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li,ndat ion-house, who lias, by the terms of his leas,', in keep it in order Mini erect a suitable drink-ing-fountain and bath-house thereon, which the public, on payment of a small charge, can use. This will considerably popularise the spring, which hitherto has been little known. An area of 1,290 acres around Lake Mahinapua, Westland, has been set apart for scenic purposes during the year, and will tend to preserve the picturesqueness of the lake by retaining its border of native forest. This lake is one of Westland's beauty-spots, and well repays a visit thereto. The Waiotapu Valley has now been additionally protected by the reservation of 336 acres of Native land on which are situated some of its thermal attractions, and 140 acres of Crown land nearly adjoining, which includes additional hot springs and lakes. At the present time, therefore, Waiotapu is free to visitors for nearly every manifestation of thermal activity and interest. A hundred acres of freehold land at Katikati, near Tauranga, on which are situated the locally celebrated Waiora hot springs, has also been acquired, and may no \ be visited by the public. Many other small areas of land have also been acquired and reserved, as will be seen byreference to Appendix A of the report, and although much still remains to be done throughout New Zealand to preserve the most attractive and frequented beauty-spots which would otherwise be in danger of destruction, yet there is no fear that this country, which is so richly endowed with picturesque scenery, will fail to retain uninjured the greater part of what visitors praise so highly. Donations. Following the example of Mrs. Nini Koro, who had donated 3 acres of land at Pahiatua Hill for the purposes of scenery-preservation three years ago, and of Mr. W. O. Williams, of Grey-town, who donated 9-acres of land on which is situated the Kahutara Bush, Wairarapa district (reserved in Gazette of the 12th April, 1906), Mr. C. E. Street offered to the Government an area of 25 perches, being Subdivision 2 of Section 85, Block VII, Paritutu District, being the site where Rawiri Waiaua and several loyal Natives were ambuscaded by the Anti-selling League under Katatori in August, 1854, when earring out the instructions of the Government in cutting the boundary-line of the Tarurutangi district. The offer was cordially accepted, and the land will shortly be proclaimed as an historic reserve. Contributions in Aid. A pleasing feature of the year's operations was the willingness of residents of Christchurch and Northcote (an Auckland suburb) to assist the Government in securing for scenic reservation areas of native forest in their localities. This was shown by subscriptions towards the purchase of the land in question, and, as the matter is one which deserves special mention, it may be as well to set forth what has been done in this respect up to the present time. Kennedy's Bush (Christchurch), which now includes !>7 acres, was purchased by the Government at a cost of £954 17s. 3d., towards which the public (through the instrumentality of Mr. H. G. Ell, M.P., and a small committee) contributed no less than £414 17s. 3d. This was an object-lesson to the rest of the Dominion, and has been an example of what can be done by energetic and public-spirited residents who desire to secure a scenic reserve in their neighbourhood. Wilton's Bush (Wellington) affords the example of a public-spirited local body assisting in the preservation of the indigenous forest in its locality. An area of 143 acres was purchased fiom the freehold owners at a cost of £1,053 10s., of which the Wellington City Council has contributed £500, and, as the reserve is within easy walking distance from the city, the inhabitants of Wellington may justly thank their Council for its foresight in assisting to secure what is now the only remaining piece of the original forest that formerly clothed the hillsides of the Tinakori hills and surrounding country. The Government are paying a caretaker to watch over this area. The Kauri (,'ulli/, Northcote (near Auckland), contained L'l acres, ami, as it was the site of some fine specimens of young kauri-trees and native bush, the residents of the locality, by means of private subscriptions and entertainments, raised the sum of £50, which Government subsidised by £100, making a total of £450, so as to enable the picturesque gully to be preserved intact. A view of the land appears in this report. The above are examples of what can be done and should be done by inhabitants of populous boroughs who desire the Government to purchase scenic reserves for their benefit. Applications for the- acquisition of the Hunua (or Wairoa) Falls, near Auckland. Waihirere Bush, near Gisbofne, and Nicholl's Creek Palls, Water of Leith, near Dunedin, have been treated in this manner, and it now rests with those people who so strongly urge their reservation to take the necessary steps to raise sufficient funds to warrant the Government in promising a subsidy to purchase the lands in question. Botanical Value. Another feature of scenery reserves is their very great botanical value. Owing to the varied nature of vegetation in New Zealand, and the numerous reservations of choice portions ~f scenery, a botanist is well repaid by visits made to any of the reserves. A brief account of two of the Wellington reserves (Wilton's Bush and Silverstroam), by Dr. Cockayne, appears in Appendix B, and next voar it is hoped that a more general and elaborate report will be* published. Botany in the Dominion is comparatively in its infancy, and a magnificent chance presents itself to all botanists who desire to study our interesting and in many respects unique vegetation and will visit the scenic reserves set apart by the Government. Comparatively unexplored in a scientific sense, they will yield a rich reward to all students of botany who take the advantage now presented. The interesting and valuable report on a botanical survey of the Tongariro National Park, by Dr. Cockayne, now being published as a separate parliamentary paper, will serve as an object-lesson in this direction, and indicate the advantages to be gained by a systematic study of our natural flora. Nowhere in the world are such beautiful and rare plants and trees to be found as in New Zealand, and the time is not far distant when this will be widely recognised, and visitors from abroad will undertake what our own students have overlooked.