OUR BEAUTY SPOTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 195, 17 August 1911, Page 11

OUR BEAUTY SPOTS.

gCENIO AREA, 66,000 ACRES. gp LE KDIP VALUE FOR MONEY. my Telegraph.— Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday During the past year 25,442 acres were ~served°UJider the Scenery Preservation Act, bringing the grand total to 00,089 ■cre's (fays Mr. Kensington, Under-Secre-tary for Lands, in his annual report on •cenerv preservation. The new reservations include three areas along the North Island Main Trunk line, an additional •cenic area near Waitomo Caves, and an Trea at Kawarau Falls. Frankton. The «nenditure for the year totalled £3730, « against £5775 in the preceding year. "It may be of interest," runs the report "to' note that, by virtue of past Cislation. the scenic reserves and rational parks in New Zealand are practically sanctuaries for native birds and «une. and no shooting or killing whatever Snermitted in them. The greatest care hj taken to keep these reserves free from envious weeds, and. wherever practicable, the fencing of nil external boundaries is Foceeded with. As an instance of the economy exerJceA in the administration of this department, it is noted that for the past vear, this item, inchid- . t h e cost of board meetings, has counted to barely one per cent of the total expenditure, whilst salaries during the cast four rears has amounted to but four per cent.' "The interests of scenery Preservation have been studied closely, and"it may be confidently stated that the Ttoroimon'is obtaining splendid value for the expenditure incurred," comments Mr. Kensington.