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of the Department up to 492. In most cases the trustees who have been appointed for their control realize the responsibilities placed upon them. There are, however, a few who are dilatory in taking the necessary steps for making by-laws imposing a scale of fees, &c, and in keeping proper burial registers. Such cases when ascertained are duly inquired into, and every effort made to place matters upon a satisfactory basis. In sparsely populated districts the trustees experience some difficulty in obtaining revenue, but such difficulties would be somewhat lessened if they had power to lease any unused portion of their cemeteries. The Department, as far as possible, endeavours to arrange the vesting of cemeteries in the local authorities, as the Act settles upon them the onus of providing suitable cemeteries and burialplaces. When this ran be effected the routine work of the Department is lessened. During the year seven new areas were reserved for cemetery sites. (3.) Public Domains. During the year six new domains were brought under Part II of the Public Reserves and Domains Act, 1908. This now makes a total of 512 administered under the Act. A large proportion of these have been highly improved, and the Boards are generally carrying out their duties satisfactorily. A special report will be laid before Parliament in accordance with the usual practice, giving details in regard to each domain. (4.) Inspection of Sand-dunes and Dune-areas. All around the coast of New Zealand are to be found sand-wastes, in some cases of considerable extent, and their growth, and the consequent diminution of arable or pastoral land, needs careful attention. With a view to obtaining accurate and practical data upon which to work, Dr. Cockayne, the eminent botanist, has off and on for the past two years been inspecting and reporting upon these areas on behalf of the Department, and in a separate report —which will be laid before Parliament —gives the result of his detailed inspections, with valuable suggestions and plans as to combating their incursion and gradually bringing them into cultivation. It behoves local bodies and private landowners, equally with the Government, to grapple with the evil, and there seems no doubt that comprehensive and combined efforts will effect a great transformation in the eand-areas of New Zealand. (5.) Tongariro National Park. Undei the provisions of the Tongariro National Park Act, 1894, the management of the park is intrusted to a Board of Trustees, the permanent Chairman of which is the Minister of Lands, and amongst its members are the Under-Secretary for Lands, the Surveyor-General, and the Commissioner of Crown Lands for the Wellington District. Honorary inspectors have been appointed amongst the officers of the Department, together with a Secretary, and as the clerical and administration expenses are practically nil, owing to correspondence and other matters being undertaken by the Department with its ordinary work, the small vote that is from time to time placed on the appropriations for the purpose of the park is almost entirely devoted to the maintenance and improvement of the huts and tracks. During the year a track has been made, partly by private persons, from Rangataua to Mount Ruapehu, and a new line of ascent provided for visitors. There is no falling-off in visits to the mountains that are included in the boundaries of the park, and as time goes on the varied attractions will be more widely known and appreciated. (6.) Kapiti Island. The Kapiti Island Public Reserve Act, 1897, made the greater part of the island the property of the Crown, and only a small portion now remains in the hands of the Maori owners. A resident caretaker has been appointed by the Department, and has for some time past protected the Native fauna and flora against destruction and interference in a very able manner. Mr. Richard Henry, the caretaker, is well known as having formerly been the sole resident of Resolution Island. Sounds National Park. (7.) Kauri-gum Industry Act. The passing of the Kauri-gum Industry Amendment Act, 1910, placed the administration of the Act in the hands of the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland, in place of the various County Councils that formerly issued licenses and dealt with the lands. At the present time six special Rangers periodically inspect the kauri-gum lands north of Auckland, and see that the provisions of the Act are complied with. Owing to the provisions of the original Kauri-gum Industry Act appearing