DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY: SCENERY-PERSERVATION. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1920 TOGETHER WITH STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS AND SCHEDULE OF LANDS ACQUIRED AND RESERVED DURING THE YEAR UNDER THE SCENERY PRESERVATION ACT.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1920 Session I, C-06

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1920. NE W ZEA LAN D.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY: SCENERY-PERSERVATION. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1920 TOGETHER WITH STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS AND SCHEDULE OF LANDS ACQUIRED AND RESERVED DURING THE YEAR UNDER THE SCENERY PRESERVATION ACT.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant, to Section 17 of the Scenery Preservation Act, 1908.

Sir, — Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, 16th June, 1920. I have the honour to submit herewith report on scenery-preservation for the twelve months ended the 31st March, 1920. I have, &c, T. N. Brodrick, Under-Secretary for Lands. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Minister in Charge of Scenery-preservation, Wellington.

EEPOET. Reservations. There were comparatively few reservations during the year, but they included some very charmingareas of scenery. In the North Auckland Land District 706 acres of land bordering the Whangaroa Harbour were taken under the Public Works Act for scenery purposes. They included Pekapeka (or Okohomoko Bay), which has been used for picnic purposes for some considerable time past. It is situated near the entrance to the harbour and commands a beautiful view. As, however, the owner of the land objected to such a large area being taken, the matter is now under consideration with a view to seeing if the area can be reduced in any way and still retain a suitable reserve for scenic purposes. In the Auckland Land District 80 acres of land on the shores of Kawhia Harbour, where the Awaroa flows in, were also taken under the Public Works Act, and will preserve a very picturesque feature of the landscape. On the north bank of the Mokau River a block of 856 acres was also secured, and will help to preserve the charming scenery on this part of the river. For years past the Mokau River has been considered one of the principal attractions of the west coast, and the reserve in question is one of several recommended by the Scenery Preservation Board. When the rest of tho areas recommended have been acquired it is hoped the, attractions of the place will bo preserved for all time, and be visited in tho future, as in the past, by a great number of people who desire to see what the pristine beauty of New Zealand was, and in some parts still is. In the Taranaki Land District 166 acres of very beautiful bush lying between Everett Road and Mangonui Stream, north-oast of Inglewood, were finally preserved under the Scenery Preservation Act. The land had been formerly set apart as a forest reserve, but the reservation had been cancelled, and there was danger of the timber being utilized, therefore the Government decided to permanently reserve it for scenic purposes. A local Scenic Board is now being constituted with a view to ensure adequate protection.

