Not Far from The Key (which, as [unclear: m] inferred from its name, is the entrance [unclear: to] Manapouri and Te Anau districts, a [unclear: a] piece of barren looking ground is [unclear: p] through, destitute of all grass or others [unclear: p] vegetation, but dotted with stunted [unclear: b] (Dacrydium bidwelli) and a [unclear: v] veronica. This sterile waste [unclear: imm] arrests attention, and it well may,'for [unclear: si] tion to its peculiar appearance it it [unclear: is] of .the piece of country where in 1831 [unclear: it] the lot of Robert Scott, a rabbiter [unclear: empl] Linwood station, to have laid at his [unclear: fee] dog the late specimen of the takable [unclear: (N] mantelli) which has been foundalive [unclear: is] Zealand.

"The Wilderness,"

for such is the appropriate name of this [unclear: de] piece of country, stretches away to [unclear: the] west of the road and culminates to [unclear: the] in a short distance in a rush-grown [unclear: tnd] the drier and more open ground, [unclear: in] grows the bog pine, the takahe [unclear: was] Particulars of the capture this [unclear: spec] the takehe are given in Sir Walter [unclear: b] "History of the Birds of New [unclear: Zealand] Walter obtained them from [unclear: Capable] son, on wbose station the capture [unclear: occe] have had the good fortune to be [unclear: able] over intereatin g occurrence with [unclear: Mr] Henry, now engaged in the work of [unclear: pre] ground birds or our West Coast by [unclear: tra] them from the mainland of the [unclear: sounds] lution Island under the auspices of the [unclear: G] ment. Mr Henry knew the [unclear: rabbiter] well, and be informs me that Scott's [unclear: ac] the ctrcumstances under which [unclear: he] the takahe differs somewhat from that Captain Hankinson to Sir Walter [unclear: Bu] may be of public interest to set [unclear: f] exact circumstances as given to Mr [unclear: H] Scott, and thus preserve an [unclear: authentic] of one of the most interesting [unclear: events] with the ornithology of the colooy.[unclear: h] page 19 account of the incident is as follows:—"My old dog brought the bird to me alive out of some rushes. I twisted its neck and [unclear: ung] the bird up to the ridge pole." The reason given for the bird's appearance at the spot where it was capturead—viz, "that the weagther had been exceptionally severe, and it was supposed that this was, how the Notoruis come to be found on the flats, having been driven down from the high country"—can hardly be correct There is no high country anywhere near "The Wilderness," and Mr Henry feels sure that this was the bird's natural shelter.

Mr He ry has considerable hope that he will himself yet be able to show that the last of the takahes has not yet been captured. He believes that the natural habitat of the bird is in localities where the bog" pine grows, and that the seeds of the tree probably frorm part of its food. Confirmatory evidence of this is, he believe, to be found in the fact that in addition to the specimen secured by Scott having been found in a bog pine region of the only other live takahes which have been met with was captured in Duck. Cove, Resolution Island, Dusky Bound, where extensive patches of bog pine are found. Although there are few men in New Zealand who have so thoroughly explorerd and searched the West Coast bush, Mr Henry has seldom or never hunted in bog prime country for ground birds, there being so few of them to be [unclear: ud]. There is thus a strong 'additional reason for supposing that the takahe might have thus escaped notice. A careful search, therefore in these unexplored patches may have the most gratifying resuls.

It may be interesting to here note that the takahe referred to as having been got at Resolution Island was captured in Duck Cove, at that island, in 1849 by party of sealers, and the second by some Maoris on Secretary Island a good many years later. These specimens both in the British Museum. The Te Anau specimen was also unfortunately lost to the colony, having been secured for the Dresden Museum.

Does the Takahe Still Live ?

