SCENIC RESERVES

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 36, 11 August 1923, Page 13

SCENIC RESERVES

64,000 ACRES PROCLAIMED LAST YEAR.

vettS tS %»<"»! considerations pre3f,W *v P1™311368 f°r "conic purposes during the year, states, the report of the Lands and Survey Department; fc? the n^- 6"^ 315* M, arch !* w«« found pract IC ablp to proclaim no I OSS than 64,000 rZ pJa"d> °£ whioh 60,000 acres was Reality As the Southland Electric Power Board has ,ts works in the immediate vicinity, it was deemed advisable to bring this area under the Act in order-that thi board and its officers could exercise con* hSn^T * a? d Prevent, damage t*mg done.to the bush by visitors and

The total reesrvations that hare been made since the passing: of the Scenery Preservation Act in 1903 now total 725 of an aggregate area of 430,596 acres; and they comprise the bulk of the soenio attractions in the Dominion, including the nne cliffs and bush-clad banks of the Wa-nganui-River; many fhermal and ecemc areas around Rotorua and. the adjacent lakes; mountains and forest-covered banks' of streams lakes, and rivers; the magnißcent kauri forest in the Kaihu district formerly . owned by Mr. Trounson; together with extensive areas which, in addition, to the national parks, "the Government has set aside in order to preserve for all time the best parts of the scenery and the indigenous forests of the Dominion. s , The preservation of scattered scenio reserves, states the report, is a matter of some anxiety; but, wherever possible honorary inspectors are appointed, and this policy will be continued^ The inepeotors are of great assistance to the Department in exercißing general supervision and reporting any acts of vandalism that may occur.

The cost of administration of the scenio reserves has been reduced to a very small proportion of the total expenditure. The value of purchases made sinco 1904 is £168,977, the expenditure last year being £6958, hi compared with £53,244 in 1821-