KAURI FOREST AREA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 31 January 1925, Page 16

KAURI FOREST AREA.

PURCHASE FOR THE CITY. LARGE WAITAKERE BUSH. STATE FINDS HALF THE COST.

Auckland citizens are soon to possess as a scemc reserve ine beautiful kauri t crest at tne Cascades, in the \\ aitaKcie xiaiigts. Negotiations lor its acquisition are practically completed. A special report on the subject was submitted to tne City Council, meeting recently by the Mayor, Sir James cuiison, who advised that lie had received from Sir Francis JBeU, the Minister concerned, a communication stating mat Cabinet had agreed to find £14,00u, half of the purchase money, on condition that the land was acquired as a scenic reserve, vested in the City Council, and the forest preserved in its natural condition To this the Mayor had replied that the Government’s conditions .were agreed to by the council and confirmed by the Kauri Timber Company, as owners, provided an agreement for the purchase of the Kakautao area was confirmed in terms agreed upon, so that the company might commence operations theie forthwith. This confirmation was given subsequently by the Minister. Several councillors expressed the opinion that the acquisition of the forest as a scenic reserve was a fine act for prosperity. The reserve was outside the \Vai take re watershed, and thus would become an attractive picnic resort. In reply to questions the Mayor '.sail, full precaution against bleeding of the trees and destruction of the reserve had been taken. The agreement was referred to a committee for completion. The Kauri Timber Company confirmed the sale for £28,000 of the freehold of 500 acres. Adjoining the section was a further 500 acres, carrying hush which would be useful io the council for protective and regenerative purposes. The company was agreeable tor the further 500 acres to be included in the sale without any additional cost -to. the council, thus bringing the total acreage to 1068. „ , The gratuitous offer of the company for the additional 500 acres was accepted, and the council expressed its thanks to the company. Several sections in the Waitakere and Piha Ranges, totalling 3124 acres, weie offered for "sale to the council, at a price of £2 10s an acre. , , The engineer said the watersheds or the Whatipu and Pararaha lepresented practicable extentions of Auckland s water supply resources, hut lie did not consider, that land in the Ka.rekave, Piha and Arawhata Valleys, which was also offered for purchase, \yould ever be required for water supply purposes. He recommended that negotations for the purchase of 1813 acres at V hatipu and Pararaha be entered into. The matter was referred to the committee of the whole Council. The engineer reported that negotiations for - the purchase of properties covering the route of the tramline to the Huin gravitation dam had been completed The arrangements made by the engineer were confirmed.