Mr Henry's work in the preservation of the [unclear: po] kiwi, and roa has up to the present felt himno time for an exploration of the bog place patches to be found at various places in the Sounds. He feels hopeful of success [unclear: ding] his researches when he has opportunity of setting to work in earnest. It cannot [unclear: e] supposed that the two specimens obtained [unclear: Resolution] and Secretary Islands respectively were the sole remaining representatives of their [unclear: ce] on those Islands or in the Sounds, and although the lapse of years since their capture covers a considerable period, it may with reason [unclear: e] argued that in their lonely resorts, scarcely [unclear: er] visited by man, and secure from destructive natural enemies, the surviving members of the race may have increased in numbers. Mr Henry has before him work of the deepest interest to everyone in the colony, and to lovers of natural history far beyond these shores, That he may be spared to see realised his dearest hope of finding that the notornis still lives, and capturing and placing a live specimen in the hands of those who are watching the good work On which he is engaged, mast be the wish of his many friends.

Government Work.

While on the trip, of which this article gives the concluding notes, frequent reference was made by people in the district to the Government works which are being undertaken in the Sounds districts. Fur instance, it appears that in the list of moneys set aside for this purpose there is £1000 to cut a track from Manapouri Lake to Dusky Sound, while the means of arriving at Manapouri and Te Anau are being neglected. A largely-signed petition was, for example, presented this year to the Government, urging the necessity of placing a bridge over the Mararoa River, which is the greatest obstacle on the road between the railway terminus and the lakes. That such a bridge He required hss been abundantly proved: Several lives have been lost during the past in crossing the Mararoa, and many times the coach with passengers has been unable to proceed, the ford being a changing one, and therefore always dangerous. Notwithstanding this petition and the urgency of the work, no provision has been made for the erection of the bridge. The grievance is that £1000 should be voted for the formation of a track from the head of Lake Manapouri to Dusky Sound, which at best will only he used by very few people, instead of being utilised for the bridge, which is really a pressing necessity. And there are unquestionably other works in the Lake districts and in the approaches to the Sounds of much greater importance that the proposed track to Dusky Sound. It will be generally admitted that the track through the Clinton Valley over M'Kinnon's Pass, down the Arthur Valley, and across Lake Ada to Milford Sound will always be the leading overland route to the Sounds no matter how many more may be opened. The superior attractions of Milford Sound ensure this, comprising as they do the Sutherland Falls, Mitre Peak, the incomparable Bowen Falls, and the lately-discovered ice falls and glacier in the Cleddau. The track and everything connected with it should, therefore, command first attention if the Government wish to lay out satisfactorily the money which has been voted for expenditure in the tourist districts of the Lakes and Sounds. The Arthur Valley track has bad many thousands of pounds expended on it. Besides the work done during the time the prisoners were camped in the locality, a large body of men were employed in the seasons of 1893-94 and 1894-95 making the track from Lake Ada to the Beech Huts, and a page 20 really first-rate path was to within about a and a-half or two miles of the huts when the work was stopped in the autumn of 1895. It has been stopped at the very wont part of the track. Its natural condition is such that it must be at a11 times very difficult to negotiate and in times of such rainfall as the writer recently experienced it is almost impassable, in addition to which it is at present misleading and dangerous owing to the unfinished condition in which the most difficult part of the track has been left. Instead of fioishing this track last season a gang of workmen, numbering 30, were set to work to form a track round the shore of Lake Ada, a very expensive and practically unnrcessary work. The trip by boat up and down the lake would at all times be preferred by visitors to the district. The change from walking to a seat in a good boat properly equipped affords a rest and an opportunity of enjoying the grand views which are here obtainable. This track, if carried on, it is alleged, will before it can be finished cost more than £3000, and will take at least two more seasons to finish; whereas, if say a couple of hundred pounds or even less had been spent in removing the mott dangerous snags in Lake Ada and the Arthur River, and in providing a couple of good boats, the work could have been done ere this and all real requirements met. The Beech Hute, too, and the hut at Lake Mintaro, are by no means what they should be, and before the Lake Ada track ought to have received considration good huts should have been erected. The traffic on this favourite route is certain to increase, and the money available ought to be devoted to the most pressing requirements of the route.

