DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. SCENERY PRESERVATION. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1938, 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, 1938 Session I, C-06

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1938. N E W ZEALAN D.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. SCENERY PRESERVATION. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1938, 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.

Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, 30th June, 1938. Sir, — I have the honour to submit herewith a report on scenery preservation for the year ended 31st March, 1938. I have, &c., W. Robertson, Under-Secretary for Lands. The Hon. Frank Langstone, Minister in Charge of Scenery Preservation, Wellington.

REPORT.

Areas set apart during the year by Proclamation or special enactment as scenic or historic reserves under the Scenery Preservation Act covered a total area of 61,868 acres, while two private scenic reserves totalling 519 acres were declared under the provisions of section 6 of the Scenery Preservation Amendment Act, 1933. In the North Auckland Land District some valuable additions were made to the magnificient Bream Head Reserves, at the entrance to Whangarei Harbour. An area of 199 acres of freehold was purchased during the year for the sum of £400, of which amount £100 was raised by the local bodies and other interested organizations in the district and by public subscriptions, while the Department contributed the balance. Two small education endowments, one of which includes the picturesque and well-known rock pinnacles of Manaia, were also made available for reservation and were set aside, by special enactment as scenic reserves. The Education Department gave its willing co-operation in this matter. With the exception of a small area which is the subject of an unregistered Crown grant and in respect of which suitable arrangements are being made, the whole of the bold and rugged coast-line from Smuggler's Bay to Bream Head is now covered by scenic reservations. The purchase was completed during the year of the area of 85 acres of mixed bush on the Whangarei-Kiripaka Road mentioned in last year's report, and the land proclaimed under the Act. The acquisition of this area is greatly appreciated in the district, and the thanks of the Department are tendered to all organizations and private persons who contributed towards the purchase fund. Arrangements are now in hand for the ring-fencing of the new reserve.

