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This display, supplemented by photographs of different types of erosion, lias been a very successful means of arousing interest. These displays were exhibited at twelve of the leading Agricultural and Pastoral shows in the North Island and fourteen in the South Island. Hydrology The technical committee set up by the Council to study the question of hydrologic data, as mentioned in the last annual report, has explored the whole position and has made full recommendations as to what further information should be obtained. A skeleton series of run-off stations is to be established on the main rivers, and further rainfall stations are to be added to the existing national network to give comprehensive cover over the whole Dominion. This programme will be a gradual one spread over several years, -dependent on availability of labour and supplies of materials and equipment. On the rainfall data side some advance has been made during the year. Whereas at the beginning of the year there were in the Meteorological Service national network some 578 manual rain-gauge stations and 28 automatic raingauge stations, at the end of the year there were 688 manual and 32 automatic rain-gauges. Arrangements have been made for the establishment of approximately 1,000 manual and 130 automatic rain-gauges by the end of 1949 within the national network. In addition, there are now well over 100 raingauges, privately owned, whose records are now being made available to the meteorological office for inclusion in analyses and publications. River-gauging stations, requiring before establishment a lengthy survey and the construction of a permanent structure to house a water-level recorder, with, in many cases, a cableway, from which discharge measurements will be made, naturally take longer to establish. However, the Council has now authorized four stations, and surveys are being carried out on a further 70 automatic stations and 130 staff gauge-stations. There are already in existence some 26 automatic stations and 97 staff gauging-stations. Some 12 automatic water-level recorders were received from England, a further 12 were ordered, while the first 9 current meters have been shipped. A proposal in regard to the control of ground-water and involving new legislation has been prepared. Destruction of Pests The Council is very conscious of the importance of destruction of pests, particularly deer, opossums, and rabbits, to achieve soil conservation. It has not actively undertaken any work itself, but has deeply interested itself in the work of other Departments, particularly the Wildlife Branch of Internal Affairs, in deer, goat, and opossum destruction, and is gratified with the recent regulations relating to the taking of the latter. It is considered that perhaps the biggest menace is the rabbit problem, and is anxious to implement more effective measures of control. Fire-control The Council has co-operated during the year with the State Forest Service in a fire-prevention-publicity campaign, and is endeavouring to expand its activities in this direction.

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