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The absence of any improvement to the Bluff -Melbourne service has been and is, still a drawback to increased traffic to New Zealand from Victoria, obviating as it does in most cases the fitting-in of a complete round trip. However, in the majority of inquiries, tourists have been persuaded to take the next best tour available ; but, on the other hand, the southern tourist resorts have not been visited by Victorian tourists as much as in previous years. The Australian harvest has been exceptionally good, and this, coupled with the fact that tourist traffic from Australia to Great Britain and the Continent has practically ceased, has helped our operations considerably. The appropriation allotted to this office for advertising was judiciously expended per medium of the daily papers and posters, the publicity given to New Zealand and this office by such means, combined with distribution of literature and the exhibition of the Railway Department's posters on railway-station hoardings, helped materially in augmenting tourist traffic to* New Zealand, and also the swelling of booking returns. A pleasing feature of the literature available is that supplied by certain league's in the Dominion, which have for their object the promotion of traffic to their particular districts- the extension of activities in this direction is most helpful. In addition to the foregoing, numerous sets of lantern-slides have been lent, and the film depicting New Zealand scenery has been shown by some of the picture-theatres. This latter form of advertising shows good results, as New Zealand scenery on the film is always appreciated. During the year a considerable amount of work was carried out for the Defence Department, including paying Defence accounts, advancing money to returned wounded and invalided soldiers, obtaining information re Australian Forces, making casualty lists available to the public, answering inquiries re dead, wounded, and missing men, and numerous matters of a general nature. The introduction of passports about last December led to a great deal of hardship to (hose wishing to visit the Dominion, and particularly to those New-Zealanders who happened to be in Australia at the time. This office did all it could to help those immediately affected by this new innovation. However, as soon as the permit system was arranged the situation was immediately relieved, and matters have improved considerably. WORK FOE OTHER DEPARTMENTS. Oilier Departments which have made use of these offices during the period under review include Trade and Customs, Agriculture. Industries and Commerce, Interna] Affairs, Mines, State Fire Insurance, and Public Works in each case, [ think, with satisfactory results to the Departments concerned. An extension of the use of this office by Departments is desired, and could perhaps be taken advantage of to a greater extent than heretofore. 1 regret this year there was no amount made available for the official celebration of New Zealand's national day—Dominion Day both in Melbourne and Sydney. In order that the occasion may not be forgotten here an informal reception was held—many public men calling to pay their repects to the Dominion. These include the Consuls, Trade Commissioners, the Lord Mayor, Councillors, and numerous others. Gknhral. Inquiries by persons seeking information respecting .New Zealand as a place for settlement were numerous, and in all cases full details were made available, many inquirers ultimately deciding to settle in the Dominion. The files of New Zealand papers and other publications in this office have, been resorted to by a large number of New-Zealanders and others seeking information. Inquiries on subjects not already mentioned have been very numerous, and the official publications kept for reference purposes at these offices have been in constant requisition in respect to matters relating to mining, education, finance, legislation, Customs duties, labour, powers of attorney, defence, stamp duties, old-age pensions, and other matters. J. W. Clarke, Acting Agent for New Zealand Government. The General Manager, Wellington, New Zealand. REPORT OF THE NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT AGENT, SYDNEY. New Zealand Government Offices, Sydney, N.S.W., sth April, 1916. 1 have the honour to submit my report for the year ended 31st March, 1916. In reporting on the year's work I am exceedingly pleased to be able to state that, in spite of the war, these offices have been busier than during any past year. There has been a slight falling-off in the tourist section, but the beneficial amount of work that has been carried out for other Government Departments in New Zealand has more than compensated for this. Passenger-booking. The booking of tourists to and through the Dominion has been continued as usual, but I am sorry to report that the money taken at this office is £228 Bs. less than the amount taken for the previous: year. The slight falling-off that has occurred in our tourist business is undoubtedly due to the war,, and the Tourist Bureaux in Sydney and the steamship companies which trade to New Zealand each report a similar experience.