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An area of 61 acres in the Pakiri Valley containing a fine stand of young kauri and a small piece of busk at Lucas Creek completed the North Auckland reservations during the year under review. Areas totalling nearly 3,000 acres in the Auckland Land District were dealt with during the year. The principal reservations comprised various areas of steep and precipitous bush-clad country on the Kiritehere-Waikawau-Awakino Road. This road, with its miles of bush-clad hills, affords a good opportunity of providing a valuable scenic route in the near future. A good road has been formed, and when the metalling has been completed it will give an all-weather road to Kawhia. An area of 709 acres of good mixed bush in the Awaroa Valley was also set aside in the Kawhia district. Other Auckland reservations included those of an area of 484 acres of heavy bush at Lake Rotoma, some 239 acres on the slopes of Ngongotaha Mountain, and 47 acres as an addition to the Wairere Falls Reserve. In the Lake Rotoma case the area dealt with contains some very fair milling-timber, and strong representations were made by interested parties that this should be made available. However, in accordance with the Department's policy of preserving bush areas of scenic value the representations were refused, and arrangements made to protect the bush by setting the land aside as a permanent reserve under the Scenery Preservation Act. The reserved area has a long frontage to the main Rotorua-Whakatane Road. The area of 47 acres at the Wairere Falls was made available by the State Forest Service for the purpose of improving the boundaries of the original scenic reserve which was set aside in 1908, and comprises a most acceptable addition to a valuable reserve. The Wairere Falls enjoy considerable popularity, and are well worth a visit. The following extract from the report of the District Surveyor who fixed the boundaries of the 1908 reserve may prove of interest: — " The Wairere Stream takes its rise on an elevated tableland on the plateau on the main range stretching from Te Aroha to Mamaku. The falls commence where the stream at a height of 1,311 ft. above sea-level first plunges headlong over the side of a precipice in a "sheer drop of about 300 ft. ; a short distance further down there is another fall of 200 ft. and then a series of cascades and rapids, making a total descent of about 1,200 ft. At the time of my visit the weather had been fairly dry for some weeks, and there was a comparatively small amount of water going over the falls. However, in winter after heavy rain a magnificent body of water thunders over the falls, the roar of which can be heard for miles around, and the foaming waters can also be seen from the Rotorua Railway, which is eight miles distant at the nearest point. The gorge into which the waters make their giddy leap is covered with very pretty native bush, comprising rata, rimu, mahoe, tawa, pukatea, makomako, titoki, hinau, mapau, and tree-ferns, together with a wealth of minor shrubs, creepers, ferns, and mosses." A recent description of the reserve is as follows :— " The whole area of this reserve is completely clothed in native bush, with tawa predominating. The beautiful falls seem to be dropping over from the top of the range, having their origin in some mysterious source, as the huge basin in which the Wairere Stream rises is completely shut out from view when the falls are looked at from the western side of the range." Only one reservation was made in the Gisborne Land District, the area dealt with being some 335 acres of steep and broken country at Waiawa. It is described as being without any doubt one of the finest pieces of native bush to be seen in either the Poverty Bay or Bay of Plenty districts. In the Hawke's Bay Land District a small area of 1 rood 38 perches near Wairoa was set aside during the year for the purpose of preserving some particularly interesting vegetation thereon. The land was generously donated to the Crown by Mr. A. T. Carroll, and the Department has arranged to have it securely fenced. Two small areas of bush were also added to the Tongoio Falls Scenic Reserve, on the main Napier-Gisborne Road. Scenic reserves in the Taranaki Land District were increased by the setting-aside of an area of 64 acres on the Stony River near Okato, and an area of 6 acres on the Mataimaroke Road in the country behind Hawera. The Stony River area comprises a fine piece of bush running along the stream for more than two miles. It has been placed under the control of the Taranaki County Council, and arrangements are in hand to have the area completely fenced so as to give the bush the most adequate protection possible. In both cases the land was formerly State forest, and was handed over by the State Forest Service for reservation under the Scenery Preservation Act. In the Wellington Land District, an area of 113 acres of bush land adjoining the well-known Rongokaupo Hill Scenic Reserve at Ohakune was reserved during the year, and four small closed road areas intersecting that reserve were formally added thereto. Reservations totalling 31,245 acres were carried out in the Nelson Land District. In the Lewis Pass locality along the recently Constructed main highway between the West Coast and Canterbury an area of some 28,200 acres of provisional State forest and Crown land was declared to be scenic reserve by the passing of section 24 of the Reserves and other Lands Disposal Act, 1937. The scenic attractions of the locality are very marked, and the reservation made takes in the well-known Cannibal Gorge area. The view from the saddle along the bush-lined gorge, with snow-covered peaks in the distance, is a most striking one. An area of 1,965 acres of provisional State forest land in the Warbeck Valley was also handed over for reservation under the Scenery Preservation Act during the year. This area is all in bush and extends to the top of the ridge on each side of the West Coast Road for a distance of some miles. Other areas dealt with comprised some 110 acres of attractive bush at the source of the north branch of the Riwaka River ; some 781 acres at the head of the Wairau Valley, on the Blenheim-West Coast Road; two areas m the Buller Gorge ; and an area of 54 acres at the Kohika Lakes, Collingwood district.

