ARTHUR’S PASS PARK.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 257, 29 October 1931, Page 7

ARTHUR’S PASS PARK.

Board Makes Grants for Improvements.

Proposals for the improvement of the Arthur’s Pass National Park were discussed at a meeting of the Park Board yesterday afternoon. Mr W. Steward presided and there were also present— Sir A. Dudlev Dobson, Professor RSpeight, Dr E. Teichelmann, Dr W. M’Kay and Messrs W. K. M’Alpine, S. Darby, R. Twyneham and F. W. Freeman.

On the motion of Dr M’Kay it was decided to urge the Main Highways Board to complete the bridges over the Pegleg and M’Grath Creeks, as the structures would be a great convenience to motorists.

Proposed New Track. Reporting on behalf of the Grounds Committee, Dr M’Kay said there was a balance of £3O left out of the £3OO granted for expenditure by the committee. There was one track requiring to be put through, but he suggested that attention might be given another track in the Upper Otira area. It was possible to go up the latter track on the western side of the tunnel mouth and to descend into the Otira vallev. The method of approach was quite satisfactory, but unfortunately the track was covered in scrub. The track provided round trips to *Mount Rolleston and to Mount Philistine, and a good trip on its own.

It was resolved to allot £IOO for expenditure on the Mount Barron and Upper Otira Tracks, and for the erection of milestones within the park, the work to be undertaken in that order. Deer Licenses.

The position relating to deer licenses was discussed, the chairman stating that at present it was an offence for anyone to enter the park with a rifle without a permit from the board. There were three shooting blocks available, however, and the licenses would include the right to shoot thar and chamois.

It was resolved that in the first fortnight the license fee should be £3 3s, and that for this charge the blocks should be ballotted for. It was further agreed that week-end licenses should be 10s; fourteen-day licenses £1 Is and licenses up to twenty-eight days, £2 2s The finance committee reported that the chief source of revenue during the half year was rent, £ll2, and lease fees £4O, and the net profit for the period was £lOl. The cash at the bank totalled £SBO. There were forty-five township sections held by tenants. Thirtysix leases had been completed, while three were awaiting completion. It was decided to increase the ranger’s honorarium from £25 to £SO. An offer by Mr C. J. Gasson to provide a stone seat in the park for the convenience of trampers, with a possibility of inducing others to make similar donations, was accepted.