KENNEDY'S BUSH.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 100, 3 June 1914, Page 9

KENNEDY'S BUSH.

SCENIC BOARD. At the annual meeting of the Kennedy 's Bush Scenic Board yesterday it was reported that during the year the area of this reserve was increased by G9 acres on the north-west and 16 acres of the north side of Cass Peak. An area of 29 acres was also purchased between the branch of the Hoon Hay Park and this area —these together forming oue large reserve. In order to check fires and damage to the bush, it was decided duj-ing the year to appoint a resident caretaker. Messrs „ J.. and W. Jameson offered to erect a stone cottage with suitable outbuildings for a sum of about £4OO, and an agreement was entered into with the board for the erection of this cottage at the end of .the bush and the,reserve on a plan drawn up by Mr S. Hurst Seager. The building was,paid for by a Government grant of £IOO, partly from re»t accruing from the reserve and. partly" from private resources. Nineteen 1 applications were received for the position of resident caretaker, and Mr and Mrs D. Potter were selected and went into occupation in May. Mr Ell reported that since they had been in occupation, although it is almost the depth of winter, the cottage had been a success. Over 40 people visited it last, Sunday. The caretaker has charge not only of the preservation of the bush, but also looks after the parties, and anyone who visits the bush. He also erects tents for the visitors.

During the year fencing and other "expenses amounted to about £4O. There had been a lot of additions to the reserve during the year on the Summit Road. The Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes presented &n area of about seven acres at Cass Peak, and Mr Allen an area of one acre in the same locality. Mr It. ;M... D„ Morton had given 27 acres at the head of the Akuriri Yalley. All these areas contained valuable pieces of bush. The Hon. R. H. Rhodes, in addition, erected a drinking fountain on Cooper's Knob, the water , being supplied from a spring in the reserve.. They had acquired by purchase about* 12 acres, to be known as the Grosvenor Bush Reserve. This was paid for by a Government gra,nt of £IOO and a donation of £SO from Mr A. G. Rhodes, of Christchurchl A further area of 37 acres was obtained by exchange with the Hon. R. H. Rhodes, for the closed road intersecting the pro-, perty. In connection with the cottage, it was decided that a store-house should, . be erected, for which Messrs Win.- Goss y J. T. Brown and Son, ,JV Walter, Stevens and Co., R. W, "England, and Taylor and Oakley, had contributed the necessary material.