DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. SCENERY-PRESERVAYION. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1933, TOGETHER WITH STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURE AND SCHEDULE OF LANDS ACQUIRED AND RESERVED DURING THE YEAR UNDER THE SCENERY PRESERVATION ACT.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1933 Session I, C-06

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1933. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. SCENERY-PRESERVAYION. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1933, TOGETHER WITH STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURE 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, Ist August, 1933. I have the honour to submit herewith a report on scenery-preservation for the year ended 31st March, 1933. I have, &c., W. Robertson, Under-Secretary for Lands. The Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister in Charge of Scenery-preservation, Wellington.

REPORT,

Proclamations issued during the year setting apart land as scenic or historic reserves under the provisions of the Scenery Preservation Act covered an area of some 5,790 acres. In the North Auckland Land District a small area of more than ordinary historic interest was set aside at Russell for scenic and historic purposes. This reserve at one time was the site of the flagstaff which was cut down by the famous Maori warrior Hone Heke at the time of the early Maori troubles at Kororareka, and its reservation from an historic point of view was much to be desired. An area of 40 acres of township sections at Waitangi was taken for historic purposes during the year. This area adjoins the lands referred to in the Waitangi National Trust Board Act, 1932, and provision was made in section 9 of that Act for the vesting of the taken lands in the Waitangi National Trust Board upon payment to the Crown by or on behalf of the Board of the cost of acquisition thereof. In the Village of Leigh an area of 1 acre 2 roods 38 perches, fronting the harbour, was set apart as a scenic reserve with the view to preserving the beautiful pohutukawa trees growing along the foreshore. This area was acquired from the owner by way of exchange for some Crown sections in the village, and arrangements are in hand for the acquisition of a further area. Reservations in the Auckland Land District included an area of 13J acres of steep, bush-covered slopes fronting the shores of the Kawhia Harbour. The area is admirably adapted to scenic purposes, and forms a worthy addition to the existing reserves around Kawhia. A further 226 acres of bush-clad country in the vicinity of Ngatera, and situated along the Auckland-Rotorua Railway were added to the already extensive reservations in that locality. Reservations in the Gisborne Land District comprised areas totalling some 1,369 acres along the recently completed Opotiki-Matawai Road. This road will undoubtedly develop into the main highway between Gisborne and Opotiki, and the reservations made will aid materially in preserving its scenic charm, comprising as they do native bush of high scenic value. The bush is fully representative of the heavy mixed forest of the locality, liberally interspersed with rata and tree ferns. In the Taranaki Land District arrangements were completed for the reservation of an area of 338 acres adjacent to the main Stratford-Ohura Road. This reservation consists of steep broken country in heavy bush, principally tawa, and is of considerable scenic value, situated as it is close to and visible from a main highway much in use by tourist traffic. A further area comprising 582 acres of steep sandstone country adjoining the Stratford Main Trunk Railway was set aside as a scenic reserve. Activities in the Wellington Land District led to the reservation of several areas of considerable scenic interest. The first of these is a small area of some 5 acres on the banks of the Wanganui River and adjacent to the Te Maire - Mangaohutu Main Highway. This reservation will undoubtedly prove a valuable addition to the already extensive and beautiful reserves along the course of the river. A splendid bush area of 40 acres at Horopito was about to be milled when the local people brought the matter under notice, and an exchange of bush was arranged whereby the Department was able to acquire the threatened area as a reserve. The third reservation was that of an area of 50 acres adjoining the Wanganui River in the vicinity of Pipiriki. The reserve comprises for the most part exceedingly steep rocky faces, all in standing

