ti.— 2.

Accident Insurance. The expenditure on accident insurance for the staff has been higher than usual, owing to the adjustment to cover the higher wages of the previous financial year; but all reasonable precautions have been taken, and no accidents to the workmen, even of a trivial nature, have occurred. Municipal Administration of Ohinemutu and Whakarewarewa Native Villages. Among the important events of the year has been the handing-over to the Department as a municipal authority of the administration in the Native villages of Ohinemutu and Whakarewarewa of the powers and functions of the Maori Council. In the past these villages have been in a very dirty and insanitary condition, except on the main tourist thoroughfares, and no control has been exercised over the buildings, a large number of which have fallen into a very dilapidated condition; in fact, there has been an entire absence of the spirit of municipal responsibility among the Natives. In order to meet this difficulty Village Committees (Komiti Marae) were formed in each village, and charged with the powers intrusted to them by the Maori Councils Act. The Rev. F. A. Bennett was appointed Permanent Secretary of these Committees and Sanitary Inspector, and under his direction they are already doing active and excellent work. In addition to the social functions imposed on these Committees by the Maori Councils Act, the necessary cleaning-up and urgent sanitary improvements, as well as a very modest programme of road-formation, has been carried out in each of the villages, which have already effected a marked improvement. Unfortunately, the administration of the villages brings no increase in the municipal revenue beyond a few dog-registration fees and billiard-room licenses, amounting to £12 or £15 per annum, which is less than one-tenth of the barest cost of lighting and cleaning the villages, and funds will therefore not permit of more than the most urgent improvements being put in hand. During the past year the following improvements were carried out : In Whakarewarewa four additional streetlamps, two additional standpipes for public water-supply, 5 chains of new road formation giving access to the back sections of the village, and cleaning and maintenance of the main road. In Ohinemutu and Tarewa villages five new street-lamps, four public standpipes, about 40 chains of 1 in. water-main, and about 15 chains of new road-formation, as well as the general cleaning and tidying up of the village. In conclusion, 1 have to acknowledge the loyal and hearty co-operation of each member of the staff in attaining such excellent results from the year's operations. Yours, tea., Lawrence Birks, B.Sc, A.M.1.C.E., Resident Officer. APPENDIX V. REPORT ON ROTORUA ACCLIMATISATION DISTRICT. Sir, — Department of Tourist and Health Resorts, Rotorua, 2nd July, 1909. 1 have the honour to report on the administration of the Rotorua Acclimatisation District for the year ending 31st March, 1909, as follows : — In addition to the area under the control of the Department at the beginning of the year, about 7,500 .square miles, extending 160 miles from Table Cave on the east to the Wanganui River on the west, and 110 miles from Ruapelm mi the south to the Ray of Plenty on the north, the Whakatane County was added to the district during the year, increasing the area by an additional 1,200 square miles. The work carried out during the year has consisted mainly in the hatching and distribution of trout, and ranging the district to prevent the illegal destruction of game. Trout. The hatcher) - on the Waikuta Stream has again proved very successful under Mr. E. F. Rutherford's charge, and the following quantities of eyed ova and fry have been distributed : — Eyed Ova. July 13, Wellington Acclimatisation Society ... ... 70,000 „ 17, Waitaki-Waiimite Acclimatisation Society ... 50,0 0 „ 20, Whangarei Acclimatisation Society ... ... 60,000 25, Wairoa district ... ..." ... ... 100,000 25, Morere ... ... ... ... 50,000 31, Stratford ... ... ... 10,000 31, Wellington ... ... ... ... 10,000 August 21. Morere (Mr. McKain) ... ... ... 55,000 September 6, Wairoa district ... ... ... ... 45,000 450,000

23