H.—2

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Visits of Inspection. I reached Wellington from St. Louis and Europe on the 23rd August, 1905, and at once took over the Department from Mr. Robieson, the Acting-Superintendent. During November and December I visited Te Aroha, Rotorua, Waitomo, and Wanganui River. In February and March I visited South Westland, went over the Haast Pass to Pembroke, thence to Queenstown, Dunedin, Christchurch, and Hanmer. Agencies. The work of the agencies is extending year by year as they become better known. For the year 1905-6 the inquiries at these agencies numbered 36,909, as against 35,710 for the previous year. With the opening of bureaux in the Commonwealth the use and value of all agencies will be much enhanced as a means of interchanging information and promoting oversea traffic. Advertising. During the year more attention than usual has been devoted to an advertising campaign in Great Britain, United States, and Australia, with most satisfactory results. As pointed out in the last annual report, it is not possible with our limited means to enter upon comprehensive schemes of advertising, but what has been done during the past year is good evidence that expenditure in this direction brings in ample returns. In addition to the ordinary advertising, a large number of well-illustrated articles have appeared in a variety of illustrated newspapers and magazines. From letters received it is evident that such articles come widely u-sider notice, and attract considerable attention. The number of inquiries from oversea countries has greatly increased, and by one mail alone over 1,200 letters and post-cards were received from inquirers in America asking lor information with a view to settlement or touring. For advertising purposes of various kinds and for lecturing, 12,220 photographs and 2,630 lantern-slides have been sent out. The receipts from sales of photos and lantern-slides amount to £185 Is. Two revised issues of the Department's " Itinerary of Travel " were published during the season, totalling 15,000 copies, which have been distributed in New Zealand and abroad. A small pamphlet on the Hot Lakes Round Trip was also issued, and was much appreciated by tourists visiting Rotorua. The pamphlets entitled " The Mineral Waters and Health Resorts of New Zealand," issued last year, have had a very wide circulation, and are in such demand that the supply of the Rotorua part is exhausted. A fresh edition is now in the Press. The Southern Lakes Guide and a general publication on New Zealand are now in the printer's hands, and should be in circulation very shortly. Guides to the various resorts and districts have been prepared, and it is expected will be available for next season. The work in the Head Office has very largely increased, the correspondence for the year totalling 26,046 letters, as against 22,256 for the previous year. During the past year the Department's photographer has made valuable additions to the stock of pictures used for distribution and advertising purposes. The principal photographic trips undertaken were through the Taupo, Waikato, and Auckland Districts, where numerous pictures were made of lake, bush, and mountain scenery, Maori life, pastoral and agricultural scenes. Country industries, such as flax-milling, dairying, &c, were also well photographed, and at Auckland many pictures were secured of the city, its marine suburbs, and shipping. A journey was also made through Westland from Greymouth down to the Haast Pass and Lake Wanaka. Lake Wakatipu and surroundings were also well photographed, and occasion was taken on the return trip via the east coast to secure numerous pictures in and around Dunedin and Christchurch. Sport. As a result of my visit to the United States, arrangements were made to procure a stock of cisco or lake - herring as a food - supply for Lake Rotorua trout. These, with some Mackinaw, or great lake trout and landlocked salmon, were ordered through the United States Bureau of Fisheries, Washington, and were brought to New Zealand in charge of the New Zealand Chief Inspector of Fisheries, Mr. L. F. Ayson. The consignment consisted of 100,000 cisco or lake-herring from the Put-in Bay Hatchery, Lake Erie, 50,000 Makinaw trout from Northville, Michigan, and landlocked salmon from Green Lake, Maine. Through faulty packing the cisco or lake-herring eggs went bad, and the whole of them had perished on arrival at Auckland. Some of the salmon and Mackinaw were lost, but the bulk of these lots were safely landed. The Southland Acclimatisation Society successfully hatched out good healthy fry of the land-locked-salmon ova. These will be liberated in Lake Te Anau. The Mackinaw trout were hatched out by the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society for liberation in Lakes Pearson and lanthe. The fishing at Rotorua was very heavy for the season, 22,140 fish being taken, an increase of about 47 per cent, on the previous season. The recorded weight of Rainbow trout caught was 38 tons 10 cwt. 3 qr. Some of our indigenous birds,- &c, were sent to America and Great Britain during the year. Four each of tuatara lizards, keas, kiwis, and wekas were despatched to the National Zoological Park, Washington, D.C., but only half this number reached Washington alive. A dozen kiwis were sent to Great Britain, care of Mr. H. C. Wilkie, M.R.C.V.S., and reached the London Zoo without loss. Some of these interesting birds are to be sent to the Emperor of Austria, who is presenting to the New Zealand Government some chamois for liberation in the alpine region of this country.