. N. van Kleffens, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, and Mrs. van Kleffens, and the Hon. Ch. J. I. M. Welter, Minister of the Colonies of the Netherlands ; ViceAdmiral H. F. Leary, United States Navy ; Governor-General R. Brunot, representative of General de Gaulle, and Madame Brunot; Admiral Sir Ragnar Colvin, K.8.E., C.8., Chief of the Australian Naval Staff, and Lady Colvin, and his replacement Vice-Admiral Sir Guy Royle, K.C.8., C.M.G., and Lady Royle ; and Mr. W. H. Donald, Adviser to General Chiang Kai-Shek. A number of American journalists and cameramen, including Mr. H. R. Knickerbocker, of the Chicago Sun, Mr. J. C. Harsch, of the Christian Science Monitor, Mr. Royal Arch Gunnison, of the North American Newspaper Alliance, and Mrs. Gunnison, Mr. Hallett Abend, of the New York Times, Mr. Arthur Menken, " Paramount News " cameraman, Mr. Vincent Sheean, of the New York HeraldTribune, and Mr. Howell Walker, of the National Geographic Magazine, visited this country. This section was also responsible for the arrangements in connection with the official opening of the Musick Memorial on the 12th January, and for official farewell functions to reinforcements which left for overseas.

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