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bush. The area is practically inaccessible and will prove a valuable reserve for the preservation of native bird life. The final Wellington District reservation during the year was the sett.ing-apart of a small area on the Kouturoa Road near Kaitieke, comprising 7i acres of bush land, containing a very fine stand of white-pine. This area had always been regarded as a reserve, although never actually gazetted. During recent years the Department has endeavoured to reserve all available bush areas along the route of the Greymouth-Westport Main Highway, Nelson District, and in pursuance of this object four further areas totalling in all some 752 acres were set aside during the year. Other Nelson reservations included an area of 200 acres on the coast in the vicinity of Torrent Bay, some small portions of Adele and Fisherman's Islands in the Astrolabe Roadstead, and a considerable area in the Inangahua Valley. In the Marlborough Land District the reserves placed under the control of the Hundalee Scenic Board were augmented by the addition of a strip of 92 acres lying along the coast between the Kowhai and Kahutara Rivers. The new reservation is a favourite picnic and camping spot. A further reserve possessing scenic and camping value, and comprising one of a series of islands in the Puhi Puhi River bed, was set apart under the Scenery Preservation Act, and steps are being taken to place the area under the control of the Hundalee Scenic Board. A most picturesque piece of bush land, situated in Queen Charlotte Sound, comprising an area of 270 acres, was the third reservation in Marlborough during the year. This reserve is situated on a headland just within the entrance to the Sound, and is the first point observed, by tourists on entering from Tory Channel. The only other reservation in this district was an area of 27| acres adjoining Puroa Point Scenic Reserve, Queen Charlotte Sound. This reservation was made possible by the action of a Crown mortgagor in making a gift of the area for scenic purposes. The only reservation in the Westland Land District during the year consisted of an area of 12 acres of bush land on the Marsden Road near Greymouth. This area, which was acquired by way of exchange some time ago, is covered with attractive bush, and adjoins an existing reserve. Reservations in the Canterbury Land District included a small area of closed road adjoining Reserve 3990, a particularly fine piece of native bush in the Kinloch Settlement much visited by the public. The area now added was an unformed road fenced in with the main reserve. The second reservation in this district was that of an area of 98J acres of steep bush-clad slopes in a gorge on the Waiau River. This bush is the only native forest left in the locality, and contains a variety of forest trees. It was formerly reserved as a State forest; but the State Forest Service facilitated arrangements being made to have it set aside under the Scenery Preservation Act. A third Canterbury reservation was that of some 30 acres, of which approximately one-half is in dense native bush, situated in Raules Gully, South Canterbury. This land was set aside some time ago for the purposes of scenery preservation, but its actual proclamation was overlooked. This omission has accordingly now been rectified. In the Southland Land District a small area at Kingston, fronting Lake Wakatipu, was set apart with a view to preserving the beautiful kowhai trees growing thereon. A further reservation in this district consisted of an area of 8f acres situated on the eastern shore of Lake Manapouri. A little over half the area carries beech forest, which shows a tendency to spread over the remaining portion, and the reservation under the Scenery Preservation Act will permit of adequate measures being taken to protect the bush. The third reservation in Southland, an area of 43 acres in the Forest Hill Hundred, includes a bush-clad hill, and should prove a useful addition to the scenic reserves of the district. It is used extensively as a. picnic-ground by the local populace. The only other reservation in this land district was an area of 315 acres of steep rough country on the Haldane-Tokanui Road. The land was originally provisional State forest, but contained little timber of commercial value, and the State Forest Service agreed to the purpose of the reserve being changed. Special legislation was provided in section 10 of the Reserves and other Lands Disposal Act, 1932, cancelling the provisional State forest reservation and setting the land apart for scenery purposes. The reservation over an area of some 929 acres of a large scenic reserve on the west side of the Waikato, opposite Taupiri, was revoked during the year. The area dealt with comprised open fern and tea-tree country of no scenic value, but largely ploughable and suitable for settlement purposes. It has been subdivided into four sections and disposed of to suitable applicants. The remainder of the reserve comprises mostly bush-clad mountain country, and will be retained under reservation. A Proclamation was also issued revoking the reservation over a small reserve of some 5 acres on the Alfredton-Weber Road, as the bush on the area had been aceidently destroyed. The number of scenic reservations in the Dominion is now 934, covering a total area of 658,292 acres. Scenery Preservation Board. Meetings of the Scenery Preservation Board were held in the office of the Surveyor-General, Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, on the 15tli April, 1932 (North Auckland Land District) ; on the 20th October, 1932 (North Auckland, Auckland, Gisborne, Wellington, Nelson, Marlborough, Canterbury, Otago and Southland Districts) ; and on the 31st March, 1933 (North Auckland, Auckland, Taranaki, Wellington, Nelson, Westland, Otago and Southland Districts). Twenty-eight recommendations were submitted by the Board to His Excellency the GovernorGeneral for the acquisition and reservation of areas of scenic and historic interest throughout the Dominion under the provisions of the Scenery Preservation Act. Supervision of Reserves. During the year special scenic Boards were appointed or reappointed as follows : Whangarei Borough Council, to control the Coronation Scenic Reserve ; Waipuknrau Borough Council, to control the Tukituki River Scenic Reserve ; Ohakune Borough Council, to control the Ohakune Scenic Reserve ; Levin Borough Council, to control the Waiopehu Scenic Reserve ; Wanganui City Council, to control the Gordon Park Scenic Reserve ; Rangataua Town Board, to control the Mangaeheuhu

