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the■ rcgrassing of the depleted areas depends. This work is referred to further on in this report. The next day your Commission proceeded from Cromwell to Arrowtown, via Kawarau Gorge, and observed the gradual incoming of the tussock as the wetter area was approached. While at Arrowtown the Lake Hayes country was visited and the grassland near the gorge of the River Arrow examined. Here a new pasture weed, hitherto unrecorded for New Zealand one of the American meadowsweets—was noted. This plant should be at once eradicated so as to prevent its further spread. Observations were also made regarding the spread of that truly noxious weed, St. John's wort (Hyperions 'perforatum). On the 3rd May a public sitting was held at Arrowtown, and, later in the day, we proceeded by way of the Crown Range to Pembroke. A short stay was made on the summit, and the effect of burning the snow-grass and so encouraging the growth of unpalatable plants was observed. Then the Cardrona Valley was passed through and the bad effects of burning at the wrong season noted. In the evening a public sitting was held at Pembroke, and important evidence was given by several runholders. The next day a further sitting was held, some of the witnesses having come a long distance in order to meet your Commission and to give evidence. Later in the day Mr. Scaife's run at Glen Dhu was visited, and an opportunity afforded of seeing his splendid paddocks, where ground originally covered with fern was now growing luxuriant cocksfoot and red clover. Altogether Mr. Scaife cultivates 700 acres of his winter country. In this neighbourhood a good deal of St. John's wort is growing amongst the bracken. On the 4th May your Commission proceeded from Pembroke to Tarras, by way of Lake Hawca and the Hawea Flat. The wide area of land suitable for irrigation, with its soil of fertile micaschist, was noted. At Tarras Mr. R. K. Smith welcomed your Commission and snowed them his fine farm (where as yet but little irrigation has taken place), his extensive irrigation-works, and his plantations, especially his extremely successful plantation of hardy gums grown from seed sown broadcast on dry ground of extreme depletion. In this neighbourhood we also saw the large paddock of excellent turnips grown by Mr. G. Collis from locally grown seed. From Tarras we proceeded to Clyde, holding there a public sitting in the evening, and receiving from Mr. J. R. Marks, of the Public Works Department, important information concerning irrigation. The next day your Commission proceeded to Ophir, where a sitting was held the same evening and a good deal of interesting information given. On the way to Ophir the Agricultural Department's experimental plot at Clyde was visited, and the results of a recent experiment on " palatability " of grasses and clovers noted. We also saw with great pleasure the successful experimental tree-planting on Galloway, and the regeneration of pasture which had taken place in the enclosure. On the 7th May we proceeded from Ophir to Naseby, first visiting the irrigated portion of the Poolburn (Ida) Valley and seeing the splendid result of irrigation in that district, where a depleted area has been turned into dairying-land. In the afternoon a public sitting was held at Ranfurly, a number"of settlers giving evidence of value to your Commission regarding the district. The next day your Commission proceeded to Middlemarch, where a public sitting was held and interesting information given regarding pastoral matters affecting that part of Otago. In the afternoon we proceeded to Dunedin by way of the plateau which extends from the Rock and Pillar Range to the Taieri Plain, and were much interested in seeing the large amount of country suitable for improvement which might be greatly benefited by the planting of belts of trees for shelter. On the 10th May a special sitting was held in Dunedin in order to take the evidence of Mr. W. D. Hunt, who had come from Wellington for the purpose of laying his views before us. Later in the same day we proceeded by train to Kurow. The next day a public sitting was held there, and in the afternoon we inspected the pastures of the Hakataramea Valley On the 12th May your Commission proceeded from Kurow to Omarama, noting era route some fine crops of lucerne in the Waitaki Valley, and how, near Omarama there was on parts of the mountains depletion not unlike that of the worst part of Central Otago. A public sitting was held at Omarama and evidence of interest given by the witnesses. In the afternoon we proceeded