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All area of 479 acres of freehold land at Astrolabe was declared a private scenic reserve under section 6 of the Scenery Preservation Amendment Act, 1933, at the request of the owner, Mrs P. Moncrieff. The land is mostly in its native state, and includes a good area of bush of scenic value that is well worth preserving. It lies between two existing scenic reserves, and its declaration as a private reserve thus links up the scenic reservations along the coast in that locality. The owner's action in this matter is much appreciated. An unformed road lying between the property and the sea has been closed, and proclaimed as a permanent reserve. This area carries a strong growth of very beautiful and attractive native bush. The only reservation in the Marlborough Land District was that of a small area of 11 acres lying into the valuable Blue Duck Reserve, on the Seaward Valley Road, Kaikoura district. The area had been withheld for possible use as a public-school site, but on its being definitely ascertained that the land was not likely to be ever required for school purposes it was decided to add it to the adjoining scenic reserve. Westland reservations totalled some 3,396 acres. Some beautiful strips of bush on the Arnold River at Lake Brunner were declared scenic reserves. Special legislation was required, as the land was education reserve, and the action taken was rendered possible by the courtesy of the Education Department in allowing the areas concerned to be dealt with by the Lands Department without payment of any compensation. In the case of one of thie areas which had been leased, the lessee, Mr. N. Peat, kindly consented to surrender his interest in order that the scenic reservation might be made. A similar case was dealt with at Lake Wahapo, where an area of 850 acres of unleased educationendowment land was made available without charge for reservation under the Scenery Preservation Act. There was already at the lake a reserve of 1,450 acres recognized as one of the most beautiful reserves on the Hokitika-Waiho Gorge Road, and the addition now made completes the chain of reservations around the lake. On the Greymouth-Westport Road near Punakaiki an area of a little over 16 acres of Crown leasehold was surrendered by the lessee, Mr. R. J. Johnston, and set aside under the Act. The area is covered with dense native bush of great scenic value, and its reservation is greatly appreciated in the district. Under the terms of the arrangements entered into with the lessee the Department has securely fenced the bush area. An area of 14 acres of virgin bush was added to the Rapahoe Range Scenic Reserve. On the main highway south of Harihari the Department acquired the leasehold interest in an area of 11 acres by negotiation with the Crown lessee. In this locality, also, a further area of 191 acres was acquired. In this case it proved impossible to complete satisfactory negotiations with the lessee concerned, and it was finally decided to take the leasehold interest in the land under the provisions of the Public Works Act. The position was further complicated by reason of timber rights having been granted over the land, but with the assistance of the State Forest Service the matter of the timber rights was adjusted in a satisfactory manner. The acquisition of these areas has rendered possible the preservation of a magnificient avenue of bush along the highway. In last year's report mention was made of the surrender of various portions of Crown leaseholds in the vicinity of the Fox Glacier. This matter was completed during the year by the proclamation of five areas totalling some 1,142 acres. The lands dealt with comprise areas surrendered by Mesdames Williams and Sullivan, and Messrs. J. P. and H. Williams, and M. and J. Sullivan, and M. Carroll, to whom the thanks of the Department are gratefully tendered. One of the areas comprises land at Lake Matheson, the acquisition of which was particularly desirable as preserving the foreground of the view of the Southern Alps and the Fox Glacier as seen from the west end of the lake. An area of 74 acres of bush at Lake Kanieri was handed over to the Department by the Westland Acclimatization Society for reservation under the Scenery Preservation Act, and the necessary title adjustments were made during the year. A prominent bush-clad hill called " The Doughboy," in the Koiterangi district, was made a reserve, and the Westland reservations for the period under review were completed by the settingaside of an area of 39 acres of beautiful bush on the Nelson Creek-Kopara Road in the Lake Brunner locality. Arrangements were made during the year for the surrender from pastoral licenses of bush areas along the Lewis Pass Road on the Canterbury side. The licensees concerned, Messrs. T. A. Barrett and R. Sutherland, willingly gave their consent to the proposals, and thereby made available some 20,470 acres for reservation under the Scenery Preservation Act and 48,060 acres for reservation as permanent State forest. A scenic reserve of 9,000 acres was made in 1933, and the areas subject to the Scenery Preservation Act along the new road therefore now total 29,470 acres. A short descriptive account of the history and natural features of the Lewis Pass Road supplied by the Commissioner of Crown Lands is appended to this report. Two small freehold sections totalling 40 acres were declared to be private scenic reserves under section 6 of the Scenery Preservation Amendment Act, 1933, at the request of the owners, Messrs. Birdling and Robb and Mrs. Bates. The sections are situated on the Glendore Creek, a tributary of the Selwyn, and adjoin a small scenic reserve which was set apart last year. In the Otago Land District a bush-clad hill area of 4-06 acres near Romahapa was reserved during the year. This is steep country in heavy bush, and contains some exceptionally fine glades of ferns. An addition of some 21 acres was made to the well-known Table Hill Reserve, in the Catlins district, and two further areas were added to the reserves along the Catlins-Waikawa Road. These latter areas were made available by the State Forest Service out of provisional State forest reserves in the locality. At Pounawea, on the South Otago coast at the junction of the Catlins and Owaka Rivers, the Department in .1909 resumed a small leasehold area of a little over 4 acres and set it aside for scenic purposes. Adjoining this reserve there was some very fine bush land held under freehold title. The matter of acquiring portion of this freehold was brought under notice in 1934, and representations were later received from various people interested in the preservation of the natural beauty of Pounawea. It was arranged that the Department should survey the area, and an undertaking was given that 'the

