TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK (REPORT OF THE BOARD OF THE).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1924 Session I, C-13

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1924. NEW ZEALAND.

TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK (REPORT OF THE BOARD OF THE).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Bf.R, — Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, 23rd May, 1.924. I have the honour to submit to you the report of the Tongariro National Park Board, covering its operations up to the 31st March last. I have, &c, J. B. Thompson, Chairman, Tongariro National Park Board. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Minister of Lands.

E E P C) E T. This is the second annual report of the Tongariro National Park Board ; it deals with the operations of the first completed year of working under the Tongariro National Park Act, 1922. Last year's report merely covered the operations of the three months between the Ist January and 31st March, 1923. This report deals with the twelve months ended 31st March, 1924. Meetings. —The following Board meetings have been held during the year : At Waimari.no, on the 11th April, 1923; at Wellington, on the 3rd August, 1923; and at Waimarino, on the sth February, 1924. At each meeting there was a very full attendance of members, and when at Waimarino the Board members personally inspected the. various proposed sites for the hostel, the existing huts, and investigated matters connected with the administration of the park. Accommodation. —In addition to the six huts mentioned in last year's report, two more huts have been constructed, one on the Whakapapa site (and adjoining the two huts that had previously been erected), and the other at the foot of Ngauruhoe (adjoining the old Mangatepopo hut). In each case the hut was made of undressed timber with galvanized-iron roof and veranda, whilst twelve bunks were provided in each ; a suitable fireplace was also erected. They were both constructed by the Prisons Department; they answer present requirements very well, their accommodation having been largely availed of during the past season. The Bruce Trustees again showed their practical interest in the park inasmuch, as they kindly donated the sum of £150 towards their erection. Although the huts now provided in the park for visitors are only suitable for temporary accommodation, and must necessarily be replaced by more commodious accommodation in the near future, yet, owing to the financial position, of the Board, such accommodation is all that can be provided at the present time, and answers fairly well. It is, when necessary, supplemented by the erection, of marquees and tents during the holiday period. The Board is fully alive to the pressing necessity for up-to-date accommodation commensurate with the importance of the park, to which further reference is made following. Caretaker. —Mr. A. Cowling, the caretaker, has been in residence at Whakapapa since November last, and has been chiefly engaged in. attending to the requirements of the many persons who visited the park. Facilities. —Owing to the present isolated position of the huts it was deemed advisable to arrange for the erection of a telephone-line from the Waimarino Railway-station up to the Whakapapa huts. The work is now in hand, and it is hoped that it will be completed at an early date. In due course the Board's policy will pro vide a good road to the huts as well as on to the projected hostel.

