H.—22,

Taupo Landing Reserve. —Control of this property was vested in the Department, and regulations dealing with the reserve were gazetted. As provided for in these regulations, certain areas were set aside for camping-sites and others for business. sites. Many visitors availed themselves of the facilities for camping, and three business sites were leased. Leases were also arranged in respect of the various offices on the wharf. The Department intends to carry out a considerable amount of work in connection with this reserve, which it is believed will result not only in advantage and convenience to anglers and visitors, but also will be a considerable asset to the town. Among other activities it is intended to establish an Information Bureau, which will contain all up-to-date information not only regarding Taupo fisheries, but regarding other matters of interest to visiting anglers and others. In connection with the bureau it is intended to inaugurate, among other things, an anglers' bulletin, which, on the lines of a weather report, will give details regarding the fish caught, the weights of fish, the lures used, and various matters in regard to rivers and streams, &c. The Department, realizing that the reserve may be said to be the entrance to the lake, hopes to be able to make such entrance worthy of its surroundings, and is now having a survey made of the reserve with a view of determining the use to which various parts are to be put, allocating camp-sites, business sites, tree-planting reserves, &c. When this has been done it is proposed to have coloured maps prepared and placed in prominent positions, in order that all those concerned may see what.the eventual object is the Department aims at, it being hoped and believed that all concerned will assist in beautifying the reserve and helping the Department to attain its object. Registrar-General's Office. Births. —The total birth registrations were 29,450, a slight decrease on the previous year's figures. Included in this number are correcting and legitimation entries, registrations under section 27 (after adoption), and under section 24 (special provision for unregistered births). There were 439 adoptions recorded and 300 legitimations, necessitating in every case a new birth registration, and also 101 registrations under section 24. Maori births registered totalled-1,458. Deaths. —There were 11,647 death registrations (including correcting-entries). Maori death registrations numbered 917. Marriages.—lo,6ss marriage notices were received by Registrars on which certificates authorizing marriage were issued, and 10,559 marriages were solemnized. Of this number 2,049 (or about 20 per cent.) were solemnized by Registrars of Marriages. There were 467 dissolutions of marriage recorded, and 228 marriages of Maoris solemnized under the provisions of the Native Land Act. Officiating Ministers. —On the 31st December last there were 1,999 names on the list of officiating ministers authorized to solemnize marriage, of the following religious denominations : Church of England, 499 ; Presbyterian Church, 410 ; Roman Catholic Church, 306 ; Methodist Church, 271 ; Congregational Independents, 35 ; Baptists, 68 ; Church of Christ, 30 ; Salvation Army, 157 ; Ratana Church, 123 ; Ringatu Church, 45 ; other religious bodies, 99. Dentists. —Twenty-eight dentists were registered, and ten names removed on account of death. Of those registered the qualifications were—Bachelor of Dental Surgery, University of New Zealand, 10 ; and certificate of Proficiency in Dental Surgery, University of New Zealand, 9. Eight were registered under the special provisions of section 2 of the Dentists Amendment Act, 1926, and one under section 15 (2) of the Dentists Act, 1908. Searches and Certificates. —The total number of searches made and certificates issued in the Head Office increased from 31,719 in 1926 to 41,366 in 1927, the latter being made up as follows : for Pensions Department, 14,476 (including 9,257 in connection with family allowance claims), for National Provident Fund, 3,664 ; for Labour Department, 1,931 ; for Education Department, 953 ; other searches (for public), 11,019 ; certificates issued, 9,323. The District Offices in the main centres made over 2,000 searches for other Departments of the State. Revenue and Expenditure. —The revenue for the year 1927-28 amounted to £18,390 net, a slight increase on the revenue for the previous year. The expenditure was £17,781. Office of Chief Inspector of Explosives. Importation of Explosives. —Importation licenses for the following explosives were issued during the license year ending 30th June, 1927: Gelignite, 791,2501b.; blasting - gelatine, 48,8501b.; gelatine-dynamite, 25,500 lb.; A 2 Monobel, 365,0501b.; Samsonite No. 3, 253,450 lb. ; blasting-powder, 97,5001b.; sporting-powder, 11,7101b.; pellets, 116,2501b.; detonators, 2,100,000; E.D. fuses, 940,000 ; fireworks (packages), 2,386 ; other licenses were issued during the same period as follows (corresponding figures for the previous year being given in parentheses): Conveyance, 240 (271); storage, 371 (371) ; sales, 800 (672). Exuding Explosives. —During the year two shipments of Samsonite No. 3 received from Australia were found to be exuding heavily. The explosives were transferred to Auckland and reconditioned in a specially constructed workroom at the Maraetai Magazine. The condition of explosives examined has otherwise been good. Explosions in Domestic Grates. —An epidemic of this class of explosion occurred during the year, about twenty cases being reported within a period of three months. Inquiries showed that a number of the explosions were of a minor type, but a proportion were of sufficient violence to indicate the presence of explosives in the coal. An inspection was therefore made at the principal mines with particular reference to the method of handling detonators. It was found that a certain amount of laxity existed in several mines, and regulations were subsequently made under the Coal-mines Act

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