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Crown would provide for the cost of any necessary fencing. A bush committee was formed in the district, and this body obtained an option to purchase about 70 acres at the price of £10 per acre. Later on the owner reduced his price to £600. The committee set about raising funds for the purchase of the land, and in recognition of the local efforts the Governmeut in September, 1935, agreed to give £100 towards the costs of acquisition and fencing. A little later an indication was given that the Crown contribution might be increased, and in August, 1936, by which time the Committee had raised over £400, approval was given to a grant of £200 being made, of which amount £180 was to be applied towards the actual purchase of the land and £20 towards the cost of fencing. The purchase was duly completed, and on survey the area was found to be 66 acres 2 roods, about 20 acres of which was salt marsh subject to the ebb and flow of the tides. This portion has been cut off from the bush area and is being added to the local domain. The actual bush area, plus an unformed road which ran through it and which has now been closed, totals 51 acres 3 roods, and has been made a permanent scenic reserve which will be placed under the control of a local Scenic Board. The reserve was handed over to the Government at a gathering held at Pounawea on the 29th April, 1937, when the Hon. the Minister in Charge of Scenery Preservation warmly congratulated those concerned on the success of their efforts to save the bush, and intimated how pleased he was that his Department has been able to give some assistance. The case was a striking illustration of what energy and enthusiasm could accomplish in a relatively small community, and the Minister tendered his grateful thanks to all who had worked so hard and so well to raise funds for such a worthy purpose. Three small sections on the Tahakopa River containing a fair amount of good scenic bush were reserved during the year, and will form welcome additions to the many beautiful areas that have been set aside in that part of South Otago. In that locality, also, arrangements were completed for the better preservation of the exceedingly beautiful bush growing on the unformed roads on the banks of the Tahakopa from its mouth to a point some miles up-stream. In places there are some very fine stretches of heavy bush with kowhai trees fringing the river. A good view is obtained from the formed roads on either side of the river, and during the season the kowhai in full bloom crowns the placid stream with garlands of golden blossom. The unformed roads have been declared to be Government roads so that the bush can be adequately protected, and the co-operation of the property-owners in the locality has been sought in the matter of preserving the natural features of a district so generously endowed with scenic attractions. Reservations totalling some 2,163 acres were made in the Southland Land District. A strip of bush extending for about four miles on each side of the Waikawa-Catlins Road was handed over by the State Forest Service for proclamation under the Scenery Preservation Act. The area concerned is 594 acres, and its reservation practically completes the programme of reserving areas of scenic interest along that particular highway. An area of 126 acres of education-endowment land near Invercargill was also reserved during the year, the Education Department agreeing to make the land available for scenic reservation free of charge. This is a valuable area and will make a most attractive reserve. A proclamation was issued setting apart under the Scenery Preservation Act an area of 1,443 acres of heavily bushed land in the Forest Hill district. This reservation included some 218 acres of State forest made available through the courtesy of the State Forest Service. The area is easily accessible to residents of Invercargill and district, and the preservation of the bush is a matter of great local interest. It is proposed to arrange for the appointment of a Board of control consisting of representatives of the local bodies and of the Department. Prior to the reservation of the area representations were made to the effect that the land should be opened for settlement, but it was decided that the preservation of the area was necessary in the general interest. The areas set apart during the year may be roughly classified as follows :■ — Class of Land. , A lea . (Acres). State Forest areas made available .. .. .. .. .. 19,821 Ordinary Crown land areas .. .. .. .. .. .. 18,417 Crown leasehold areas surrendered by lessees without compensation . . 21,628 Education-endowment land made available .. .. .. .. 1,284 Leasehold land acquired by Department .. .. . . . . 11 Leasehold land acquired by Department with assistance of State Forest Service in disposing of certain timber rights. . . .. .. 192 Private land acquired by Department assisted by Bruce Trustees and local subscriptions . . . . . . . . .. .. .. 86 Private land acquired by Department assisted by local subscriptions .. 251 Native reserve land acquired by Department .. .. .. .. 50 Public domain declared scenic reserve .. .. .. .. 54 Acclimatization reserve land made available .. .. .. . . 74 Gift area .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 1 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. 61,869 The reservation over scenic-reserve areas totalling 10 acres was revoked during the year. Special legislation was provided revoking the reservation over an area of 9 acres at Governor's Bay, in Queen Charlotte Sound. The area dealt with is much used by the public for picnics and also often by unauthorized camping-parties. The status of the land was therefore changed to public domain in order that efficient control of its use by the public may be maintained by the Ngakuta Domain Board, which controls domain land in the vicinity.

