C—6.

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but the other Hawke's Bay reserves arc clean. Excepting a few gorse bushes on the Tuamarina River (which should be grubbed out) the Marlborough reserves are free of noxious weeds* As regards this matter of noxious weeds, I must state that they get into the reserves through stock being allowed iccess. In pure virgin bush probably none of these pests could stand the altered environment—absence of sunlight and dampness in particular ; but when the stock have eaten and broken-down the native undergrowth the seeds of noxious weeds that the}- carry on then hoofs and drop in their dung find a situation where they can germinate and thrive. Animal Pests.- —Of the reserves visited, the only ones troubled with animal pests are those in the Marlborough Sounds, which are largely infested with goats. People should be encouraged to destroy these. Fires. —The reserves visited in Taranaki District are practically undamaged by lire, are those in Hawke's Bay ; in one or two cases the Marlborough Sounds reserves have been a little damaged from fires on the property of adjoining owners. Most of the sounds reserves are very steep, with the consequence that in summer the bush gets very dry, and is very liable to catch fire. 1 would therefore suggest that rough fireplaces be made at the picnicking-spots most frequented. Wherever adjoimng owners' names and addresses could be found I have sent them the printed circular notifying them that they are liable for damage done by fires originating on their properties. Native Birds. —The tui, the fantail, the blackheaded tomtit, and the grey warmer are all plentiful in all the reserves. Pigeons are still plentiful up the Wanganui River, but in all other reserves they were not seen, or were scarce. Hakas are in most places absent, and nowhere plentiful. Up the Wanganui River the korimako, or bell-bird, is perhaps the commonest native bird, and their lively notes are very cheering to the wanderer in the forest. In this region, also, the white-head is quite common, and the parrakeet not rare. Wild ducks and teal are, seen on the Wanganui River in small numbers, and, as they form such an interesting feature in a scene rather deficient in life, they should not be allowed to be shot. Tourists coming down the river are interested in seeing even the destructive and unprepossessing cormorant, which is the most abundant water-bird. The kotare (kingfisher) is present, but not at all plentiful on this river. The Indian minah has spread as far as Ranana (about forty-five miles up the river), and blackbirds, thrushes, yellow-hammers, sparrows, chaffinches, and goldfinches are always to be seen or heard where there is any old settlement or any opening in the bush. Most of our native birds cannot accommodate themselves to the altered conditions entailed by the advance of settlement, and on this account I think the shooting of native birds on all scenic reserves should be absolutely prohibited. Recommendations. The greatest danger threatening our reserves is from fire, and mi tins account I strongly advise that in future no adjoining settler be allowed to cut down or burn off the usual 1 chain within the reserve boundary. It is quite suilicient for fencing if 4 ft. within the boundary is cleared, but beyond that there should only be cut such large trees as are likely to threaten the future security of the fence. When the usual chain is felled it has to be grassed, and afterwards stock have to be put on to keep down the grass, with the certain result that (except an inner fence be erected) the}' wander into and damage the bush by eating out the undergrowth, and assist in the establishment of noxious weeds. Settlers are responsible for any damage their bush-fires may do to the property of private neighbours, but they enjoy a happy innnunity if they damage the property of the State, and, consequently, it is rare that they bother to take any precautions. As the reserves along the Wanganui River, the Mam Trunk Railway, and the Tongariro Park possess quite" an exceptional value, being on routes so much frequented by tourists, I would suggest the appointment of a special Ranger to look after them. The most of the land adjoining these reserves are Native, and are (or will be shortly) leased to Europeans for short periods, consequently the lessees will do as little as possible in the way of improvements, the common boundaries between the leased lands and reserves will be unfenced, and the settlers' stock (as happens now in Waimarino) will make a winter run of the reserves, destroying the undergrowth and eventually the trees. The destruction of the bush on several of the proposed reserves along the Main and the Wanganui River has shown how defective are the present legal means of acquiring land for scenery-preservation. The Act should be amended so that, after it has been decided to acquire a piece of land for scenic purposes, by giving the owner and lessee notiie they should be prevented from interfering in any way with the part proposed acquired—a sort of proceeding equivalent to the lodging of a caveat against a title. A clause should also be inserted in the Act prohibiting the destruction of all native birds in scenic reserves. There are several forest reserves and State forests that do not contain timber of any value for nulling purposes, and, m consequence, these reserves are of value only for scenery and climatic purposes, and on this account it would be advisable that they should all be changed into scenic reserves, as t here is then the assurance that their first covering would be as far as possible inviolable, which ;s not at present the case, as they are sometimes leased for grazing or other purposes. In Europe and America the preservation of the forest on steep hills is not a mere ephemeral fad, but scientific and lay papers continue to show the really lively interest that is taken in the subject. In this Dominion the country dwellers are generally indifferent to. or hostile to. forest-preservation. If one points out to them w hat has been the result of deforestation in other countries, one is considered a faddist. The evil effects of deforestation in the back districts have not yet been sufficiently serious to impress them. At a recent irrigation congress in America a politician with an undeveloped intellect made a violent attack against the Government restrictions for forest-preservation. After his speech Gilford Pinchot. the celebrated American forest authority, got on the platform. He removed the cloth from the table on the platform, tilted the table forward, and poured half a glass ol water upon it. The water, of course,