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a storage-capacity of fifty cases, and twenty-five with storage-capacity of one hundred oases. This work was also carried out by the departmental staff, half-share of cost of construction being borne by the Department of Internal Affairs. During the year the exteriors of practically all the departmental buildings have been repainted. Gardens and Reserves. —The usual maintenance-work has been performed, and the floral display during the season was particularly fine. A considerable area of additional ground was brought under cultivation, the principal new work being the construction of a rockery along the pathway soutfiwards from the Rachel Spring, and the clearing of a triangular piece near the Pavilion Baths, anil the planting of same with rhododendrons and other flowering-shrubs. A new bridge was constructed in the Whakarewarewa Reserve, to cross the Purenga Creek below the Pohutu Geyser. The old bridge had become dangerous, and the one now constructed is of a very substantial nature, the understructurc being of heart of totara, resting on concrete blocks. Water and Drainage. —During the year fifty-five new consumers have been connected to the supply. The work of replacing the wooden pipes throughout the town with iron ones has now been completed, and the only wooden pipes now in connection with the system arc the main delivery-line from Malfroy Road along Fenton Street out to the reservoir, approximately a distance of about five miles. This pipe is 16 in. in diameter, and gives us considerable trouble in the matter of leaks. During the year 1,077 leaks bad to be attended to, an average of about four leaks per working-day, and some of these were of considerable magnitude. Drainage. —During the year eleven new connections have been made to the system. Sulphur deposits in the sewer are giving us considerable trouble in the matter of causing blockages. Electrical. —The position as regards the supply of energy to consumers is the same as at the end of last year. Throughout the town we have had to refuse all applications for additional lighting, the only lighting-facilities given being by transfer lights from one consumer to another. Energy required, and constituting a day load only, has of course been supplied as applied for. To give some measure of relief to the machines at Okere a small engine was installed in Rotorua to drive a D.C. generator. This power supplied by this is used to light the baths, Sanatorium, and two consumers near the substation. This helps during the peak load, and is consequently of much assistance. A considerable amount of work has been done in the matter of reconstruction and altering the town lines, for the double purpose of bringing the lines approximately in accordance with the requirements of the Public Works Department and to improve the distribution to consumers and better balance the load throughout the town. The, main line has been overhauled in the important parts. At Okere 730,002 units were generated during the year. The number of consumers at the 31st March was 824, Acclimatization. Ranging and general supervision of the district has been carried out during this year as well as reduced staff would permit. All complaints regarding any breaches of Acts or regulations have been investigated, and in several, cases legal action was taken and the offenders prosecuted. Exchange of Game. -A number of gold carp, two pairs of Chinese pheasants, a live rock-wallaby, and also a fine two-year-old Sam bur stag, captured in the Himatangi swamps, were secured by the Department's ranger and presented by this Department to the Wellington Zoological Gardens. A number of carp were also secured for the aquarium in the teacher's Training College, Kelburn, and for the New Plymouth Gardens. Five pairs of purebred English mallard ducks were sent to the Waikeria Prison Camp, and the Frankleigh Park, Taranaki, for the purpose of improving the strain of the stock in those places. Red-deer-shooting Season, 1921. - The deer-shooting season, which opened on the 26th March and closed on the 26th April, 1921, was a very successful one, the heads secured ranging from ten to fourteen points. Twenty-five licenses were available, and as applications were, in excess of this number, the issue was determined by ballot. Forty-three heads wore secured, only one licensee failing to obtain a head. A very reprehensible practice was noticed this season, which no true sportsman can support -viz., the action of some stalkers who shoot a stag without any consideration as to the quality of the head, and, finding it is not a perfect one, or not up to their expectations, push on in pursuit of another. This indiscriminate shooting of young stags which would, if left alive, develop good heads can only result in serious injury to those young herds of red doer which have been stocked with the best strains procurable and at considerable cost. Waikaremoana Herd. —Some very good heads were also taken at Waikaremoana in the heavy bush country surrounding the lake-shores. The best secured was a fourteen-pointer, and the, highest number of points on the head was seventeen, but it was of rather a narrow type. To the stalker who is an expert in still hunting, and who will go out in the heavy forest, there is every prospect of good heads being obtained in this locailty for years to come. Usually it is only the younger stags that frequent the open beaches and are more easily shot. Mahia Herd. —No specially good heads were got from this herd. The original strain was from Nelson deer, which characteristically develop antlers deficient in either brow or bay tines ; but many of these have been heavily culled by Messrs. Ormond, and fresh stags of Warnham Court progeny added. In a few years it is hoped that this herd will attain the same high standard which characterizes the other herds in the Rotorua Acclimatization District. Shooting Season, 1922. —The present season opened on the 27th March, and by the end of the quarter (31st March) reports had been received of heads of twelve to sixteen points being taken from the Rotoiti and Okareka herds. For the first time, the areas of these two herds were separately defined, and separate licenses issued. The licenses for the Rotoiti herd were limited to twelve, and as the applications exceeded this number the issue was determined by ballot. There was no limit to the, number of licenses issued for the Okareka. Owing to the closer settlement, and complaints being received of damage to cultivation by the deer, this herd will not be restocked for an indefinite period. It is hoped that the heavy shooting both by stalkers and landowners will drive the deer well back into rough country, where they will do no damage, and in years to come provide excellent sport for stalkers.