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Over 3,000 acres of land on tho south bank of the Mokau River were, sot aside during the year, and, as has already been stated, the acquisition of these areas will preserve the magnificent scenery of the river. Although the, banks do not possess the grandeur of those on tho upper reaches of tho Wanganui River, yet they have, a beauty of their own, and in this way cannot be, surpassed by any other river in New Zealand. With the increase of motor and other traffic and the, proper facilities being afforded for launching up the Mokau River, its beauties will receive ample recognition in the future, and will serve to attract to this part of the. Island many visitors who otherwise would not come. A further area of 8 acres covered with native bush on the Okoroa Road, to the north-west of Okahukura Station, on the Main Trunk line, were resumed and sot apart under the Act. In the. Marlborough Land District four small areas of land adjoining Whenua-nui Bay, in Queen Charlotte Sound, were acquired by way of exchange and reserved for scenic purposes. They are within easy distance of Picton, and will no doubt be visited largely in tho future. In the Southland Land District 190 acres abutting on the southern shores of Pickersgill Harbour and Dusky Sound, Fiord County, were proclaimed as a scenic reserve. The land is covered with heavy mixed forest and native bush, comprising broken and precipitous country. The proclamation of this area completes the, reservation of the land in the Sounds National Park. The only other reserve made during the year was \ acre adjoining the existing scenic reserve at Clifden. The, reservation over three areas, comprising 211 acres, was revoked during the year. This was done on account of the land being no longer suitable for scenic purposes. Added to the reservations made, under the Scenery Preservation Act since. 1903, there are now 525 separate reserves, aggregating 312,075 acres, and this, as has been said before, includes some of the finest scenery in the Dominion. When further reservations which are now under contemplation are effected the bulk of the unique scenery of the Dominion will be secured. During the last few years, through the unusual circumstances occasioned by a state of war and the great strain thrown upon the financial and other resources of New Zealand, there has naturally been a falling-off in the expenditure of money under the, scenery-preservation vote, but every care has been taken that judicious expenditure should afford the best results, and this will continue to bo done in the future. Lake Rotoiti. Some time ago the Native owners of certain lands fronting tho shores of Lake Rotoiti decided to cede portions to the Crown for scenic reservation, and last year, while, the Hon. Sir Francis Bell was in the Rotorua district, he met a number of the interested Natives at Okore and discussed the, mattor with them. Among those present were, Morehu te Kirikau, Wirehunga Tamati, Teiri te Tikau, Raharuhi Pururu, and Captain Vercoe, D.S.O. Captain Gilbert Mair acted as interpreter. Speaking for the Natives, Morehu te Kirikau made an offer of the land to the Government free of compensation, subject to certain conditions, and subsequently ho visited Wellington and confirmed the offer. Provision was made by section 33 of the Native Land Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment Aot, 1919, to accept this offer, and to establish a special Board in accordance with the wishes of the Natives for the administration, protection, and control of the land : the Board of control to consist of not less than six members, of whom five shall be members of the Ngatipikiao Tribe. The, former Native owners are to retain free right of access to any ancestral burial-grounds, and shall also have the right to bury deceased Natives in any such burial-grounds. The survey of the land has been carried out by Mr. Tai Mitchell, and as soon as the plans have been approved steps will be taken to constitute tho Scenic Board in pursuance of section 13 of the Scenery Preservation Act, 1908. It is understood that it is the intention of the Natives to celebrate the handing-over of the scenic reserves by holding an official gathering at Rotorua to which representatives of the Government will be invited. The spontaneous action of the Ngatipikiao Natives in presenting such a beautiful area of scenic bush to the Dominion is worthy of the highest praise, and is very gratifying to the. Department. Tennyson Inlet. The reservation of the forest-covered land around Tennyson Inlet, containing about 7,000 acres, has been considered by the, Scenery Preservation Board on more than one occasion, and it is now pleasing to record that provision was made by section 14 of the Native Land Amendment and Native. Land Clainrs Adjustment Act, 1919, to reserve this magnificent area of Native bush, which extends in its virgin state practically from the tops of the hills to the shores of Tennyson Inlet, one. of the, most beautiful in the Marlborough Sounds. Certain South Island landless Natives were awarded land in this locality by the Smith-Maokay Commission, but, as the land was very rugged and quite unsuitable for settlement, the legislation quoted provided for the, payment of a grant of money in lieu of land to the Natives entitled, thereto, and action in that direction is now being taken. As soon as opportunity offers it is hoped to make a properly formed road to the reserve in order that its scenic grandeur may be accessible to all visitors. Local Scenic Boards. Local Scenic Boards appointed in pursuance of section 13 of the, Scenery Preservation Act, 1908, continue to do good work in controlling scenic reserves in various parts of the Dominion, and as these gentlemen hold purely honorary positions and act without remuneration of any kind their services in protecting much of our beautiful scenic bush are highly appreciated by the Department. At present seven of these, Boards are in operation.

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During the year the, control of the Tukituki River Scenic Reserve was vested in the Waipukurau Borough Council for a further term of three years, and Mr. John Parkinson was appointed an honorary Inspector over the Kaituna Valley Scenic Reserves. As reported last year, the control of the Turuturumokai Pa was vested in the Hawera Borough Council. The conditions of control were, subsequently amended, authority being given to the Minister charged for the time being with the administration of the Scenery Preservation Act, 1908, to take such steps as he thinks fit for the, planting of suitable, trees in the reserve, or to require the Hawera Borough Council to plant such trees therein as the Minister shall specify. As a result of this action over 1,200 native, trees of different varieties have been planted by the Council. Care, is being taken not to damage the old earthworks made by the Natives when the pa was used for defence purposes in the Maori War. It is hoped that in the future this historic reserve will be unique as a plantation of native trees, and will, thus bo of special interest to all lovers of our beautiful New Zealand bush. Expenditure. The expenditure during the year was £750, out of which the cost of acquisition of lands amounted to £510. By a reference to the, appended table it will be seen that, out of the £100,000 authorized under the Scenery Preservation Act, £94,000 has now been raised. As was the case during the preceding twelve, months, every care was taken to curtail expenditure.

Comparison of Expenditure.

Appendices. Attached to this report are the following appendices : — A. Schedule of reserves made, during the year, accompanied by a statement of accounts. B. Report of the Scenery Preservation Board. C. Kapiti Island.

