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The Fiordland National Park continues to enjoy great popularity as a tourist attraction. During tlie past season the number of people who visited Milford Sound, including day visitors via the Homer Tunnel, campers and trampers via the Milford Track, and those who stayed at the hostel, was estimated at 2,000. Approximately 1,000 visitors travelled via the Milford Track. It is also estimated that 5,000 people toured the Eglinton Valley and that about 300 did the trip from Manapouri to Doubtful Sound. Arrangements were made during the year for an officer of the Department of Internal Affairs to act as a ranger and patrolman in the Eglinton Valley area, so that it will now be possible to provide increased supervision in this locality. Proposals for the establishment by the Southland Automobile Association of a motor camp near Milford Sound Hostel are at present being investigated. The Caswell and George Sounds area was visited by a combined scientific expedition representative of the United States and New Zealand. This expedition was concerned with surveying, geology, botany, forestry, entomology, ornithology, and fauna, and an intensive study was made of the habits of wapiti introduced some years ago from the United States of America. The expedition comprised about twenty-four scientists and camp personnel, and spent four and a half months in the area. This Department was represented by a party of four, and attention was given to the fixing by survey of various positions and height-control points for aerial photographs, to enable compilation of a detailed topographical map. The Department's officers also connected up two trigonometrical surveys between Caswell and George Sounds. Another event of particular interest was the rediscovery of the notornis in the Fiordland area by Dr. G. B. Orbell and party. This discovery was followed by a further investigation by Dr. E. A. Falla. Special legislation designed to protect the notornis colonies was passed as section 38 of the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Act, 1948. This legislation provides for the issue of special permits to any person who desires to enter or remain in the area in which the notornis was rediscovered.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given; printing (699 copies), £lO.

By Authority: E. E. Owen, Government Printer, Wellington. —1949.

Price 6d.~\

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