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During the year the " Wairere " and the " Ohura " made each one trip up from Pipiriki as far as the junction of the Tangarakau, but it must be noted that on these occasions the water-level was considerably above ordinary summer level. The channel had not then been cleared of snags and rocks, &c, except to a limited extent in the first few miles above Pipiriki. The work proposed next season is the continuation of the improvement of the more shallow portions below Pipiriki, and the continuation of the work above Pipiriki onwards as far as circumstances will permit. John T. Stewart, Chairman, Wanganui Eiver Trust.

Tangarakau, Tributary of Wanganui River. —The work of clearing a canoe-channel was recommenced on the 10th January, and was completed to Putikituna, a distance of twelve miles from the junction, on the 10th February. The ten miles of canoe-channel cleared during the previous season had to be run over again, besides doing the two miles immediately below Putikituna. The canoe-channel varies in width from 8 ft. to 18 ft. The clearing of a steamer-channel was commenced on the 11th February, and continued till the close of operations for the season— 22nd March. A distance of five miles has been completed. This steamer-channel has been cleared about 20 ft. wide in the straight parts, and full width of channel up to 50 ft. in curves, to allow for the swinging of the boats. At summer level, even canoes can only be taken up with difficulty; the river is consequently unsuitable for a low-water-steamer channel. The work done in clearing a steamer-channel has therefore been done to allow of safe navigation at a height of 5 ft. above ordinary summer level. It is proposed to complete this steamer-channel to Putikituna next season. G. T. Mueeay, Eoad Surveyor.

APPENDIX No. 13.—SANCTUABIES FOE WILD ANIMALS. LITTLE BARRIEE ISLAND. Mb. T. F. Chbesbman, secretary to the Auckland Institute, reports as follows on the proceedings of the Institute, which body had the oversight of this Island during the past twelve months.; — The island was placed under the charge of the Institute in December, 1896, with the understanding that a grant of £200 would be supplied for its maintenance for the first year. It was decided to devote £150 of this sum to "the salary of a resident Curator, and applications were invited for the post. Mr. E. H. Shakespear was selected from a list of nearly two hundred -candidates, and left for the island early in January, 1897. Since then he and his family have resided continuously thereon. He received instructions not to permit any person to land upon the island unless holding special permission from the Crown Lands Department or the Institute, and on no account were people to be allowed to land with firearms in their possession. In addition to maintaining a careful watch over the various landing-places, he was instructed to destroy wild-cats and other vermin, and also to construct tracks so that the different parts of the island could be readily visited. As the Maoris had removed the cottage formerly standing on the island, the Curator and his family had to reside in tents for some considerable time. In May, 1897, the Government authorised the expenditure of £250 for a suitable house. No time was lost in preparing plans and specifications, together with estimates of material, and all the information required being kindly supplied, free of charge, by Mr. James Stewart, C.B. The material was conveyed to the island by the " Hinemoa," and safely landed thereon. Two carpenters were and, in order to facilitate matters, the Curator was asked to give the whole of his spare time to the work. The house, which was completed by the middle of September, is a neat little edifice, containing six rooms. It stands upon a terrace about the middle of the flat, on the southern shore of the island, and commands a view of the chief landing-places. Immediately behind it is a little hill from which the whole of the southern side of the island is visible. A garden has been made around the house, and a portion of the neighbouring flat has been fenced, in order to prevent the Curator's cattle from straying into the forest. A considerable amount of exploration has been done, and tracks have been cut along several of the ridges leading from the shore to the central peaks, which rise to an altitude of about 2,000 ft. As the whole of the island is covered with dense forest, this has been no easy matter. It is satisfactory to report that wild-cats and other vermin are not so numerous as was supposed. A good many have been destroyed, mainly by poison, and no pains will be spared until the remainder have also been killed. Without going into details the publication of which might not be advisable, it may be stated that birds are still plentiful upon the island. The Curator has observed all the species mentioned by Mr. Eeischek in his paper published in the " Transactions of the New Zealand Institute" (vol. xix., page 183), together with a few additional ones. -As the visits of collectors have now ceased,' and the birds are not in any way molested or interfered with, they have become much tamer. During the last breeding season great numbers of bell-birds and tuis nested on the flat not far from the Curator's house, and the nests of several of the rarer species were observed in the adjacent gullies. It is somewhat curious that shortly after the young birds were fledged and were leaving their nests a considerable number of hawks appeared, having crossed over from the mainland. As they were evidently destroying the young birds the Curator was instructed to poison as many as possible. He has succeeded in considerably lessening their numbers.

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