Year. Compensation for Land. Fencing and Surveys Board's g T Maintenance. Valuations, &c. Expenses. Board's Expenses. Salaries. Total. £ 216 3,336 7,856 4,286 3,813 1,688 1,066 2,619 12,997 10,467 6,253 1,530 252 428 1,295 510 £ £ £ £ Nil 52 1,822 * 2, 527 1,221 * 5, 304 801 185 * 9, 382 555 86 175 5, 1,063 540 24 325 5, 1,159 2,603 Nil 325 5, 685 1,643 11 325 3, 715 2,237 22 345 5, 798 2,697 6 345 16, 627 1,547 3 365 13, 758 476 12 388 7, 698 104 6 390 2, 836 76 1 390 1, 602 114 3 390 1, l,964f 49 1 280 3, 188 12 .. 40 £ 1,822 1,221 185 86 24 Nil 11 22 6 3 12 £ * £ 2,090 5,084 9,146 5,484 5,765 5,775 3,730 5,938 16,843 13,009 7,887 2,728 1,555 1,537 3,589 750 1904-5 .. 1905-6 .. 1906-7 .. 1907-8 .. 1908-9 .. 1909-10 .. 1910-11 .. 1911-12 .. 1912-13 .. 1913-14 . . 1914-15 .. 1915-16 .. 1916-17 .. 1917-18 .. 1918-19 .. 1919 20 .. * * 175 325 325 325 345 345 365 388 390 390 390 280 40 6 1 3 1 Grand ti ital 90, 90,910 * Included in card's expenses f Includes £1,750 paid to Summit Road Scenic Reserves Board.

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APPENDICES.

APPENDIX A. Reserves made in 1919-20 under the Scenery Preservation Act, 1908, and its Amendments

Revocation of Reservations.

Summary of Reserves. District, No. Area. a. r. r. North Auckland .. . . . . . . . . 1 706 0 0 Auckland .. . . . . .. . . 2 936 0 8 Taranaki .. .. .. .. .. 8 3,441 2 14 Marlborough .. . . . . . . 1 5 010 Southland .. .. .. .. ..2 190 1 5 14 5,278 3 37 Reserved up to 31st March, 1919 .. .. .. 512 307,007 323 526 312,286 3 20 Less reservations revoked .. .. .. .. 1. 211 0 13 Grand totals .. ..525 312,075 3 7

if, g.gS Local Name. 3 ° fl- CD fl . Description. Area. Date of Proclamati in Gazette Date of Proclamation in Gazette. 402 Ranfurly Bay, in Pekapeka Bay North Auckland Land District. a. r. p. Block III, Whangaroa S.I), (part of j 706 0 0 i ! Taupo 24) | . 1 1919. 0 June. 1919. 6 June. 184 ] Kawhia Harbour 210 ] Mokau Biver bunk 1.84 210 Auckland Ixmd District. Awaroa A No. 2n, Block XI, Kawhia 80 0 0 North S.D. Mangapapa E No. 2, Blocks XIII and XIIIa 856 0 8 and XIV and XIVa, Awakino East S.D. 936 0 8 17 Oct. 27 Marcl 17 Oct. 27 March. 459 Everett Road Tamnaki Ijand District. 15 Nov. 458 2141 and I Mokau Biver banks .. < 215 j 459 458 214) and I 215 J Sections J 3, 18, and 19, Block XIII, Wai- 166 0 0 taia S.D. Section 15, Block XI, Tangitu S.D. .. 8 0 0 Mokau-Mohakatino Block, part Subdivision 642 3 0") 9 of If and part If, Block II, Tainui S.D. Part Subdivision 13 of If and part If, 1,266 2 0 Blocks III and IV, Mokau S.D. I Part lo, Block V, Mokau S.D. .. .. 425 0 0 Part 1h and lo, Block V, Mokau S.D. .. 212 0 0 Part In, Block V, Mokau S.D. .. .. 543 0 0 Part 1c 2, Block II, Tainui S.D. .. 178 1 14J 3.441 2 II 166 0 0 8 0 0 642 3 0~ 1,266 2 0 15 Nov. 16 Dec, 1920. 27 Marc 15 Dec, 1920. 27 March. 425 0 0 212 0 0 543 0 0 178 1 14 J 353 [ Marlborough Land District. Sections 13, 14, and 15, Block VII, Link- I 5 0 10 | water S.D. | 1 3,441 2 14 j 5 0 10 | 1919. 15 Nov. 353 451 1 . . j Clifden /Southland Land District. Pickersgill Harbour, Dusky Sound .. 190 0 0 Section 1, Block I, Lillburn S.D... .. 0 15 190 1 5 8 April. 3 July.

Land. Area. Date of Proclamation in Gazette. Section 35, Block TV, Tautuku S.D. Part Section 3, Block 11, Omapere S.D. Section 28 and part Section 102 (Block XI, Kumeu S.D.), Waitakcrei Parish A. R. p. 1 0 0 6 2 0 203 2 13 10 July, 1919. 3 October, 1919. 22 „ Total 211 0 13

