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receipts from the playing-greens and miscellaneous sources during the year totalled £72 10s. 6d., against £44 16s. 3d. for the previous year. By-laws for the regulation and control of the Queenstown reserves have been promulgated during the year. There is still a demand for improved steamers for the lake traffic. Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau and the Fiordland National Park. The tourist traffic to these districts shows a steady increase each year. The total receipts this year were £2,243 lis. 10d., as against £2,114 18s. 9d. for the previous year. The traffic on Lake Manapouri has been about the same as during the past two seasons, many people omitting the trip to this lake on account of the coach service not being more frequent. Native-bird Life. —Captain Dore reports : " There appears to be no notable increase in bird life generally. Round the lake pigeons and kakas seem to be holding their own, and grey and paradise ducks have increased." Weasels are increasing everywhere, and the ground-birds are entirely at their mercy. Glade House and Milford Track have again been well patronised, 484 visitors having passed through, as against 413 during 1907-8; the revenue being £903 2s. 7d., against £769 2s. for the previous season ; an increase of £134 os. 7d. An interesting point in connection with the Milford Track is the number of ladies who this season made the journey—viz., 137. Nearly every visitor expressed satisfaction with the methods adopted by the Department to cater for their comfort, and there is no doubt that when the attractions of this tour are better known the number of visitors will largely increase. A light suspension bridge for foot traffic only over the Arthur River was completed during the year, the length of span being 200 ft. Owing to the remoteness and inaccessibility of the site, this proved a work of considerable difficulty, as the materials had to be taken round to Milford Sound by steamer, then boated to Lake Ada, and finally packed on men's backs to the required position. Unfortunately, during a flood about the end of March the piers of the bridge canted, allowing the flood waters of the river to reach the decking, with the result that the whole structure has been greatly injured, but it will soon be repaired. A foot-track has been constructed between Lake Wakatipu and Glade House, Lake Te Anau. It was completed near the close of last season, and was made use of by some few parties. It should be largely used when suitable huts are available at convenient distances along the tracks. Easter Excursion to West Coast Sounds. At the instance of the Hon. Thomas Mackenzie, the Union Company arranged for their s.s. " Talune " to run an excursion from Dunedin to these Sounds at the cheap fare of £5 return. The accommodation was fully booked long before the date of departure, and many people were disappointed in not being able to make the trip. Leaving Dunedin on the evening of the Bth April, with 230 passengers, the s.s. " Talune " sailed direct to Preservation Inlet, thence to Doubtful Sound, visiting Crooked Arm, Smith Sound, Hall Arm, and Deep Cove ; thence she proceeded to Breaksea Sound, via Acheron Passage and Wet Jacket Arm, and up Dusky Sound; and on the return journey visited Preservation Inlet, Cuttle Cove, and Long Sound, reaching Dunedin at 8 a.m. on the 13th April. This excursion proved so successful from every point of view that there is no doubt it will become an annual fixture, and that next year larger steamers will have to be provided to accommodate the large number of people desirous of viewing the majestic and unique scanery of the West Coast Sounds. Stewart Island. f The tourist traffic to this resort has been greater than ever this season, and complaints regarding lack of accommodation on the island have been very frequent. By the courtesy of the Secretary, Bluff Harbour Board, I am able to quote the number of visitors who went over to the island from the Bluff during the last three years, viz. : 1907, 2,277; 1908, 2,476; 1909, 2,632. Native Bird Sanctuaries. Little Barrier Island. The weather during the breeding season was very favourable, and numbers of young birds were to be seen on the flat and near the house. There is ample evidence of increase in bird-life, and the sanctuary is undoubtedly filling its mission. There has been no evidence of any trespassers visiting the island during the past year. Owing to the mild spring, food for the birds was abundant, the various shrubs being covered with fruit, especially the Coprosmas. Resolution Island. Early in the year Mr. R. Henry, the Custodian, received from the Lands Department the appointment of Custodian at K.tpiti Island, and Lieutenant Goldfinch was appointed to Resolution Island in his place, arriving there early in October. He reports, under date 15th December : Wekas and penguins are very numerous, and a few black swans and ducks are to be seen. 30th January : The penguins are now leaving the Sound for the sea, a few wood-pigeons visit the island to feed on the pine berries, and some kakas are