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Scenic Reserve ; Raetihi Borough Council, to control the Raetihi Scenic Reserves ; Rangitikei County Council, to control the Silverhope and Rangiwaea Scenic Reserves ; Upper Hutt Borough Council, to control the Upper Hutt Blockhouse ; Dunedin City Council, to control the Signal Hill Scenic Reserve • Edendale Town Board, to control the Edendale Scenic Reserve ; and the Parr s Park, Lake Okataina, Katikati Hot Springs, Pelorus Bridge, Orari Gorge, and Tuatapere Scenic Boards, to control their respective reserves. The New Plymouth Scenic Reserves Board was reappointed to control the Pukemiro, Onairo River, Ratapihipilii, Puketi Pa, Pukerangiora Pa, Meetmg-of-the-waters, Okoki Pa, Awa-te-take, and Te Koru Pa Scenic Reserves. Two Warrants were issued placing additional ar«as under the control of the Hundalee Scenic Reserves Board. During the year thirty-one ladies and gentlemen were appointed honorary inspectors tor scenic reserves throughout the Dominion, and a certificate of appointment was issued m each case, lhe New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, the New Zealand Native Bird Protection Society, and the New Zealand Forestry League, Inc., have continued to assist the Department by the nomination of suitable ladies and gentlemen who are keen to assist in the national work of scenery preservation. General Condition of Reserves, etc. Reports from all districts indicate that the great majority of our scenic reserves are in a good state of preservation A few cases of timber trespass were reported and fully investigated and two convictions were obtained. No very serious damage from fires occurred during the year The most untoward incident was the burning of portion of a reserve m the Marlborough Sounds through the accidental spreading of a fire which had been lit on the beach by some young people. Prompt action on the part of an honorary inspector and local residents prevented the fire from sweeping the whole reserve i r A case of apparently deliberate vandalism was reported in another Marlborough reserve, where six veteran totaras were destroyed by fire, and other damage done A reward was offered by the Pelorus Bridge Scenic Board for information leading to the conviction of the vandals, but unfortunately without result. Police inquiries also were fruitless in this case. . A number of reserves in various localities urgently require the erection of stock-proof fencing , but the Department is unable to obtain the necessary funds. However, it is hoped that the undoubted necessity of adequately safeguarding these State assets will be recognized m the near future by an increased allocation of funds, and that it will be possible for the Department, assisted also by local subscriptions in many cases, to give this important matter more adequate attention than present circumstances permit. General. The reservation of further areas of Crown land of scenic interest is being carried out as opportunity permits No progress can, however, be made at present in the acquisition of privately owned lands that should be held by the State. It is a pity that even a moderate sum cannot be allocated fortius purpose, as the Department feels that it would be possible to acquire some desirable scenic areas at a very reasonable figure. . . . , , , , Public interest in our scenic reserves is steadily increasing, and there is no doubt that there is a keener appreciation generally of the wisdom of preserving representative areas m their natural state. The Department is glad to note the growing strength of public opinion m favour of the preservation of native bush, and is keenly appreciative of the good work that is being carried out by various societies and bodies and enthusiastic people throughout the Dominion. Local authorities, too, are showing greater interest in scenery preservation, and m many cases are evincing a keen desire to assist the Department in preventing trespass and vandalism. _ The Trounson Kauri Park Reserve in the Dargaville District attracted over seven thousand visitors during the year. No reliable figures can be given for other areas; but many of the better known reserves are extremely popular, and give pleasure and inspiration to great numbers of our numbers of young gannets were hatched in the Cape Kidnapper Bird Sanctuary Reserve during the past season. Some work carried out during the winter in providing more nesting accommodation seemed to be thoroughly appreciated by the birds, who made full use of all the new ledges that were cut out of the rock. The reserve was a popular resort m the summer months, and it is pleasing to record that the gannets were not molested in any way. . Control of the Waiotapu Scenic Reserve was handed over to the Tourist Department during the year. This reserve contains some interesting thermal features, and, when the access has been improved and suitable pathways laid out, should develop into a popular tourist resort. _ Applications continue to be received from sawmillers for milling-rights over timber m some of our reserves, particularly in cases where good stands of white-pine exist m handy positions There has of course been no difficulty in refusing these applications. In one case what appeared to be a deliberate attempt was made to stampede the Department into granting millmg-rights over a considerable area on the plea that the bush would be flooded and destroyed on the completion of certain hydro-electric works. On inquiry it was ascertained that the statements made by interested parties were grossly incorrect and could not possibly be supported by the facts of the case. An increasing number of applications for mining privileges over scenic reserves were dealt with during the year. Consent was given to a few applications for prospecting licenses subject to special conditions; but in most cases consent was declined. There is no intention of consenting to the granting of mining privileges where prospecting or other mining operations will result m damage to the reserves, and the interests of scenery preservation generally will be fully protected. Appendices. A schedule of reserves made and reservations revoked during the year, accompanied by a statement of expenditure, follows as Appendix A, while Appendix B records the work carried out on KaP It k hoped that it will soon again be possible to resume publication of detailed reports from the various land districts.

