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The ]>resent caretaker, Mr. J. L. Bennett, has acted in this capacity for a number of years ; he evinces a keen interest in the protection of the bird and plant life of the island. The following extracts from Mr. Bennett's annual report may be found of general interest, and are published accordingly : " Bird-feed. —Owing to the wet spring and the north-west gales in March the bird-feed will not be very plentiful this coining winter. " Ttws.— All the tuis left the island on the 18th March and returned on the 24th August. They are not as plentiful now as before they left, but are still very numerous. On the 29th May Mr. W. H. Field, M.P., at a meeting of the Wellington Acclimatization Society, spoke of the reappearance of the tuis in the Waikanae district. The tuis no doubt came from Kapiti. From all accounts there are very few tuis at present at Waikanae ; they have returned home to Kapiti. " Opossums. —ln many parts of the bush the damage done by opossums is noticeable. Kohekohe, mahoe, and passion-flower vine are among the plants that most frequently show the marks of being attacked. There are several groups of dead fuchsia-trees killed by opossums. Systematic trapping has been carried out, and a great many of the fuchsia-trees are showing signs of recovery. Some are too far gone to recover, but the majority of them will be n good heart in a year or two, now that the danger to them is understood and steps are being taken to save them. " Land exchanged. —During the year all the Native interests have been so arranged that they are now confined to the north end—4s chains of fencing being required to finish the boundary-fence."

Approximate Cott of Paper.— Preparation, not siren; printing (1,000 copies), f7.

Authority : Marcus F. Marks, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9l9.

Price 6d. |