14

H.—2

one of them, for they would come to us, and in that same place. In the last three days they must have continually seen my dog, but in fear of a ferret kept out of sight. It is wonderful that they could make such a change in their manners in about one j'ear. Yet it is a fact, for I left the dog aboard the boat, and then the wood-hens on the beach were not afraid of me. But they could not bear the sight of the dog. His colour is suggestive of a ferret. "October 15th.—Have just come home from Breaksea. Was in First and Second Coves when I had a fine chance of seeing tracks on the beach, for it was neap tides, and after many dry days. I saw the tracks of ferrets, weasels, and a cat. I was surprised to see the latter, but there was no doubt about it." , t " I wrote you once about the curious changes in the fish or their food that come in here in different seasons." This year it is pipe-fish, of which I enclose you specimens. Dusky is full of them since the Ist instant, and there is a great gathering of gulls and fish to feast on them. Blue-cod was scarce before, but now they are plentiful, and all crammed with pipe-fish. The gulls are swallowing them all day long. They have to give a vigorous shuffle to get them down, and every gull in sight is hard at it. The pipe-fish must have come with the ocean currents, and drifted in here with the tide, because they die in here. The beaches are strewn with them. It is an important visitation, for all the creatures will get such a fattening that they will be right for the rest of the year, especially the sand-hoppers. " January Ist, 1907.—0n the 4th December I called at Wet Jacket, and found kakapos there. Three years ago I camped there, and could not find a kakapo, and gave that place up. I could soon get some now if you wanted them for Little Barrier Island, but it would be no use_ unless you could arrange to send them there at once. If they are any time in a cage lam certain that they are useless for lilierating in a strange place; they are so weak and demoralised. They should also be liberated in ihe autumn, and in a season when there are plenty of berries. Very few berries will be here this year. There has been no drumming, and there is going to be no breeding this year. This is the second season they have failed to breed. I knew that to happen before at long intervals. Some prominent people in Wellington do not believe in this intermittent breeding seasons. No doubt it is hard to believe that all the kakapos agree about it, and that none of them breed in the off season ; but it would be easy to get ample evidence by inquiring from the guides and others, and from the officers of the ' Waikare,' who are always here in the season for drumming, if there is any. Of course, they might not notice it sufficiently, and it would be well to inquire to sharpen their observation. The 'Waikare' is always here m the very middle of the drumming. In a few years the drumming will be very seldom heard, lie three kakapos I just caught in Wet Jacket were poor spiritless things—just skm and bone Ihe place is alive with blackbirds, but the kakapos are over the worst of it now, and what are left ot them will do well for the rest of the season. There is a great crop of rata honey. Ihey must get some grass-seed, for they all know how to shell oats. Ido not know what native seed they get to teach them that. The sparrows are likely to take it, whatever it is. I hope there are no sparrows and blackbirds on Little Barrier."

APPENDIX 11. REPORT OF GOVERNMENT BALNEOLOGIST. Department of Tourist and Health Resorts, Government Sanatorium, Rotorua, 2nd May, 1907. The General Manager, Department of Tourist and Health Resorts, Wellington. g IR I have the honour to present my report for the year ending the 31st March, 1907. Durino- the past year I have visited and inspected the principal springs under the control of this Department, and also the springs at Helensville and Te Puia. Taken as a whole, considerable progress has been made in the development of the various spas under Government management or subsidy, and when the various works now outlined or in progress are brought to conclusion, the country will possess a very complete series of health There are still, however, as I- urged last year, a few special springs possessing unique therapeutic properties, at present practically wasted, which I would advise should be purchased as opportunity offers, and ear-marked for future development; and I would again emphasize the advisability of a certain amount of supervision of mineral springs outside of Government control but used for the purpose of public baths.