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A substantial 6 ft. deer- and rabbit-proof fence has been erected, consisting of 9 ft. by 6 in. by i in. heart of kowhai posts sunk into the ground to a depth of 3 ft., and 8 ft. apart; attached thereto is 42 in. by 16 gauge by 1-J-in. mesh rabbit-proof netting, let into the ground 6 in. Above the netting are three plain and three barb wires placed alternately at 6 in. apart. Two wires are also laced vertically between the posts to prevent the wires spreading, should deer attempt to press themselves through between the fence-wires. On the outside of fence-line a ditch has been cut 3 ft. wide and 3 ft. deep, to prevent deer attempting to jump the fence. Although both deer and rabbits are very plentiful in the neighbourhood, they have not yet succeeded in entering the enclosure. The whole area has been drained with 2 in. tiles, 3 ft. deep, and 25 ft. between the drains. The soil, though variable, is generally of good quality, and consists of medium heavy black loam resting on a marly clay subsoil, the whole surface being of an even slope towards the north-west. For the seed-bed ground 3 acres have been trenched 2 ft. deep, and surfaced with bush mould, wood-ashes, and burnt soil. An acre and a half was sown during spring with the following seeds, which germinated satisfactorily, although small birds gave considerable trouble by picking off the young plants as they appeared above ground : English oak, English ash, walnuts, sycamore, kowhai, Corsican pine, Austrian pine, Abies menzeisii, Abies douglassi, Abies excelsa, Libocedrus decurrens, and Tyrolese larch. All the Conifers above mentioned were sown under a hundred frames, 18 ft. long and 3 ft. wide, covered with -Jin. mesh wire netting; this precaution being rendered necessary through the small-bird nuisance. Some fifteen thousand forest trees (one and two year old) were purchased and lined out for a season', previous to being planted in their permanent quarters at the Dusky Plantation Forest Eeserve. Seven acres was sown with oats for horse-feed, and an excellent crop has been safely harvested. During the eleven months work has been in progress here, the total rainfall has been 32-59 in. Dusky Plantation. This land is situated some twelve miles from Tapanui, on the banks of the Pomahaka Eiver, which acts as a boundary on the south and west for a distance of four miles, thus saving a considerable item for fencing. The area enclosed (845 acres) consists of rolling downs to steep and rocky hillsides, interspersed by deep and sheltered gullies. The soil is very variable in quality, and, although generally poor, is well adapted for a wide range of Conifers and hardwood timber-trees. On the northern and eastern boundaries a rabbitproof fence has been erected, consisting of seven standards and one post to the chain, with 42 in. wire netting sunk into the ground 6 in., above which is one barb wire. In order to give ready access to the whole enclosure for the purpose of planting, and later on thinning and tending the trees, some six miles and a half of roughly formed 12 ft. roads have been made and three miles and a quarter of open drains cut, 30 in. to 36 in. deep, in portions of the land inclined to be sour and swampy. Thirty acres of fairly level land has been ploughed and sown with turnips, which will be disposed of in time to commence planting operations during the ensuing spring. During December and January an enclosure was made of wire netting, and about a score of rabbits were caught and placed therein for Mr. Gilruth (Chief Veterinarian) to experiment on with chicken-cholera; but so far the results have not been destructive. Trapping and poisoning during the last three months have greatly reduced their number, and it is anticipated that before the planting-season arrives the reserve will be practically free of these pests. Two hundred acres of bush land, known as " Wooded Hill," about four miles from Tapanui has also been set apart for replanting with exotic trees. The milling-timber has been cut out, and what remains is only fit for fencing purposes, which will be used as required by the department. Henby J. Matthews, Forester.

CANTEBBUBY. Lake Tekapo.. Taken as a whole, this plantation is in a most flourishing condition. The trees first planted are now about 5 ft. high, and can be seen from quite a distance. Most of the later-planted and smaller trees are also beginning to show up, and look quite green and healthy, the chief exceptions being ash-trees, a large number of which have been either withered or killed by the dry season, and they have been tried so often that I think it would be waste of money to plant any more. Oaks have only been tried lately, but it appears to me that a larger percentage of those planted have survived, and are more healthy than any other kind of tree planted. The most suitable trees for this locality seem to be pines, larches, spruces, oaks, and birches, all of which are thriving well. There are enough Pmus insignis trees already planted, for there is always more danger of their being burnt or blown over than there is with other varieties, and I think the planting should now be confined to oaks, Wellingtonia and Ponderosa pines, larch, spruce, and willows at the springs. Neither the Wellingtonia nor the Ponderosa pines seem to have been tried, but I believe they would be most suitable as well as valuable trees. Several Wellingtonias used to grow at Castle Hill, on the West Coast Eoad, which is higher than this place. The rabbit-fence is in good order, and there are very few rabbits in the plantation. To prevent a recurrence of the destructive fire which swept part of the plantation years ago, a belt about 10 ft. wide has been chipped round the fence. ■ I have, &c, T. N. Beodeick.