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APPENDICES.

APPENDIX A. Reserves made in 1932-33 under the Scenery Preservation Act, 1908, and Amendments.

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' a "" : ' 1 — : af . Local Name. Description. Area Date of r* § ~ Proclamation. a ; _ _ _ j North Auckland Land District. A. b. p. 725 Flagstaff Hill .. .. j Sections 12 and 13, Block I, Russell S.D., 9 2 32 5/4/32 and Lot 1 on D.P. 20409, being portion of Old Land Claim 217 740 Wailangi .. .. .. Lots 1-15, Block VI; Lots 1-33, Block 40 0 10-8 9/7/32 VII; Lots 1-5, Block VIII; Lots 1-13, ' 15-25, Block IX; Lots 1-15, Block X ; Lots 1-8, 10-27, and 29-39, Block XI ; Lots 1-8, Block XII; Lots 1-8, 10-16, Block XIII, on D.P. 5002; and part Lot 1, D.P. 4977, being part Allotment 4, j Parish of Waitangi 600 i Leigh .. .. .. Section 46, Village of Leigh .. .. 1 2 38 9/12/32 Auckland Land District. 736 I Waiharekeke Bridge .. .. Section 20, Block XIV, Kawhia North S.D. 13 2 31 ! 21/5/32 726 | Arahiwi .. .. ..I Section 18, Block XIII, RotoruaS.D. .. 226 2 32 j 25/7/32 Gisborne Land District. Section 11, Block VII, Waioeka S.D. .. 154 o 0 18/3/33 Section 8, Block XI, Waioeka S.D. .. 160 0 0 18/3/33 Lot 2 of 7, Block XV, Waioeka S.D. .. 351 0 0 18/3/33 743 Waioeka Valley .. <{ Lot 3 of 3a, Block XVI, Waioeka S.D. .. 483 3 20 18/3/33 Lot 6 of 3a, Block XVI, Waioeka S.D. .. 160 0 0 18/3/33 Section 12, Block XI, Waioeka S.D. .. 42 0 0 18/3/33 L Section 5, Block XII, Waioeka S.D. .. J 18 2 16 18/3/33 Taranalci Land District. fl Stratford-Ohura Road .. Subdivision 1 of Subdivision 2 of Section 4, 338 0 0 ! 5/4/32 727 J Block IV, Pouatu S.D. j ' ' j ! Stratford Main Trunk Railway .. Subdivision 2 of Section 1, Block VIII, 582 0 0 j 29/10/3« I! Pouatu S.D. Wellington Land District. 728 Te Maire-Mangaohutu Main High- Sections 3, 4, and 5, Block I, Owatua S.D... 5 2 18-2 5/4/32 way ' 738 Rangokaupo Hill .. .. Parts Sections 6 and 7, Block XVI, Manga- 40 0 0 21/5/32 nui S.D. 737 Whakaihuwaka .. .. Whakaihuwaka C 13d No. 1 Block, Block II, 50 3 0 21/5/32 Taumatamahoe S.D. 744 Totara .. .. .. Section 3a, Block IX, Kaitieke S.D. .. 7 2 0 18/3/33 Nelson Land District. f Section 3, Block IX ; Brighton S.D. .. 283 1 24 5/4/32 730 Greymouth-Westport Coasts Section 14, Block IX, Brighton S.D. .. 18 2 0 5/4/32 Road k Section 15, Block IX, Brighton S.D. .. 40 0 0 5/4/32 739 Torrent Bay .. .. .. Section 4, Block VI, Kaiteriteri S.D. .. 200 0 0 21/5/32 f Section 20, Block VI, Kaiteriteri S.D. . . 9 2 32 25/7/32 729 Adele and Fisherman's Islands <j Section K, Block VI, Kaiteriteri S.D. .. 0 0 34 25/7/32 L Section 1, Block VI, Kaiteriteri S.D. .. 0 1 8 25/7/32 745 Greymouth-Westport Coast Road Section 13, Block V, Brighton S.D. .. 410 0 0 18/3/33 f Sections 21, 24, 25, Block VIII, Inangahua 1,174 0 0 18/3/33 746 Inangahua .. .. < S.D. 1 [_ Part Section 15, Block VIII, Inangahua S.D. 46 1 5 * Marlborough Land District. A. K. p. 732 Hundalee (additional) / Section 3 Block IX^ Mount Fyffe S.D. .. 26 0 0 5/4/32 \ Section 4, Block IX, Mount lyffe S.D. .. 66 0 0 5/4/32 485 Puroa Point .. .. .. Part Section 7, Block VII, Linkwater S.D. 27 2 0 21/5/32 749 Ratimera .. .. .. Part Section 24, Block II, Arapawa S.D. .. 270 0 0 18/3/33 747 Hundalee (additional) .. Section 19, Block II, Mount Fyffe S.D. .. 22 2 0 23/3/33 Westland Land District. 507 j Aorangi .. .. .. j Part Section 1544, Block XVI, Greymouth j 12 0 0 11/10/32 [ S.D. Canterbury Land District. 734 Kinloch .. .. .. j Reserve 4299, Block II, Akaroa S.D. .. 13 39-2 5/4/32 733 Waiau Gorge.. .. ..I Reserve 3666, Block V, Cheviot S.D. .. 98 2 0 5/4/32 750 Raules Gully.. .. .. j Reserve 3860, Block II, Acland S.D. .. 29 3 6 18/3/33 Southland Land District. 754 j Kingston .. .. .. Section 1, Block XX, Town of Kingston .. 2 0 30 18/3/33 752 j Lake Manapouri .. .. Section 25, Block IX, Town of Manapouri 8 1 30 18/3/33 753/ Forest Hill .. .. .. Section 348, Block XV, Forest Hill Hundred 43 0 12 18/3/33 \ Tokanui-Haldane Road .. Section 49, Block VI, Otara S.D. .. 315 0 0 f • Section 12 of Reserves and other Lands Disposal Act, 1932. t Section 10 of Reserves and other Lands Disposal Act, 1932~