Again, the track which has been commenced from the middle flord of Lake Te Anau to George Sound is another example of the haphazard manner in which public money is squandered. As far as I could learn, the year before last the men engaged on the Clinton track were ordered to stop that work and proceed to form the new track to George Sound. Two boats were put, at a coat of over £50, on Lake Hankinson and Lake Tnomson, timber was landed somewhere in George Sound for a hut there, and it is alleged that it has never been seen since. At the end of the 1895 season the work was abandoned after the track had been partially formed for about half the distance, and no one baa ever stepped over it for the past two years. It is almost universally conceded that the £1000 which it is said this new track will cost will be practically thrown away. The proposed Manapouri Dusky Sound track is even of Less value than that to George Bound. These projects are surely an instance of beginning altogether at the wrong end. It would be infinitely better to spend whatever money is available on such a work as the Mararoa bridge and on the [unclear: Milford] and another useful expenditure [unclear: would] approaches to the Mararoa river, [unclear: near] joins the Waiau, to permit of the [unclear: fors] bring approached end forded by [unclear: vehic] visitors to Lake Manapouri, It only [unclear: requi] to be done, and small repairs to the [unclear: road] ing thence, to enable visitors from [unclear: the] arrange for the Manapouri steamer [unclear: to] down the Waiau and land them at [unclear: the] two or three hours after getting on [unclear: board] saving a long detour by land.

These aspects of the expenditure [unclear: going] worthy of consideration by the [unclear: Gove] The opinions expressed are those of [unclear: every] the districts interested to whom I [unclear: spoke] subject, and they seem to be [unclear: incontro] If the Government find themselves [unclear: uns] anything else this season they [unclear: certainly] without delay to complete the [unclear: Arthur] track near the Beech Huts, and if [unclear: p] arrange for the erection of another [unclear: hut] the latter work is undertaken they [unclear: sho] the advice of Mr D. Boss, the guide [unclear: e] by them, as to site the present [unclear: site] huts is by no means the beat that can [unclear: be] and there is no one better qualifiedt [unclear: than] assist them in the selection of a new [unclear: site.]

Among other things that might be [unclear: m] as being necessary works is the [unclear: cr] better guide posts on the top of the [unclear: M'k] Paes. At present the poles are too [unclear: sligh] too far apart, and in a heavy mist [unclear: or] storm on the top of the pass it [unclear: would] easiest thing possible to get completely [unclear: of] track. Substantial posts should be [unclear: en] firmly in the ground at short [unclear: distan] each other, and a wire might be [unclear: stre] one to the other. This should be [unclear: carried] into the bush track on either side. [unclear: The] would not be great.

Hints to Tourists.

Anyone wishing to save himself [unclear: f] attacks of sandflies should be [unclear: provided] suitable veil. It is absolutely [unclear: indis] comfort at certain times of the day [unclear: an] tain weather. So, also, are gloves, [unclear: s] should come well up the wrist. No [unclear: w] tions for rubbing on the skin are in [unclear: th] effective as preventives of sandfly [unclear: bit] emollients are of course useful for the [unclear: p] of relieving the itching which is [unclear: caused] bites.

Those who propone to do much [unclear: w] especially if it be over rough bush [unclear: tracks] have boots with good thick soles, [unclear: with] big nails in them. They should [unclear: h] worn beforehand, and be perfectly [unclear: e] comfortable.

In the trip overland from Te [unclear: Ana] ford the services of Ross can be [unclear: se] guide. It is best to write to turn [unclear: and] matters beforehand. In the case [unclear: of] page 21 [unclear: ing] the man would have to carry blankets. [unclear: ss] the necessity for carrying provisius, [unclear: he]lays in a stock at each hut en route, and [unclear: charges] per meal. His fee for guiding to [unclear: Milford] and back, inclusive of the boat on Lake [unclear: Ads] per head where there is a party of [unclear: t] less than three. It is certainly a very moderate fee.

The other charges I have mentioned else-where, but all information will be readily afforded by the various hotel and accommodation housekeepers, and coach and steamboat proprietors, and tourists from abroad no doubt cannot do better that make their arrangements through Cook's agency. The persons to whom letters should be addressed are R. Murrell, Lake Manapouri; J. Dove, steamboat proprietor, Lake Manapouri; J. Crosbie, coach preprietor. Lumsden; W. Soodgrass, hotelkeeper and steamboat proprietor, Te Anau Lake; and J, M'Kenzie, Marakura, accommodation house, Lake Te Anau.^*