H.—22

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collection of New Zealand birds' eggs has been completed. Donations from the Hon. Dr. Newman of a pair of huia mounted in a glass case, from Mr. A. C. O'Connor of a mounted specimen of the chestnut-breasted teal, and of a rare migrant in the shape of a black-billed ibis, arc accepted with thanks. Fisheries. —A series of experiments have been carried out on sea-water with a view to throwing light on the distribution of fishes along the coast. Samples have been collected from Wellington Harbour, Hutt River, Cook Strait, and Lyttelton Harbour. Tides, temperature, &c, have been recorded, and water tested for specific gravity, salinity, refractive index, total organic content, total inorganic content, and various elements. It has not been possible to enter upon much new work in research. Knowledge can only be obtained on the fishing-grounds, and for reasons of e-conomy the expenditure which would be: entailed could not be authorized. A work has been commenced on specific gravity of food fishes. It is hoped that it may be possible, to correlate; data so obtained with experiments on sea-water. Mollusca. —A valuable; addition to the; inolluscan collections is that presented by Colonel Tate: of Samoan and South Pacific lanel and marine mollusca. The show-cases have been overhauled, and printed labels are now being attached. Ethnology. —The keen interest shown by leading members of the- Maori race in the Museum work of collection and preservation of the: rapidly vanishing arts and crafts and tribal lore and songs of bygone days resulted in arrangements being made by the Hon. A. T. Ngata, M.P., of the Eastern Maori District, for a visit to the Ngatiporou territory, which extends practically from Gisborne to Hicks Bay. The Museum party, consisting of Messrs. J. McDonald, Elsdon Best, and Johannes C. Andersen, was joined by Dr. P. H. Buck (Te Rangihiroa), Director of Maori Hygiene, who was visiting the district to deal with an outbreak of typhoid and influenza at several of the Maori settlements. Through the kindness of Mr. and Mrs. Ngata their home at Waiomatatini was made headquarters, and from there visits were made to Whareponga, Kahukura, Rangitukia, Te Araroa, Ruatorea, and other parts of the district. At each place the party was warmly welcomed by the Maoris, and every facility was afforded for securing the information sought. The east coast Natives, although well advanced in European culture-most of them live in bungalow houses and many have conveniencs of modern civilization, i.e., electric light, bathrooms, cooking-ranges, &c- -still retain, especially on the seaboard, the old-time methods of netting and catching fish, and it was a pleasure to each me;mber of the party to see the simple skilful way in which effective nets and traps, such as the taruke, torehe, iiituko, matire, pouraka, and malarau, were wrought for catching crayfish, kehe, kahawai, maomao, upokororo, and other fish common to the: waters of the east coast. Numerous still photographs and moving pictures of the technique of plaiting anel weaving were secured. Apart from, the fishing complex, many other matters, such as the recording of tribal lore and songs on the phonograph, &c, occupied the attention of each member of the party. The principal papers written during the past year were as follows: "Maori Rites"; "Maori Songs "j "Ethical and Ceremonial Usages of the Maori," Part I; "Maori Treatment of Sick"; " Maori Art of War " ; " Discovery and Settlement of Port Nicholson " ; " Maori Houses " ; " The Dawn of Science among Neolithic Folk " ; " Polynesian Manipulation of Deep-sea Vessels." Publicity Oppice. A Government Publicity Office was established in 1921, under Mr. H. T. B. Drew, as a Division of the Internal Affairs Department, the Hon. G. J. Anderson, who had charge of Internal Affairs at the inception of the office, has retained control. The principal function of the offico is to disseminate; abroad more information about New Zealand —in other words, to carry on publicity propaganda work abroad, as is being done; by other countries. The object has been to confine the operations of the section as exclusively as possible to work abroad, especially in view of the: limited finance available ; but as the utility of the office has become known there have been considerable calls upon it for weirk within the Dominion. Much of the earlier work of the office has necessarily been of an initiatory and foundational character — ohiefly e:o-ordinating Government propaganda and publication effort, working up news services abroad, ineiuiring into and obtaining channels of distribution for literature, photographs, and cinema-films, securing an entirely new set of photographic and cinematographic negatives, stimulating as much as possible local-centre effort in the production of literature and photographs, and procuring data for advertising schemes abroad. This foundational work is now fairly completed, and attention is being concentrated upon securing results abroad. Co-ordination. — At the time the Publicity Office was set up it was customary for various Departments to bring out their own booklets or pamphlets for circulation abroad, employing outside assistance in their compilation. For work of this description Departments now avail themselves of the Publicity Officer's services. The latter produces the publications required in conjunction with the Department concerned, which outlines its requirements, anel. provides the necessary vote. The demands of the High Commissioner, and the Government Agents in other countries, for literature and pictorial matter, as well as all inquiries from abroad regarding New Zealand, as a desirable place of residence, a country to visit, to write about, or study, are dealt with by the Publicity Office, which not only answers the specific inquiry, but despatches general informative and tourist literature. Handy reference is kept of the names of all inquirers, with the intention, where it is stated there is capital to invest in the purchase of land or businesses, of renewing touch with them from time to time. It is pleasing to note that, as the result of co-ordination effort, various New Zealand newspapers, Chambers of Commerce, and Municipal Corporations forward to the office, to be similarly dealt with, inquiries which they receive.