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The other case dealt with concerned a small area of a little over 1 acre which was no longer of any scenic value. The number of scenic reservations in the Dominion is now 1,076 covering a total area of over 802,000 acres. Areas purchased but not Proclaimed by end op Year. Mention may be made of the following areas the acquisition of which was approved during the year but in respect of which the necessary proclamations under the Scenery Preservation Act have still to issue :— (1) An area of 4,490 acres 3 roods 23 perches of bush land on the Kaimai Ranges behind Matamata. The Waiteariki Stream, from which the Town of Matamata draws its water-supply, rises in, this block, and the Borough Council is therefore vitally interested in the preservation of the bush on the area. The Council accordingly agreed to join with the Crown in the acquisition of the land for scenic purposes. The total purchase price was £4,610, of which sum the Department provided £2,500. Of the balance of £2,110 the Council contributed £110 from its General Fund in terms of section 5 of the Scenery Preservation Amendment Act, 1926, and £2,000 from the unexpended balance of a loan for water-supply purposes authorized in 1922. There was no authority in law whereby the Council could use such unexpended balance of a loan to, join with the Crown in the purchase of land for scenic purposes, and special legislation (section 13 of the Reserves and other Lands Disposal Act, 1937) was therefore! provided validating the Council's action and declaring the payment of the sum of £2,000 to have been lawfully made. The Department was most happy to co-operate with the Council in this case, as scenery preservation and water conservation are very closely allied, and the land itself was definitely of great scenic value. (2) An area of 220 acres of freehold land on the Wangamoa Saddle, on the Nelson-Blenheim Highway. This is a bush area which the Department has been anxious to acquire for some years. The bush is reasonably attractive, and being one of the few remaining bush areas on an important road its acquisition was particularly desirable. Approval to the acquisition of the area at the price of £550 was given on the 15th February, 1938, and following on completion of the transfer to the Crown the land will be proclaimed as a scenic reserve at an early date. Gifts op Scenic Areas. The Department is pleased to report the following gifts of scenic areas to the Crown :— (a) Mr. W. G. Barnett has given a small but valuable area of scenic bush on the Waotu South Road. The Department is now attending to the survey of the land and its transfer to the Crown. (b) Mr. C. R. Clark has offered to give the Crown an area of about 74 acres of bush land near the Marakopa Falls Scenic Reserve on condition that the Department shares the cost of clearing a fencing-line and erecting a fence. The offer is a generous one and has been gratefully accepted. A survey is now being made, with a view to the completion of the transfer to the Crown as soon as possible. (c) Mr. H. M. Hayward has given an area of 43 acres 2 roods 6-1 perches situated at White's Line East, Lower Hutt. There is some nice bush on the property, and as the area lies on the hillside close to the Lower Hutt and Petone Boroughs the gift is regarded as a most generous one. The transfer to the Crown is now under preparation following a slight adjustment of boundaries, and the land will be proclaimed under the Scenery Preservation Act at an early date. Scenery Preservation Board. Meetings of the Scenery Preservation Board were held to consider scenic proposals in the North Auckland, Auckland, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Taranaki, Wellington, Nelson, Marlborough, Westland, Canterbury, Otago, and Southland Land Districts, and fifty-seven recommendations were submitted to His Excellency the Governor-General 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 : —The Dunedin City Council to control the Evansdale Glen Scenic Reserve ; the Rotoiti Scenic Board to control the Rotoiti (Nelson) Scenic Reserves ; the Birkenhead Borough Council to control the Birkenhead Scenic Reserve ; the Rangitikei County Council to control the Rangiwaea Scenic Reserve ; the Raetihi Borough Council to control the Raetihi Scenic Reserves ; the Taranaki County Council to control the Stoney Creek Scenic Reserve; the Edendale Town Board to control the Edendale Scenic Reserve; the Wanganui City Council to control the Gordon Park Scenic Reserve; the Collingwood County Council to control the Kaihoka Lakes Scenic Reserve ; the Manginangina Scenic Board to control the Manginangina Scenic Reserve, on the Kaeo-Okaihau Main Highway ; the Pelorus Bridge Scenic Board to control the Pelorus Bridge Reserves; the Willsher Bay Scenic Board to control the Willsher Bay Scenic Reserve ; the Weber County Council to control the Waihi Falls Reserve; the Upper Hutt Borough Council to control the Upper Hutt Blockhouse Historic Reserve; the Levin Borough Council to control the Waiopehu Scenic Reserve.; the

