H.-22

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Local Legislation. —Apart from harbour legislation, there were eight local Acts last session, most of them containing important powers. The most notable were—• The Christchurch Milk-supply and Markets Amendment Act, 1917, which may be regarded as a war measure in that it expires six months after the cessation of hostilities, is interesting as the first New Zealand attempt to avoid the economic waste caused, for example, by half a dozen different tradesmen delivering goods to as many houses in the one street. The Wellington City Empowering Act, 191.7, contains in section 3 perhaps the most important town-planning legislation yet enacted in New Zealand. It gives the City Council a power over subdivisions of land in the city that has long been necessary. The Wellington City Trading Department's Reserve and Renewal Funds Act, 11)17, gives the City Council power, in respect of its tramway, electric-light and power-supply undertakings, to make annual appropriations to provide renewal and reserve funds, after making provision for interest and sinking fund of loans and for maintenance and repairs. This Act is significant of the growing tendency of local authorities to make their trading undertakings self-contained and self-supporting businesses. With adequate safeguards such as are provided in this Aid. nothing but good can result from it, A further power contained in this Act is that enabling the City Council to establish accident funds in connection with the above-mentioned undertakings. The Day's Bay Sanitation and Water-supply Act, 1917, is an interesting example of the manner in which the cities and larger boroughs are tending to give outside areas not yet ready for full municipal control the benefit of the primary municipal services. In this particular case, however, the provision of water and drainage at a cost of some ,£1.0.000 was considered by the Day's Bay ratepayers to be too heavy a liability for an area with a capital valuation of less than .£BO,OOO. The Hawke's Bay Rivers Amendment Act, 1917, I have already referred to. (2.) Inland, Fisheries. The best justification of the Department's work during the past: five years is the fact that the improvement in the condition of the trout, in Lake Rotorua was such that this year it was decided not to take fish from it for market purposes. Instead. Lakes Rotoiti and Tarawera were exploited for the first time, the former successfully, but very few fish were taken in Lake Tarawera. The total output for the period Ist November, 1917, to 31st March, 1918, from Lakes Rotoiti, Tarawera, and Taupo was 38,217 fish, weighing 46 tons, as against -12,995 fish, weighing 35 tons, from Rotorua and Taupo last year, a decrease of 4,778 in the number of fish caught, but an increase of 11 tons in weight, both the decrease and increase being due to the substitution of Lake Rotoiti for Lake Rotorua, where the fish are more numerous and smaller. At Lake Taupo the return for the period was 17,947 fish, weighing 24 tons, as against 8,743 fish, weighing 10 tons, last year. This substantial increase would have been even greater' but for unprecedented gales on the lake during the season, which often prevented the fishing-launch going out, and at other times seriously interfered with the catches. This year the transport of trout from Taupo to the Main Trunk Railway was much improved. Previously, the only means available was the coach from Tokaanui to Waiouru. The opening for traffic of the new road from Tokaanui to Waimarino made it possible to use a motor-lorry, purchased for the purpose. Despite one rather serious breakdown, the new departure was a great success. Tile cost to the Department of running (he lorry was lessened by an arrangement with the Justice Department whereby it. was utilized in connection with prisons work. In order to ensure that the public should obtain the trout at a reasonable price it was supplied to Wellington dealers at 3jd. per pound fresh and sd. smoked, on condition that the retail prices should not exceed 6d. and Bd. respectively. The arrangement proved satisfactory both to the Department and the dealers. Shags. —6o6 shags (as against 1,132 last year) were accounted for, at a cost of £75 15s. Trout-hatchery. —Despite the great difficulty experienced in obtaining suitable labour, the output from the hatchery was 780,00(5 ova and 350,000 fry, as against 435,000 ova and 217,000 frylast year. (3.) Animals Protection Act. The year 1917 being an open one. shooting seasons were declared in all districts Imt one. During the year representations for an open season for paradise ducks were made by the Southland Acclimatization Society. It being ascertained that these birds had increased in great numbers in that, district it was decided to grant the request, and a warrant declaring a season from the Ist to the 31st May, 1918, in that district was gazetted on the 17th January, L9lB. This is the iirsf open season, for paradise ducks for ten years. Requests for open seasons for native pigeon have been declined. So net liar it's. —Seventeen new sanctuaries were declared. Opossums. —At present opossums are absolutely protected in some districts, while in others the protection has been removed altogether. This is an unsatisfactory position in that there is no power to declare a shooting season in any district. It is intended to amend the law when an opportunity offers. Various requests by acclimatization societies for permission to liberate opossums in their districts have been received and dealt with. No liberations in Crown forests are authorized without consulting the Lands and Survey Department, and it is a fixed rule to decline any application in respect of areas in orcharding districts. Fewer complaint's than usual of damage caused by opossums were made during the year, Importation of Birds and Animals. —An application for permission to import stubble-quail from Australia was granted, after consulting the Board of Agriculture. The question of stocking the waste forest and scrub lands id' the Southern Alps with furbear ill g animals was raised. One correspondent suggested the introduction of the vicuna,' the alpaca, and the llama. The Board id' Agriculture not seeing its way to recommend the liberation of these animals, no action was taken. The Tuata/ra. —The report of the lightkeepers on various islands who are acting as special protectors show that the measures of protection already taken have had good results, the tuatara