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Revocation of Reservations.

Summary of Reserves.

Statement showing Expenditure on Scenery Preservation for the Year ended 31st March, 1933. £ s. d. Compensation, &c., for Native lands taken for scenery purposes .. .. ~ 0 17 10 Kirks Bush—Fencing and drainage .. .. .. .. .. .. 940 Summit Road Scenic Reserves—Ranger .. . . .. .. . . 199 10 0 Surveys, valuations, and incidental expenses . . .. .. .. 15 6 9 Trounson Kauri Forest, Charges in connection with protection of . . .. .. 301 211 Waitangi Historic Reserve —Compensation for land taken . . .. .. .. 6 0 0 Administration of reserves (including fencing, &c.) — £ s. d. Eradication of noxious weeds .. .. . . .. ~ 118 18 7 Fencing, &c. . . .. .. . . .. .. 21 13 6 Expenses incidental to impounding trespassing stock . . .. .. 5 5 6 Ranger—Lake Wakatipu .. .. .. .. .. .. 866 Travelling-expenses .. .. .. .. .. .. 1146 165 8 7 £697 10 1

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Land. I Area. „ D . ate Proclamation. Auckland Land, District. a. a. p. Part Allotment 223, Pepepe Parish, Block III, Newcastle S.D. .. .. .. ) 928 3 19 | 21/6/32 Wellington Land District. Section 35, Block I, Aohanga S.D. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 2 16 18/3/33 934 1 35

Land District. l Number. Area. A. E. P. North Auckland . . .. .. . . .. . . 3 51 2 0-8 Auckland .. .. . . .. .. .. 2 240 1 23 Gisborne .. .. .. .. .. .. 6 1,369 1 36 Taranaki .. . . .. . . . . .. 2 920 0 0 Wellington . . . . . . .. . . . . 4 103 3 18-2 Nelson .. .. .. .. .. .. . . 9 2,182 1 23 Marlborough .. .. .. .. . . .. 4 412 0 0 Westland .. . . .. .. . . . . 1 12 0 0 Canterbury .. . . . . .. .. .. 3 130 1 5-2 Southland .. .. .. . . . . . . 4 j 368 2 32 Totals .. .. .. .. .. 38 ! 5,790 2 18-2 Reserved up to 31st March, 1932 .. .. .. .. 897 653,435 3 34-46 935 659,226 2 12-66 Less reservations revoked .. .. .. ! 1 934 1 35 934 658,292 0 17-66

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Comparison of Expenditure. It is interesting to note how money raised under the Act or provided from other sources has been expended. It will be seen that the cost of administration has been reduced to a very small proportion of the total expenditure.