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Whangarei Borough Council to control the Coronation Scenic Reserve; the Ship Cove Reserve Board to control the historic Ship Cove Reserve; the Orari Gorge Scenic Board to control the Orari Gorge Reserve ; and the Hundalee Scenic Reserves Board to control the Hundalee Reserves. Additional areas were placed under the control of the Ohakune Lakes and Riwaka Scenic Boards. Appointments were made to fill vacancies on the Mount Balloon Hut and Kirk's Bush Scenic Boards, and vacancies were filled on the Waima Scenic and Historic Board, to which body an additional appointment was also made. Twenty gentlemen were appointed as honorary Inspectors of Scenic Reserves throughout the Dominion. The ladies and gentlemen holding this position have given the Department valuable assistance during the year, and their services have been greatly appreciated. An Inspector of Reserves has been appointed for the North Island, and the field staff of the Department generally have made every effort to exercise as close a supervision as possible over all scenic reserves. Condition of Reserves, etc. Reports from the various districts again show that the scenic reserves throughout the Dominion are in general being maintained in a satisfactory condition. More attention is now being paid to fencing, and provided that the Department's allocation of funds for scenic purposes is not unduly restricted, as has unfortunately too often been the case in past years, it is proposed to proceed with a steady programme of fencing-work. It is particularly pleasing to record the increasing interest that is being taken by various organizations, and, indeed, by the public generally, in scenery-preservation matters. The people of New Zealand are at last becoming convinced that in its bush areas the country possesses a wonderful asset that should be jealously treasured and preserved, and this public interest will be of immense benefit to the Department in carrying on its work of safeguarding existing reserves and adding new areas to the Dominion's scenic endowment. A few fires occurred during the year, although most districts fortunately escaped fire damage. In February an extensive fire swept over some 2,500 acres of the Gouland Downs Reserve. The burnt area, however, comprised only a few small patches of bush, and it is expected that the damaged portions will regenerate themselves in a satisfactory manner. A settler's fire travelled into some second growth on the Puroa Point Reserve, in Queen Charlotte Sound, burning some 20 acres of land originally cleared but gradually working back into scrub and light bush. The burnt area is on the shady side, and should soon recover if further fires can be kept out. Settler's fires were also responsible for some minor damage along the edges of the Otoromiro Reserve, Pelorus Sound, and the Whenuanui Reserve in the Grove Arm, Queen Charlotte Sound, but fortunately very little damage was done to the standing bush, the fires being confined to the high fern and scrub growth along the boundaries. General. The popularity of the Trounson Kauri Park has been well maintained, an increased number of visitors availing themselves of the facilities provided for viewing the splendid specimens of kauri and other native trees growing in this magnificent reserve. The caretaker has carried out a considerable amount of general maintenance-work, and the motor-camp has been improved and additional facilities provided. The major improvement during the year was the provision of a permanent watersupply, which the camp has lacked in the past. Approved methods have been adopted in promoting regeneration of kauri, and good results are being obtained. A small nursery has been established for the growing of kauri from seed, and during the season about eight hundred young trees were planted out on the northern portion of the forest. Owing to the dryness of the summer season a number of fires occurred on adjacent lands and the caretaker had to exercise increasing vigilance to prevent fires from entering the reserve. The Cape Kidnapper Bird Sanctuary retains its popularity with the public. It is considered by the honourary Rangers that a record number of birds nested on the reserve during the season. The railway-works on the Kaikoura Coast are marring for the time being some of its picturesque features, but the officers in charge are taking every possible precaution, and as soon as the formation work is finished it is expected that regeneration will take place fairly quickly and this beautiful stretch of coast regain all its old charm for the tourist and lover of nature. To compensate for the unavoidable loss of trees removed in railway and road-formation operations the Public Works Department is planting open sections along the coast in native seedlings. The colony of white rabbits on the Inner Chetwode Island still persists, although some 30 animals were killed during the year. Some 76 deer, 127 wild pigs, and 36 goats were destroyed on various areas, mostly on the Tennyson Inlet and Pelorus Reserves. Native-bird life in the reserves seems to be on the increase. A track some 45 chains in length was constructed during the year to give access to Lake Mahinapua from the Main South Road, and at Lake Kanieri various improvements were effected by the controlling Board. A special fire district has been established to minimize the risk of fires in the Papatowai Reserves, on the South Otago coast, and an honourary Ranger has been appointed. Native-bird life in that district continues to flourish, the extensive reserves in the locality forming good sanctuaries for the birds. The Ranger on Stewart Island reports that during the year he followed his usual practice of paying periodic visits to various parts of the reserves and sanctuaries, and that so far as he can ascertain the position with respect to the native birds is satisfactory. The Department of Internal Affairs had a deer-destruction party operating on the island for some months.

