H.-2.

2

The gross arrivals and departures for the year ending the 31st December, 1905, as published by the Registrar-General, were 56,068, as against 54,909 for 1904, showing the increase in moving traffic of 1,159, which approximately equals the increased number of oversea visitors recorded by this Department. During the five years the Department has been in operation the increase in population by arrivals over departures has been greatly in excess of any previously recorded. From 1901 to 1905 the gain to the colony by this means has been 45,446. Agencies of the Department in Sydney and Melbourne have been opened, and it is expected that a great increase of traffic will result from more direct connection between the people of the Commonwealth and the Department. With these two agencies in operation a fair indication will be obtained as to the value of further extension of the Department's influence. During the year an attempt was made to introduce a supply of cisco or lake-herring from America to supplement the food-supplies for trout in Lake Rotorua, but I regret to say that owing to faulty packing the consignment went bad on the voyage. Some Mackinaw or great lake trout and landlocked salmon, however, were successfully landed. The salmon were sent to the Southland Acclimatisation Society for liberation in Lake Te Anau, and the Mackinaw trout divided between the Canterbury and Westland Societies for liberation in Lakes Pearson and lanthe.