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Fees. —Experience has shown that the fees in force when the Board assumed control were somewhat high., with the result that they were reduced, and are now as follows : — SCALE OF FEES. Accommodation— £ s. d. In huts (per person per night) .. .. .. .. ..020 In tent (per person per night) .. • .. .. .. ..010 OampingTent not holding more than four (per week) .. .. ..076 Tent holding between four and eight (per week) .. . . . . 010 0 Tent holding more than eight (per week) .. .. ..100 Guide — For one person (per day) .. .. .. .. ...100 For two persons (per day) .. .. .. .. ...110 0 For extra person (per day) .. .. .. .. ..076 Additions lo Area, of Park. —By Proclamation published in the Gazette of the 17th May, 1923, three areas of land aggregating 832 acres and 14 perches, and situated on the Mangawhero River bank near Ohakune, wore added to the park. A further Proclamation in the Gazette of the 21st June, 1923, included 1 acre of the Town of Waimarino within the park. This latter area will be useful in the future as a depot for the Board in close proximity to the Waimarino Railway-station. These valuable additions to the park property bring its total area up to 145,833 acres. Pamphlet. —The topographical map of the park issued as a lithograph was much in demand, but as the existing supply has recently been exhausted, the Lands and Survey Department are arranging to revise and republish the map at an early date. Eruption. —Early in January last Ngauruhoe was in eruption. The outbreak was first observed at 6 o'clock in the morning of the 9th January. The mountains were obscured most of the day by masses of cumulus cloud, but the summit of the volcano at intervals was clear. Volumes of darkgrey smoke were billowing from the crater, and rolling away on the south-west wind, but did not riseto any great height. Seen through glasses, the outbreak presented an imposing sight, resembling smoke from a large bush-fire. This is the first eruption of any moment in five years. Towards evening the clouds cleared, and there appeared to be less smoke than in the morning. The dark bulk of the volcano made an impressive picture set against a background of vividly coloured sunset sky. There was apparently no extra activity at Ketetahi or Te Mari crater. Hostel-site. —The Board made a very careful inspection of the several proposed hostel-sites at its meeting in February last, but deferred final decision on the matter pending the Engineer's report as to the water and hydro-electric supply available for the several sites. It will be the policy of the Board to have an up-to-date hostel, capable of accommodating from fifty to one hundred visitors, erected near the base of Ruapehu, and to have a good metalled road constructed thereto from the main Waimarino Tokaanu Road so that visitors may motor direct to the hostel, or step from the train at Waimarino into a conveyance, and be landed at the hostel without difficulty. The hostel will be in a central p -sition, from which ascents of Ruapehu and other mountains can readily be made. There will be attractive walks to the lakes, springs, bush, and other features of the park, so that not only mountaineers and trampers, but visitors from the cities of the Dominion and abroad, unaccustomed to much exertion, can benefit by and enjoy the numerous walks and rambles which will be available. In addition the Board will see that the hostel is thoroughly modern and such as will harmonize with its surroundings ; provision will be made for tennis-courts, golf-links, &c. Moreover, the policy of the Board is to encourage ski-ing and other winter sports. The hostel, therefore, should be in close proximity to the localities where these will take place, so that in winter as well as in summer the park will offer facilities and provide convenient and acceptable accommodation to all classes of visitors. There are two methods by which such a hostel may be erected and managed. One is by encouraging private enterprise to undertake the task under lease or franchise from the Board, on somewhat similar terms to those granted by the park authorities in Canada or the United States ; that would enable the parties concerned to erect a hostel and to manage it subject to a tariff and conditions prescribed or approved by the Board. The other way is for the Board to erect the hostel and appoint a manager to conduct it. The latter course, however, necessitates the expenditure of a considerable sum of money, which is beyond the present financial resources of the Board. So soon as the site for the hostel is definitely determined the Board will devote its earnest attention to the question of ways and means of erecting the hostel with requisite accommodation. Bruce Road. —The main road leading from Waimarino to Tokaanu, over which a motor-car service runs regularly, was constructed, and has been kept in order by the Public Works Department, but as a distance of about four miles separates it from the Whakapapa huts, where the main body of visitors go, it is necessary to construct a permanent line of road thereto. Towards this purpose the Bruce Trustees very generously donated the sum of £1,000. The Lands and Survey Department arranged for the survey of the route by Mr. Stewart Fairhall, and the Public Works Department was good enough to allow Mr. P. J. Kellar, District Engineer, to prepare plans and specifications of the route adopted, which is now known as Bruce Road. The work of constructing it has been placed in the hands of the Prisons Department, and it is hoped that suitable access will be provided by next season. Winter Sports. —The Ruapehu Ski Club held very successful alpine sports on the slopes of Ruapehu at the back of the Whakapapa huts on the 25th August, when between forty and fifty enthusiasts were present from Auckland, Wellington, Wanganui, Taumarunui, Ohakune, Raetihi, Huntcrville, and Marton.

