CONSERVATION OF THE LAKES DISTRICT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8721, 6 February 1890, Page 4

CONSERVATION OF THE LAKES DISTRICT.

At Wednesday's meeting of the Land Board the following letter from Sir Hobert Stout was read:—

, „ Dunedin, 27th January 1890. J. V. Maitlaud, Eeq,, Chief Commissioner Crown

Lauds, Otago. Sir,—Having been iv the beginning of this month at Lake Wakatipu I would like to bring before your notice and that of the Land Board the urgent need of something being done to preserve the Lake region for tourists and settlers. I need not enlarge on the value of the tourist traffic. From a mere money point of view it is even now as valuable to the Lakes as a good goldfield, and year by year, if-judiciously looked after, it will increase. Of course as Queensfcown grows it will have to look after its township getting baths erected, tepid swimming baths, &c, and the foreshore will have to be planted, aud part of the private property near the lake bought and the houses pulled down aud an open space made. But without much cost the Land department can assist. The three things most urgent at present seem to me to be:—

(1) The reservation of all unsold land along the lakes, especially the bit of bush not yet destroyed. Bush adds immensely to the beauty of the acenery, and there is now little left. Once reserved, the ratiger should sco it is not cut down, and planting should go on so that the sides of the lake may in many places be reforested.

(2) Here Lake and its approaches should be reserved. The lake is a most b:iutilul one, and three sides have a beautiful bush foreat round them. The approaches from Lake Wakatipu through a bush forest, with bare mountiin tops iv view, is aa fine a piece of acenery as one need care to look at. The land is valueless for either agriculture or pasture, and I hopo it will ba immtdiacely reserved. (3; A road should bs opened to connect Lake Te Anau and the other lakes with Lake Wakatipu. I am informed t.here are no engineering difficulties in tho way, aud that this can b3 done through the Vu Valley.

Tne nted of encouraging the tourist traffic is so apparent that I shall not waste more words in urging jour attention to the mattcis I have mentioned.—l am, &c, JRobert Stout.

Consideration of the matter -was deferred for a week. '