It must be noted that the above expenditure does not include expenses of raising loans and recoupment of interest, &c.

APPENDIX B. KAPITI ISLAND. (H. W. C. Mackintosh, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Wellington.) It gives me great pleasure to report that the year just closed has been a most successful one for the bird and plant life of Kapiti. Last year was one of the best experienced on Kapiti, but the year under review was even better. At 110 time during the year was the ground dry, excepting early December, so that the plants were growing all the time, and there was consequently a superabundance of food for the birds. Continual trapping of rats has been carried out both in the waterfall area and at Rangatira. Experiments with poison have been carried out with good results, and, although extreme care has to be exercised when using this method of extermination, so far as is known no birds have been lost through poisoning. One wild cat was shot by the trapper. Opossums have been much reduced, and the trapper has to cover a large area of country to average one animal a night. A considerable amount of planting was done during the year, both of species occurring on the island and plants from different parts of the Dominion, and in this connection I desire to thank the following donors of plants: Mr. Morris Jones, Kelburn, for numerous plants of different species; Mrs. G. Smith, Brooklyn, for plants of Leucogenes Leontopodium ; Dr. Spencer, Upper Hutt, for plants of Podocarpu-s totara. I have again to express my appreciation of the valuable work being done by the Caretaker, Mr. A. S. Wilkinson, on the island. I append hereto extracts from his report for the year ended 31st March, 1933 :— " I think every species of plant on the island was covered with flowers, and now loaded with berries, although the karaka is just about finished. Ido not remember ever seeing so many berries before as there are at the present time. The karaka was a lovely sight when loaded with its golden

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Y I Compensation Fencing and Surveys, Board's r. Tt , for Land. Maintenance. Valuations, &c. Expenses. ___j ■ " [ __ . 1 ■ ' • I £ £ £ £ £ £ 1904-5 .. .. 216 Nil 52 1,822 * 2,090 1905-6 .. .. 3,336 „ 527 1,221 * 5,084 1906-7 .. .. 7,856 304 801 185 * 9,146 1907-8 .. .. 4,286 382 555 86 175 5,484 1908-9 .. .. 3,813 1,063 540 24 325 5,765 1909-10.. .. 1,688 1,159 2,603 Nil 325 5,775 1910-11 .. .. 1,066 685 1,643 11 325 3,730 1911-12.. .. 2,619 715 2,237 22 345 5,938 1912-13 .. .. 12,997 798 2,697 6 345 16,843 1913-14 .. .. 10,467 627 1,547 3 365 13,009 1914-15 .. .. 6,253 758 476 12 388 7,887 1915-16 .. .. 1,530 698 104 6 390 2,728 1916-17 .. .. 252 836 76 1 390 1,555 1917-18 .. .. 428 602 114 3 390 1,537 1918-19 .. .. 1,295 1,964f 49 1 280 3,589 1919-20 .. .. 510 188 12 .. 40 750 1920-21 .. .. 3,031 471 299 .. 25 2,825 1921-22 .. .. 57,768 227 224 .. 25 58,244 1922-23.. .. 6,306 377 290 .. 25 6,998 1923-24.. .. 1,488 118 1,589 .. 25 3,210 1924-25.. .. 1,158 1,565 240 .. 18 2,981 1925-26.. .. 17,923 2,310 305 9 .. 20,547 1926-27 .. .. 2,617 1,182 75 17 .. 3,891 1927-28.. .. 5,182 1.342 58 17 .. 6,599 1928-29.. .. 11,642 1,810 538 1 150J 14,141 1929-30.. .. 445 1,548 108 6 300J 2,407 1930-31 .. .. 574 1,335 92 2 300J 2,303 1931-32.. .. 2,373 838 1,099 16 279$ 4,605 1932-33 .. .. 7 476 15 .. 200J 698 Grand total .. .. .. .. .. .. 220,359 ■ * Included in Board's expenses. t Includes £1,750 paid to Summit Road Scenic Reserve Board. J Ranger for Summit Road Scenic Reserves.

