THE NATIONAL PARK

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 177, 14 April 1923, Page 16

THE NATIONAL PARK

SECOND MEETING OF THE BOARD SUBSTANTIAL DONATIONS ■&. - At the second meeting of the Tongariro National Park Board, hold at Waimarino on Thursday (states an official report), an important communication was made by Air. J. H. Gunson. Mayor of Auckland, who stated that the Auckland City Council had decided to, donate the sum of £lOOO towards the general purposes of tho Tongariro National Park, provided that the Wellington City Corporation provided a similar sum. Air. Gunson suggested that many local bodies in tho two provinces might well consider the propriety of making contributions towards the general fund, and that tho Government should be asked to subsidise all such contributions on a pound for pound basis. It was also indicated from other sources that there was a likelihood of the Board’s receiving very considerable donations in the future. Tho Board decided to forward a letter of appreciation to tho Auckland City Council. Majority and minority reports l>y tiub-committce. set up in connection with the erection of a hostel were considered, but tho mattei was deterred. It was decided that the best site tor tho caretaker’s cottage would be nt tho junction of the Tokaanu and Who* kauapa roads. “Correspondence was received regarding blueberry and whortleberry’ seeds, and tho chairman advised the Board that ho had been informed by the Director-General of Agriculture that neither of these berries was likely to become a nuisance. A letter was received from tho secretary, Wanganui Chamber of. Commerce, asking that the planting of heather bo discontinued. It was derided to plant within a restricted area tho seed now on hand, and to discuss Mie further planting of heather when the necessity arose. The Board acknowledged the receipt nf a cheque for £lOOO from the trustees of the estate of tho Into IL C. Bruce. It was tho desire of tho trustees that tho money be expended in forming a road towards the foot of Mt. Ruapehu. The Board decided that the roa dshould be called the “Bruce Road,” and that early steps should bo taken to form it. A letter was received from tile Oliakune Chamber of Commerce asking that an area of bush landl adjoining tho Ohakune railway station be included in tho Park. Action had already’ boon taken in this connection, and preoarations for Proclamation of the land' are now in progress. The Board approved of the following fees: — Hut fees, 2s. 6d. per person per night; camps, tent fees, £1 per week cadi; guiding fees, 1 person £1 2 persons £1 10s, extra person, 7s.' 6d.