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Statement of Accounts, showino the Amounts expended and the Purposes to which the Money so expended has been applied, for the Year ended 31st March, 1920. Scenery Preservation Account. Statement of Receipts and Payments for Year ended 31sl March, 1920. Receipts. £ s. d. Payments. £ 8. d. Cash in hand Ist April, 1919 .. .. 433 8 7 Salaries .. .. .. .. 40 8 4 Loan Account: Debentures issued .. 5,000 0 0 Administration of reserves, &c.— £ s. cl. Rents received .. .. .. 203 1.0 5 Salaries of caretakers and allowances .. .. ■ .. 70 3 0 Travelling-expenses .. ..4104 Eradication of weeds .. .. 116 0 Erection and upkeep of fences .. 12 0 0 Legal costs .. .. ..770 . 95 16 10 Compensation for lands acquired along the Wanganui River: Puketarata.. .. 118 0 0 Compensation for Native lands taken tor scenery purposes —- Pukaahu Thermal Resort .. .. 350 0 (I Ngatira Scenic Reserve .. .. 42 14 0 Orari Gorge Scenic Reserve : Contribution towards fencing and improvements .. 0 0 0 Surveys, valuations, and incidental expenses : Advertising intention to take lamia .. .. .. .. 12 3 9 Turuturumokai Pa Scenic Reserve : Cost of planting trees, &c. .. .. .. 87 7 0 Cash in hand, 31st March, 1920 .. .. 4,944 8 1 £5,090 19 0 £5,096 19 0 Loan Account, as at 31st March, 1920. £ s. d. By Debentures issued— £ s. d. £ s. Ib To Loan authority: Section 12, Scenery- 1905-1919 .. 89,000 I) 0 preservation Act, 1908 .. .. 100,000 0 0 1919-1920 .. 5,000 0 0 — —— 94,000 0 0 Balance of authority as at 31st March, 1920 .. .. .. .. 0,000 0 0 £100,000 0 0 £100,000 0 0 J. H. O'DoNNELL, 10th June, 1920. Chief Accountant.

APPENDIX B. Report of the Scenery Preservation Board. During the year under review the following meetings were held in the office of the Surveyor-General: On the 14th April and the Ist May, 1919, to deal with matters in tho Auckland Land District ; on tho 29th April, 1.919, to deal with matters in tho Marlborough Land District; on the 30th April, 1919, and the 23rd February, 1920, to deal with matters in the North Auckland Land District; on the Ist May, 19.19, to deal with matters in tho Taranaki Land District; and on the 31st March, 1920, to deal with matters in the Southland Land District. The Board submitted thirteen recommendations to His Excellency the Governor-General in regard to acquiring and reserving certain lands for scenic purposes, and several of these have already been carried out, while the remaining ones are being dealt with. Several other cases were also considered, but no recommendations were made. T. N. Brodrick, Chairman.

APPENDIX 0. Kapiti Island. A small portion of this island is still retained by the Native owners, and, so far, proposals to purchase tho interests of th» Natives have not been successful. During the year it was decided to set up an advisory committee to advise the Government on technical matters relating to the flora and fauna of the, island and the preservation of bird-life thereon, and the following gentlemen have agreed to accept appointment on the committee : E. Phillips Turner, Esq., E.R.G.S., Secretary, Forestry Department; Professor H. B. Kirk (nominated by the New Zealand Institute) ; Dr. J. Allen Thomson, Director of the Dominion Museum ; Arthur Seed, Esq. (nominated by the Wellington Acclimatization Society); Dr. Leonard Cockayne, F.R.S., &c. ; and W. H. Field, Esq., M.P. The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Wellington (ex officio), will act as Chairman of the committee.

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It is hoped that the recommendations of gentlemen so well qualified to advise on such matters will bo of great value and assistance in dealing with the general administration of this unique, sanctuary. Mr. J. L. Bennett is still caretaker of the island, and continues to render valuable service in this respect. The following extracts from his annual report may prove of interest to the general public : — " During the year 197 goats and two cats were destroyed on the island. " The total number of opossums trapped was 2,397, and the sale of the skins realized £780 15s. 2d. As the total expenses were £213 15s. 2d., a profit to tho Department of £567 resulted. " I have now finished my observations of every gully and spur on Kapiti, and|find that about 140 acres on the north of Taipiro and 200 acres south of waterfall must be trapped this winter. " Bird-feed : Owing to the unseasonable spring and early summer the bird-feed is again very scarcer ; even on the karaka-trees the berries did not reach maturity. " Birds : Tuis are greatly reduced in numbers, also whiteheads and fantails, but still numerous enough for all the feed there is for them. On the other hand, bell-birds and robins show a very noticeable increase. A few years ago robins were seldom seen ; at present they are in evidence everywhere, Blue herons are also on the increase ; wckas aro very numerous ; pigeons, kakas, parakeets, &c, are numerous. " Bush : Kohokohe, mahoo, passion-flowers, and fuchsia are all showing signs of recovering from the damage done to them by the opossums."

Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (550 copies), £7 10a.

Authority: Marcus P. Marks, (government Printer, Wellington.--1920.

Price 6d.]

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