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(2) Culling of Trout - The number of trout culled at No. 2 Hatchery was 39 males and 82 females. (3) Food-supplies for Trout. —Smelts have been very numerous in many waters, particularly Taupo, where they have been observed in extremely large shoals. They have worked downstream from the lake outlet. (4) Black Shags, Hawks, &c.~ -Bonuses were paid on 218 shags and 10 hawks. Departmental officers destroyed 131 shags, 26 hawks, 8 weasels, and 2 cats. (5) Game Farm. —Hen and duck eggs to the number of 3,489 dozen were sold. Of the 333 fowl chicks reared, 128 cockerels were disposed of. The number of pheasants and mallard ducks liberated were 848 and 240 respectively. (6) Opossums. —Only 1,670 skins were stamped, as compared with 8,733 the previous year. (7) Banging.- Fines for breaches of the Fisheries Regulations (41 in all) amounted to £118. XII. WAR GRAVES Six hundred and eighty-two notifications of deaths of returned soldiers of the Great War were recorded during the year, and temporary crosses were placed on 373 graves. The position with respect to the supply and erection of headstones has shown some improvement, but the contractors still have a good deal of leeway to make up. During the year 223 headstones were erected, 83 of these being upon the graves of men who died of war injuries or whose deaths were accelerated by war service. Additional construction work was carried out in the soldier cemeteries at Karori, Wairoa, Masterton Taita, Ashburton, and Eastern Necropolis. New Zealand war graves overseas are being attended to by the Imperial War Graves Commission. Up to the 31st March last, 882 deaths have been recorded of men and women serving in the present war. Temporary crosses have been erected in 586 cases. XIII. DISTINGUISHED VISITORS New Zealand was honoured during this period by the visit of Mrs. Roosevelt, wife of the President of the United States of America. In Auckland and Wellington, besides being accorded State and civic welcomes, she addressed representative gatherings of women, inspected many women's war-service activities, and visited United States Service hospitals and clubs. In Rotorua she was given a civic welcome, a typical Maori welcome by the Arawa Tribe, and visited our own Services Convalescent hospital. A visit was made by Lieut.-General Sir Bernard Freyberg, V.C., K.C.8., K.8.E., C.M.G., D.5.0., G.O.C. 2nd N.Z.E.F. Middle East, and Captain .), C. White, C.B.E. General Freyberg's tour included' all of both Islands that could be fitted in during his brief stay, and at all places visited he was most enthusiastically received by the citizens and his comrades in. arms. Consequent on Brigadier-General Hurley's departure from New Zealand, the Hon. William C. Burdett arrived with his wife and family and was accorded a reception. On the 12th December, 1943 he presented his letters of credence as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America in New Zealand. It was extremely regrettable that Mr. Burdett died in office shortly afterwards. Arrangements in connection with the arrival of the Hon. T. G. de L. D'Alton, High Commissioner for Australia in New Zealand, and Mrs. D'Alton were also undertaken by this section. Among other distinguished visitors who came to this country during the year were Sir Phillip Mitchell, K.C.M.G., M.C., Governor of Fiji, who was accompanied by Lady Mitchell; the British Press Delegation, the members of which were Sir Walter Layton, Ch., C.8.E., Sir Neville Pearson, Bt., and Mr. Samuel Storey, M.P. ; the Canadian Press Delegation, the members of which were Messrs! Arthur Ford, B. T. Richardson, and Lorenzo Parre ; the British Military Mission, which comprised Major-General J. S. Lethbridge, Rear Admiral F. H. W. Goolden, C.8., Air Commodore L. L. Mac Lean, Colonel J. I. Moore, U.S.A.A.F., Colonel R. R. Robins, U.S.A., Colonel W. C. De Ware, U.S.A., Captain R. E. Blick, U.S.N., Lieutenant-Colonel D. C. Curme, and Lieutenant-Colonel E. D. E. Andrewee ; the Group Supply Mission from India, comprising Mr. I. F. Elliot, Major-General R. P. PackenhamWalsh, Major Sir Thomas Berney, 8.T., and Mr. F. Harrison ; the British-American Steel Mission, the members of which were Sir John Duncanson, Messrs. E. A. Emerson and N. Anderson, and Captain A. H. Gaal; Lord Knollys, Chairman of British Overseas Airways and Mr. Campbell-Orde, Operations Manager of the same company; Mr. A. .1. Eraser, Chairman of the Transport Regulations Board, Victoria ; the British-Australian Supply Mission, comprising Messrs. Broadribb, Kearns, and Hewlett' Major-General R. A. Dewing, C.8., D.5.0., M.C.R.E., Group Captain R. Grice, 0.8. E., D.F.C., and' Lieutenant-Colonel C. J. Briscoe ; Major-General R. J. Mitchell, United States Marine Corps ; Rear Admiral T. S. Wilkinson, U.S.N., Deputy Commander, South Pacific Force ; Generals Harmon and Breen and Colonel Maxwell, United States Marine Corps ; Vice-Admiral Danckwerts ; Rear-Admiral Robert B. Carney, United States Navy, Chief of Staff to Admiral Halsey ; Mr. L. W. Brockington, Adviser on Empire Affairs to the British Ministry of Information ; Major-General C. F. B. Price' United States Marine Corps ; Dr. Allan Nevins, Office of War Information, Washington ; Lord Burghley, who visited New Zealand in a Lancaster bomber; the master and second officer of a Netherlands vessel, Captain P. M. Verstelle and Mr. H. A. Scheybeller ; Mr. W. Bankes Amery, C.8.E., head of the United Kingdom Food Mission to Australia and New Zealand, and Mrs. Amery ; Mr. W. a! Johnston, British Consul at Noumea, Mrs. Johnston, and daughter. In addition to State luncheons and other receptions tendered during the visits of many of the above named, receptions were also tendered to Commander Gene Tunney, Director of Physical Training of the United States Navy, who is well-known as a former professional boxing champion ; the New Zealand Press Delegation on their departure overseas ; Mrs. W. E. Burdett, widow of the United States Minister ; Captain James P. Olding, U.S.N., American Naval Attache ; and to Air Vice Marshal R. V. Goddard. A reception was held in honour of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Buchanan, of Port Chalmers, who were presented with the Navy Cross (U.S.A.). Their son was killed whilst serving on H.M.N.Z.S.'

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