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fruit. This tree is handsome at any time, but doubly so when it is carrying a heavy crop of fruit. Then is the time to see the beautiful native pigeon at its best. The pigeon is a wise bird, too, for it is not until the karaka berries are beginning to ripen that it commences nesting in earnest. An occasional nest is found in November, but it is not before late December that many pigeons' nests are met with, so that the nesting season for this fine bird is late on Kapiti. At the present time there are three nests of pigeons with young ones in, each about a fortnight old. Two of the nests are within three chains of my cottage, and about the same distance from each other. " The matai, miro, tawa, pukatea, hinau, toru, amongst the larger species, and the puka, houliou, titoki, as well as the various coprosmas, are amongst the small species that are carrying their maximum load of fruit, although some are not yet ripe. The so-called " flax " (Phormium) —both species— flowered particularly well last season. When it was in flower it was quite a common, every-day occurrence to see, from my cottage, thirty or so tuis feeding on the nectar produced by this valuable plant. It ripens its fruit very quickly, and is much sought after by the parakeets. These birds were trying to get at the seed even when there were flowers on the top of the stalk. Dozens of them were about the swamp after the seed. "• The rata did not flower so well as it did in the previous year, although some of the pohutukawa that I planted out the first winter of 1925 were covered with blossom. Not only did the New Zealand pohutukawa (Metrosideros tomentosa) produce its lovely flowers, but another Metrosideros from the Kermadecs (Metrosideros villosa) also flowered. The last species was planted in 1927 and blossomed for the first time. The rata (Metrosideros robusta) seems to do much better some years than others. At the present time we have another useful rata in flower. While not producing such an abundance of flowers as Metrosideros robusta, it nevertheless supplies a welcome picking for the honey-eaters, and will continue to do so right into the winter. This is the climbing rata Metrosideros jlorida. " Some of the plants that were put out a few years ago by the aid of the Wellington Acclimatization Society have made great progress, especially the taupata, of which something like 3,000 plants were put out round the coast between Rangatira and the south-west corner. Many of them have fruit on at the present time. " Some of the plants I have introduced have made good progress. Many of them have flowered, and some have reproduced young plants. On the track leading to the summit of the island I planted a tainui. Under this tree can be seen several young tainuis. To show how some of the introduced plants have grown, I give an instance of a kauri planted in May, 1927. This plant when put out was 8 in. high —it is now 4- ft. 7 in. by measurement. This kauri was presented to me by Messrs. Duncan and Davies, the well-known nurserymen of New Plymouth. " The kohekohe, like many other plants of the native flora, seems to flower every second year unless there is plenty of rain. Moreover the kohekohe takes a year or longer to ripen the fruit, so that if the previous season is wet there is almost sure to be a plentiful supply of fruit in the following year. Not only is this tree loaded with fruit at the present time, but it is also covered with buds showing promise' of another heavy crop next year. The kohekohe always seems to attract people's attention, and it is certainly a remarkable looking plant, with the large bunches of grapelike fruit hanging from the bare trunk and branches. I consider it one of the most useful plants on a bird sanctuary. It is especially valuable in that it flowers in mid-winter when there is little else for the honey-eating birds, and the fruit ripens from May on, thereby helping the pigeon. Indeed it is practically the last harvest for this bird. It is therefore with regret that I report that some blight or other pest seems to have attacked many of the small plants of this species. In the Kaiwharawhara Valley (locally termed ' The Basin ') there are places where dozens of little kohekohe have died. Plants of from 2 ft. to 6 ft. in height seem to have been mostly affected. The large trees showed no sign of whatever it was, neither were the small seedlings killed. Some of the small saplings that seemed dead are now sending up young shoots from the ground, so apparently they were not killed outright, although the dead ones are rotten enough to be easily broken off. It is only in the valley mentioned that I have noticed the young kohekohe dying. They are certainly flourishing in the other parts of the sanctuary. "At Rangatira the karaka has also been attacked by some parasite. In this case I think some insect is responsible. If the insect had not destroyed the tree it certainly attacked it as soon as it (the tree) commenced to languish. The first sign of decay was shown by the leaves turning yellow, then the tree died, and many conspicuous gaps are showing in the face of the bush. Several species of trees seem to be subject to some disease on Kapiti. For instance, many specimens of the tawhiwhi, botanically called Pittosporum tenuifolium, died out. It cannot be old age, because small shrubs, as well as large trees (for this species), do not escape. " The caterpillar of the moth commonly called the Kowhai moth, was very prominent in February. All the leaves were stripped off the kowliais at Rangatira. This is perhaps the same caterpillar that was so abundant amongst the lupins on Paraparaumu Beach. The mild season was evidently to its liking. " The white butterfly that has received so much attention from newspapers lately made its appearance on Kapiti, about the middle of March. " The birds seem to have had a successful year. There are young of most species to be seen all over the sanctuary. " The fantail, which seemed so scarce last year, was plentiful this season, although not so much in evidence perhaps as some years ago. We had one pair nesting within half a chain of our house. They raised four young ones, then laid again In the same nest and reared foiir more. " The little grey warbler, so common on the mainland, and so scarce on Kapiti, delighted us by appearing at Rangatira in February with a young shining cuckoo (Lamprococcyx lucidus). During January and February of this year we saw more grey warblers than we have seen during the eight years we have been on the sanctuary. The warbler with the young cuckoo was about Rangatira for a few days, then evidently left the cuckoo to shift for itself. The cuckoo stayed, mostly in the rock

