Fish were in fair supply during May, except during a few days of stormy weather. Some exceptionally large Flounders were caught on the 7th; on the 8th, a fine Snapper; and towards the close of the month Trevally were very plentiful. June was a month of very severe weather all through, but with the exception of a few days the supply was good and sometimes plentiful. On the 19th, a solitary Barracoota was caught in a net in the Lower Harbour. A market for the sale of fish, etc., was the subject of some discussion during the month. July was characterised by a continuance of fine clear frosty weather nearly all through the month, winding up with a snowstorm on the last day. The great feature of the month was the abundance of Frostfish which were brought to town in greater or less number for 20 days. They were mostly brought from the beaches between Blueskin and the Heads, and formed quite a small harvest to the younger settlers along that line of the coast, as pretty fair prices were given for them by the dealers, who resold them at prices ranging from five to ten shillings each. In accordance with the wish of the President and others, expressed at the time I read the paper last year, I wrote to Mr. Traill, of Stewart Island, for particulars as to the state of the trade there, but I never received any reply. However, I am able to give the following statistics as to the number of boats and men engaged in the trade at the present time, August 7th, 1878:— There are engaged in the fishing, outside of the Heads, 9 whale-boats and 2 cutters, employing about 30 men. In the Harbour or seining branch there are 16 boats and about 40 men engaged. At Port Chalmers there are two smoke-houses with four men to each. At Stewart Island I have learned there are two smoke-houses, and about 30 men engaged in boating, etc. Hoping that the figures and facts I have drawn together may be some use to the members, I now bring my three years' task to a conclusion.

Art. LIII.—The District of Okarito, Westland. By A. Hamilton. [Read before the Westland Institute, 16th July, 1878.] The Okarito district comprises a large area of comparatively unknown ground, as the whole of the settlements which have at one time or anoter existed on it, have been either on the sea-coast or on the river-beds. The sole attraction to settlers having been the “Auri sacra fames,” agriculture has been comparatively neglected, though many excellent areas of ground