SCENERY PRESERVATION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LX, Issue LX, 29 December 1910, Page 4

SCENERY PRESERVATION.

In the session of 1903 legislation was passed setting aside land in various parts of New Zealand for scenic purposes. This was certainly a step in the right direction, and to-day the Dominion is in possession of a. valuable asset in its scenic reserves. According

to the annual report of the Department '■ of Lands, issued recently, the Dominion has 40,546 acres of land reserved for scenic spots. The Department does not in any way desire to interfere with land that would be suitable for the development of settle-^ ment, and in selecting scenic reserves care is taken to choose areas which are not required for residential purposes. During the year 3470 acres were reserved and acquired at comparatively small cost, namely, £5775. The total expenditure on the purchase of scenic reserves since the passing of the Act was £33,344. Among the areas that have been acquired are some 500 acres of the Peel Forest, close to Geraldine and Tiniaru, and 181 acres in the vicinity of Mount Somers in order to secure the attractions which this area contains. Reservations have also been made this year in Taranaki, Rotorua, the Waitomo Caves, Lake Rotorua, and in Wellington (Wharite Mountain) and Palmerston .North (Manawatu Gorge). Surveyor^ are at work on native land containing the best of the scenery between Wanganui and Pipiriki, the aim of the Lands Department in this connection being to preserve most of the natural beauty of the scenery on the Wanganui river, between the river itself and the top of the ridge forming the skyline as seen from the decks of passing steamers ; and, what is of almost equal importance, the protection of the river banks. It is satisfactory to learn from the. Inspector of Scenic Reserves that, generally speaking, all the reserves are in excellent order, and that every care is being taken to ensure # that they shall remain in as attractive a condition as possible. The authorities are to be congratulated on the steps they are adopting to preserve the beauty resorts of the Dominion— spots which all New Zealanders are proud of.