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Descriptions of Districts referred to above . I. The Central North Island District embraces the country lying to the north of a line commencing' at Wanganui, running thence due east to the Manawatu Gorge, and thence in the same direction to Napier, and bounded on the north by a line running due east from Kawhia Harbour to Tauranga. 11. Southern North Island District.—All that portion of the North Island lying to the south of the southern boundary of the Central North Island District. 111. Nelson-Marlborough District.—That portion of the South Island lying to the north of a line commencing at the mouth of the Grey River on the west coast, thence following the left bank of that river to its source, thence along the summit of the Spencer Mountains to the watershed between the sources of the Clarence and Sabine Rivers, and thence in a straight line to the mouth of the Conway River. IV. Canterbury District.—All that portion of the South Island to the south of the southern boundary of the Nelson-Marlborough District and bounded in the west by the Southern Alps from the point where that range is crossed by the southern boundary of the Nelson-Marlborough District to Mount Cook, thence due east to Timaru. V. Southern Lakes District. —All that portion of the South Island lying to the south of the Canterbury District and including the west- coast south of a line turning due west from Mount Cook to the sea. (2) Air Transport (a) Supplies. —During the year, in conjunction with the R.N.Z.A.F. and theAerodromes Branch of the Public Works Department, supplies were dropped from Dakota aircraft in the more remote areas where departmental parties were operating, and the successful carrying-out of these operations augurs well for the future and should result in a quickening of the tempo of departmental operations. The thanks of the Department are due to the R.N.Z.A.F. for the manner in which these operations were conducted. (b) High-level Huts. —It was not possible during the year to proceed with the erection of any further high-level huts. (3) Personnel (a) Progress and Training. —Good progress was maintained in the training of new men as hunters. The steep fall in the prices realized for deer-skins—and it is by no means certain that these prices will not still further recede—has resulted in many experienced hunters again undertaking service with the Department, and this has assisted in the building-up of a strong force of experienced shooters. Numerous requests are, however, being received from local authorities for assistance in controlling feral animals which have become a menace in the areas concerned. To enable the Department to afford this assistance and, at the same time, to meet other expanding responsibilities, it is urgently necessary that further appointments be made to the field staff, which, moreover, suffered severe loss in personnel during and immediately after the war. (b) Accident. —During the course of a campaign against tahr and chamois in the Mount Cook region, a regrettable accident resulted in the death of Mr. D. A. Lyes, a promising young hunter, who was a member of one of the parties operating in that region. The Department's sympathy is extended to his bereaved relatives. E. Rotorua Acclimatization District (1) The Fishing Season Despite the continued dry summer, which extended until the end of March, 1948, many " limit " bags of fish were taken, particularly from the mouths of the Whanganui, Waihora, and Waihaha Rivers, in Western Bay, Lake Taupo. The fish caught were in splendid condition and weighed up to 13| lb.

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