SUGAR LOAF RESERVE.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17732, 7 April 1923, Page 14

SUGAR LOAF RESERVE.

GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY APPROVED. Mr H. G. Ell haß been advised by the Minister of Crown Lands, the Hon. D. H. Guthrie, that Cabinet has approved of a grant for the purchase of the Sugar Loaf scenic reserve, Cashmere Hillb. Mr Ell has been in communication with Mr Massey and tho Hon D. H. Guthrie for some considerable time regarding the matter of tho Government givljig a £ for £ subsidy up to £750, spread over - a period of three years. Mr Masaey was sympathetic to tlip proposal* but owing to tho general election nothing concrete was done ia the matter. ' As a result of the following telegram, which has been received from Mr Guthrie, it will now be possible for the purchase to bo carried out: —"With reference to your telegram re tho purchase of the Sugar Loaf reserve, I am pleased to be able to inform you that Cabinet has considered the matter, and has approved of £250 being placed on the Scenery Preservation Estimates J!or the year 1923-24, as part payment for the reserve." Mr Guthrie added that he was pleased with the progress being made by Mr Ell in his work. -- Mr Ell stated that, to secure the reserve, the public will be asked to subscribe the sum of £750, in instalments of £250 yearly. He does not anticipate any difficulty in this connexion, especially as Mr Geo. Bowron has promised to give £IOO towards the reserve for two years. A pleasing feature about the transaction is that Mr Cracroft-Wijson, the owner of the reserve, has generously reduced the original purchase figure by £9OO. The amount paid for the reserve will be sufficient to enable it to be properly fenced with rabbit-proof fencing. Mr Ell, who has been engaged in working on the Summit road scheme for over 22 years, says that the first payment was made in connexion with the purchase of the reserve in 1917, on which occasion the sum of £25 was paid over. „ The Sugar Loaf reserve consists of '275 acres, and is situated near tho Kiwi Best House.