SUMMIT ROAD RESERVES BOARD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18437, 17 June 1920, Page 9

SUMMIT ROAD RESERVES BOARD.

Tho annual meeting- of the Summit Rond Scenic Reserves Board was held yesterday aftornoou; present—Mr H. D. M. HaszarU (chairman), Dr C. Chilton. Colonel H. S. Hobday, and Messrs W. Malcolm, G. Harper and II G. Ell. Apologies were received for tho absence of Messrs A. Morton and W. Reece. , Tho annual report stated that tho condition of tlie reserves was good. Some of them required fencing, but the fencing would have to stand over till tho cost of fencing material was reduced. There was evidence of the extension of the bush in tho bush-covered areas of the reserves. The young growth had been protected through tho board’s rule that no fires should be allowed, and that no cattle should be grazed on the reserves. Through tho generosity of Mr H. A. Knight, of Racecourse Hill, a very valuable and beautiful addition was being acquired. When tho purchaso was completed tho piece would be taken for scenic reserve purposes and would come under control of. the board. _ As a rosult of vigorous trapping the rabbit infested arear of Kennedy’s Bush had been almost cleared. Over 4000 rabbits had been taken off. Two returned soldiers, married men, had been engaged on that work. Trapping operations for opossums would bo conducted again this season, and the proceeds would be devoted to tho improvement of the scenic reserves under the board’s control. The statement of receipts and expenditure for tho year ended March 31, 1920, showed that rents from reserves amounted to £52 14s, and royalties on opossums trapped to £74 10s, and that tho Land Board liqd given a, donation of £2 2s, making a total of £129 6b. lhe expenditure, including a portion ol sole of opossum skins £27 7s Id, telephone at Dyer s Pass £2l 18s sd, shod at Kennedy s Bush £lO 10s, and taking possession of Kaitunn Reserve £33, amounted to £9d Is l hd, leaving a balance in the bank of £3l 4s 60. Mr Ell, referring to _ the des ruction o rabbits, said that trapping had been found to be more effective than poisoning, and that tho best plan, if poisoning was necessary, was to combine trapping with it, as poisoninnf alone was not sufficion . The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Mr E C. Evans, Oran Gorge, was engaged to trap opossums on all the reserves controlled by the board.