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garden, for a week. It secured plenty of food amongst the plants of the senecio family, and, incidently, rid our garden of a few dozen woolly bears (Nyctemera annulata), that pest of cineraria growers. This cuckoo is one of the few birds that eat the woolly bears. " There are numerous young parakeets of the red-headed species. The yellow-headed species is scarce. The only nesting-site handy to Rangatira which I know remained empty during the nesting season, so that pair must either have sought new nesting quarters, or one or both birds died. (Parakeets usually resort to the same nesting-hole year after year.) " A particularly interesting feature of bird-life occurred during the last nesting season. For the last seven years a morepork has nested in a hollow kohekohe about half a mile from my house. On the 2nd January of this year I went along with a naturalist from Canada who particularly wanted to see a morepork's nest. On my climbing up to the site I was surprised to find that a kaka had appropriated the nesting-hole, and that a young kaka and three eggs were in the cavity. The young bird sucessfully reared, but the eggs were addled. It will be interesting to see if the morepork will regain possession of the nesting-site next season. " I have seen no sign of saddlebacks for some nine months now. They have evidently shifted away from Kahikatea, where they were often seen since they were liberated on Kapiti. It is hardly likely that they have died out, unless the competition for food with the whitehead has proved too much for them. It is possible, too, that the birds were old when placed on Ivapiti, and have not survived. Even so, three lots of young have been reared to my knowledge, which should have provided sufficient nucleus towards restocking the island. The well-known writer, Mr. James Cowan, says that the saddleback was once numerous on Kapiti. " The petrels that have always nested near the trig, station did not breed there during the past season. The fact of having several of their nests destroyed by fire the previous year evidently scared them away. This is a great pity, as they were increasing just about that spot. However, they are nesting north and south of the trig., and also on the cliff at Paripatea. In the last place they seem to have increased. The gulls and terns that nested at Paripatea last year, and left that place on account of having all their eggs destroyed, returned to the same place this season. Roughly, about eighty or one hundred birds nested on the cliffs, and successfully reared their young. " A blue heron that has nested in a cave at Paripatea for years was so persecuted by the terns that it never got a chance to lay. As soon as the gulls and terns finished nesting, and left the locality, the blue herons returned to their old nesting-place, but of course it was too late for them to start breeding then. " The paradise ducks still come to the house once every day for food. They live along the coast of the island, and have been seen round the western side by the fishermen. " The grey duck that always comes to Rangatira to nest reared a family, and brought them all to our house. Instead of keeping within the netted enclosure, where the ducklings would have been safe, she took them out on the flat, consequently she lost the lot, owing, probably, to wekas. She then flew over to the mainland, somewhere near the mouth of the Waikanae River, and made a nest. She used to fly back to our house once or twice a day for food. If no one answered her call for food she would come into the house. She turned up one day with some young ones about a fortnight old, which had swum all the way from the river—about five miles. These were successfully reared. The stilts and dotterells were about the lake at the northern end of the island in the usual numbers. " The parasitic jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus) is still about the channel between Kapiti and the mainland, where it spends its time chasing the white-fronted terns until the tern drops its catch, which the jaeger seizes before it reaches the water. The jaeger breeds in the arctic and subarctic regions. " During the year I was able to add three more birds to the Kapiti Island list. On the 7th May I saw a pair of Buller's gulls (Larus Bulleri). Early in November I picked up a mollymawk, which proved to be Thalassarche chlororhynchus. The bird is now in the Dominion Museum. Previously there were only one record of this species, and that was found on the Muriwai Beach by the wellknown ornithologist, Mr. R. A. Falla, of Auckland. A few days ago I found another mollymawk, which I believe to be Thalassarche cauta. The Australian black magpie (Gyrnnorhina hypoleuca) was also seen about the sanctuary in August. This is the first record that I have of this bird being seen on Kapiti. I had found a skeleton of one on Rangatira Beach some years ago." Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (700 copies), £12.

G. H. Loney, Government Printer, Wellington.—l 933.

Price 6d.]

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