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deficiency of ice, or accident, or delay in the transit, as there was abundance of ice on the ova throughout, and the process of hatching did not begin until a fortnight after the arrival of the ova at the ponds. The great success which has attended the American method of packing ova, and the great economy of space which it secures, induces the Commissioners to recommend this method to the careful consideration of any gentleman who may be charged with the superintendence of future shipments from England. I have, &c., James Menzies, Chairman, Southland Salmon Commissioners. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington.

No. 19. The Hon. Mr. Menzies, M.L.C., to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. My dear Sir, — Dun Alister, AVyndham, 21st June, 1878. I return enclosed the vouchers you sent, certified, and I observe that they include nearly all the charges that arc now due to Mr. Howard, either directly or secondarily. The exceptions are —Scearle, £1; and E. M. Browne, last service, £12 ss. The charges paid by Howard have been for carriage of ova and fry, and cleaning the ponds. For the last year you may remember we received authority from Dr. Pollen formally to an amount not exceeding £20. The receipts for the amount paid by Mr. Howard have all been forwarded in my letters to your office of sth February, 15th April, and 10th June; the memorandum on Mr. Howard's note of account will show the dates of their being sent respectively. I hope you will get Howard's salary paid up as soon as possible, for the present state of matters is not very pleasant either for him or for the Commissioners. The " Chimborazo " ova have turned out better than any of our previous shipments of English salmon ova, there being about 2,500 fry from about 42,000 or 44,000 ova, which is a small percentage when contrasted with the proportion hatched out from the Californian ova: still, with what we have turned out before, it may be hoped that the Salmo salar will be naturalized. The great foe —the most destructive to the fry—is the cormorant; and it is not unlikely the Government may be asked to give rewards for their destruction. I have, <fee, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. James Menzies.

No. 20. The Hon. Mr. Menzies, M.L.C., to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir,— Wellington, 4th October, 1878. I have the honor to inform you that I learn from the Curator of tho Southland Salmon Ponds that he has placed in the Aparima River about 1,700 salmon fry hatched from the ova received from England in autumn by the " Chimborazo." Of these, 300 were hatched from the ova sent by Mr. Buckland, and the remainder from those packed by Mr. Youl. Mr. Howard says that the young fish are healthy and strong, and were removed without loss. You will no doubt remember that this river has been specially reserved for Salmo salar, and that about 1,600 young salmon hatched from previous shipments of ova from England have already been placed in it. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, James Menzies, New Zealand. Chairman, Commissioners Southland Salmon Ponds. By Authority: Geobge Diesbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB7B. Price 6d.]