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Finances. —At the April meeting of the Board the Mayor of Auckland intimated that the Auckland City Council offered the sum of £1,000 on condition that the Wellington City Council also contributed £1,000, and that the Government should subsidize these amounts. Mr. J. H. Gunson (now Sir James Gunson), Mayor of Auckland, a member of the Board, with Mr. J. B. Thompson, Chairman, attended a special meeting of the Wellington City Council on the 31st May, and made an appeal for co-operation and support in connection with the development of the Tongariro National Park on the broad grounds of national citizenship. After a full discussion on the matter the Wellington City Council agreed to contribute £1,000 in two annual sums of £500 each, provided that the Government subsidized these contributions. The matter was duly placed before the Government, but its decision on the matter has not yet been received. It is hoped that this opportunity of securing funds will not be lost, and that the appropriations of the current year will contain a Government subsidy to the sums contributed from Wellington and Auckland. Under the provisions of the Board's Act local bodies are empowered to contribute to the funds of the Board. It is therefore hoped by the Board that the example set by the City Councils of Auckland and Wellington will inspire many other local authorities to contribute to the funds of the Board, and thereby facilitate the early development of the park. Attached are statements setting out the financial position of the Board, comprising—Statement of Receipts and Payments ; Income and Expenditure Account; Capital Account; Balance-sheet. Departmental Assistance. —In conclusion, the Board desires to express its appreciation of the willing and able manner in which the officers of the Lands and Survey, Prisons, and other Departments of the Public Service have co-operated with tin; Board, and enabled it to carry out its functions in the best manner. Statement of Receipts and Payments for Period Ist April, 1923, to 31st March, 1924. Receipts. £ s. d. Payments. £s. d. To Balance, Ist April, 1923 .. ... .1,010 9 0 By Park equipment ..." .. .. 54 13 1 Park fees.. .. .. .. 235 19 0 Park buildings •.. .. .. 204 6 6 Contribution by Ohakune residents for Ohakune track improvement .. 68 15 0 improvement of Ohakune track .. 100 0 0 Park photographs .. .. .. 16 18 6 Government subsidy .. .. 250 0 0 Advertising .. .. .. 32 15 0 Donation by R. C. Bruce Estate Trustees 150 0 0 Maintenance of park tracks, drains, &c. 4 3 3 Timber royalties .. .. .. 378 13 8 Maintenance of park buildings .. 5 10 3 Interest on Post Office Savings-bank Horse-feed, shoeing.. .. .. 18 14 8 deposit 19 5 0 Travelling-expenses .. .. 49 0 10 Printing and stationery .. .. 12 3 9 Postages, telegrams, &c. .. .. 4 7 0 Refund of caretaker's salary to Consolidated Fund .. .. .. 243 5 7 Commission on hut foos collected during caretaker's absence .. .. 7 17 9 Balance— £ s. d. Bank of Now Zealand . . 506 17 3 Less unpresented cheques 15 12 9 491 4 6 Post Office Savings-bank.. 919 5 0 Cash in transit at 31st March, 1924 .. 11 5 6 1,421 15 0 £2,144 6 8 £2,144 6 8 Income and Expenditure Account, Ist April, 1923, to 31st March, 1924. Dr. £ s. d. Cr. £ s. d. To Advertising .. .. .. 32 15 0 By Park fees.. .. .. .. 209 18 9 Caretaker's salary .. .. .. 180 15 7 Government subsidy .. . . 250 0 0 Depreciation—Park equipment, £10; Donation by R. C. Bruce Estate Trustees 150 0 O horse, £3 .. .. .. 13 0 0 Contribution by Ohakune residents .. 100 0 0 Horso-fced, shoeing .. .. 10 12 2 Interest on Savings-bank deposit .. 19 5 0 Maintenance or park tracks .. .. 4 3 3 Maintenance of park buildings .. 510 3 Ohakune track improvement . . 148 3 6 Printing and stationery .. . . I I 1 3 9 Postages, &c. .. .. •. 4 7 6 Travelling-expenses .. .. 34 10 10 Park photographs .. .. .. 16 18 6 Balance (transferred to Capital Account) 260 13 5 £729 3 9 £729 3 9 Capital Account. Dr. £ s. d. Cr. £ s . d. To Balance, 31st March, 1924 .. .. 7,734 18 I By Balance, Ist April, 1923 .. .. 1,030 12 0 Erua milling-timber .. .. 6,437 12 8 Income and Expenditure Account .. 266 13 5 £7,734 18 1 £7,734 18 1 By Balance, Ist April, 1924 .. .. £7,734 18 1

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Balance-sheet, 31st March, 1924. Liabilities. £ s. d. Assets. Road Development Account ... .. 1,000 0 0 Cash— £ s. d. £ s. d. Sundry creditors .. .. .. 424 19 3 Bank of New Zealand .. 491 4 6 Capital .. .. .. .. 7,734 18 1 Post Office Savings-bank .. 919 5 0 In transit .. .. 11 5 6 — 1,421 15 0 Erua milling-timber .. .. 5,490 18 6 Park buildings .. .. .. 1,517 11 9 Park equipment .. 154 19 1 Less depreciation .. 10 0 0 144 19 1 Horse. .. .. .. 14 0 0 Less depreciation .. 3 0 0 II 0 0 Sundry debtors— Park foes .. .. . . 512 6 Timber royalties .. .. 568 0 6 £9,159 17 4 £9,159 17 4 J. B. Thompson, Chairman, Tongariro National Park Board. J. H. O'Donnell, Hon. Treasurer, Tongariro National Park Board.

Approximate. Cost oi Paper. — I'reparatioi., not Riven : printing (62_ copies). £6 10s.

By Authority: W. A. G. Skinner, Government Printer, Wellington.—l 924.

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