H.—22

Brown-trout fry were planted as follows : Waitahanui and Waikato (Taupo District), 50,000 ; Lake Okaro, 35,000 ; Whakatane, 135,000 ; Rangitaiki, 30,000 ; Waioeka, 63,000 ; Waioliero, 57,000 ; Ngongotaha, 336,000; Hamurana, 162,000; Utuhina, 72,000; Taahunaatara, 137,000. (2) Culling of Trout The numbers of trout culled at No. 2 Hatchery were 57 males and 55 females. (3) Food-supplies for Trout Smelt have been very numerous in many waters, particularly Taupo. (4) Black Shags, Hawks, do. Bonuses were paid on 459 black shags, 700 hawks, 34 stoats, and 1 weasel. Departmental officers destroyed 104 black shags, 25 hawks, 1 weasel, 19 cattle, 34 pigs, and 1 deer. (5) Game Farm Hen and duck eggs totalling 1,760 dozen were sold. Of the 374 fowl chicks reared, 113 cockerels were sold. Thirty fowls were sold. The number of pheasants and mallard ducks liberated were 1,148 and 301 respectively. (6) Oppossums * During the year 23,087 skins were stamped, as compared with 1,670 the previous year. (7) Ranging Fines for breaches of the Fisheries Regulations (24 in all) amounted to £78. Breaches of the Animals Protection and Game Act, 1921-22, resulted in four fines, totalling £17 10s. Large numbers of native birds shelter in the large tracts of native bush in this area, and ranging to the extent permitted by staff and facilities was carried out. XII. WAR GRAVES Nine hundred and thirty-two notifications of deaths of ex-service men and women of the Great War were recorded, and temporary crosses were placed on 479 graves. The supply of headstones is improving, and 175 headstones were erected. Cremations totalled 58. Additional construction work involving the erection of head-beams and concrete surrounds in preparation for the emplacement of headstones was carried out in many cemeteries. _ Many new areas have been provided where cemeteries are almost full, and preliminary work was commenced for the establishment in these areas of the new lawn type of cemetery with the low-level or ground plaque type of headstone, which is increasing in popularity. Two hundred and eighty-three notifications of deaths in New Zealand of ex-service men anci women of the present war were recorded and 241 temporary crosses and 55 headstones were placed on & ' aV About half of the deaths which occurred overseas during the present war have now been notified, and records of these are being maintained. XIII. DISTINGUISHED VISITORS Two parliamentary delegations, one from the United Kingdom and one from Canada, headed by Lieutenant-Colonel E. T. R. Wickham, M.V.0., M.P., and Mr. J. G. Ross, M.P., respectively, made an extensive tour of both Islands. The delegations comprised United Kingdom.—Messrs. H. W. Butcher, M.P. ; F. Collindridge, M.P. ; R. Etherton, M.P. ; Right Hon. the Earl of Listowel; Major S. F. Markham, M.P. ; Flight-Lieutenant R.'b. Perkins, R.A.F.V.R., M.P. ; Mr. G. S. Summers, M.P. ; and Dr. Edith Summerskill, M P Canada. Dr. T. F. Donnelly, M.A., M.C., C.M., M.P.; Messrs. J. H. Harris, M.P.; and A. Maclnnis, M.P. Many other important people visited New Zealand during this period. They included Lord Gowrie, Governor-General of Australia, and Lady Gowrie ; Right Hon. F. M. Forde, Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and Mrs. Forde ; Hon. H. V. Evatt, K.C., Minister of External Affairs, and Mrs. Evatt; Senator the' Hon. R. V. Keane, Minister of Trade and Customs, Australia; Senator J. M. Fraser, Minister for Health and Social Services, Australia ; Hon. A. S. Drakeford, Minister of Civil Aviation ; Admiral of the Fleet the Right Hon. Lord Keyes, G.C.8., K.C.V.0., D.5.0., and Lady Keyes ; Admiral W F Halsey 'U S.N., Commander of the South Pacific Area, and later Vice-Admiral J. H. Newton, U.S.N, who replaced him ; Mr. Donald M. Nelson, President Roosevelt's personal representative; the Communications Commission, headed by Lord Reith ; Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser and the British Pacific Squadron ; Sir Ronald Cross, High Commissioner for the United Kingdom in Australia, and Lady Cross* Mr.'Justice T. C. Davis, High Commissioner for Canada in_Australia, and Mrs. Davis; Professor Sir Howard Florey, co-discoverer of penicillin ; the East Indies Government Delegation, comprising Dr J E. van Hoogstraten, Mr. J. van Hoist Pellekaan, and Dr. J. van der Noorda ; the United Kingdom Farmers' Delegation, headed by Mr. J. Turner ; Mr. Essington Lewis, Director-General of Aircraft Production, Australia; His Grace Archbishop Timotheos Evangelinides and Dr. E. C. Vrisakis Consul-General of Greece for Australia ; Sir Datar Singh and Mr. Neville N. Wadia, Indian industrialists, and Major-General R. P. Pakenham-Walsh, C.8., M.C., Eastern Group Supply Council. The Hon. K. S. Patton, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to New Zealand, arrived and was accorded a reception. In addition, numerous receptions were held to welcome back sick and wounded Service personnel returned from overseas.

2—H. 22.

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