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Future Operations. A good deal of progress was made during the period under review, but much more remains to be done both in reserving Crown-owned areas and in acquiring private lands. The Department has in hand a fairly heavy programme of work so far as Crown areas are concerned. For instance, large areas in South Westland south of the Cook River have been marked for reservation. Many of these areas are on the route of the Main South Road, which will traverse scenes of remarkable natural beauty comprising outstanding examples of lake, river, bush, and alpine scenery. In other districts, too, many reservations are under contemplation, but the position with respect to privately owned lands is still far from satisfactory. For many years the Department has struggled with the most inadequate financial resources to acquire private areas that should be owned by the State. Some good work has been accomplished against heavy odds, but it has proved impossible to undertake any extensive plans of land acquisition. If only 1 per cent, of the money expended on main roads could be allocated for the purchase of bush areas along those roads the position would be very different. The Department hopes that its repeated representations on this subject will in time bear fruit, and that the time will shortly arrive when it will be recognized that a reasonable expenditure of public funds in the acquisition of bush areas is not only a good investment, but also an absolute necessity if the Dominion is to maintain its reputation as a country possessing natural features of outstanding charm and interest. Appendices. The appendices to this report are listed hereunder : — A. Schedule of reserves made and reservations revoked during the year, accompanied by statement of expenditure. B. A short descriptive account of the Lewis Pass Road. C. An account of the work carried out on Kapiti Island.

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APPENDICES.

APPENDIX A. Reserves made in 1937-38 under the Scenery Preservation Act, 1908, and Amendments.

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No. j Local Name. j Description. Area. Proclamation. North Auckland Land District. A. K. P. f Allotments 73 and 74, Manaia Parish .. 143 2 0 4/9/37 670 Bream Head .. Allotment 75, Manaia Parish .. .. 56 0 0 4/9/37 Allotments 6'2a and 77a, Manaia Parish .. 116 0 0 (a) 852 Kiripaka Road, Whangarei .. Part of Section 6, Block III, Whangarei S.D. 85 2 36 26/11/37 870 Pakiri Valley .. .. Section 27, Block VI, Pakiri S.D. .. 61 0 30 23/3/38 871 Lucas Creek .. .. Lot 1, D.P. 13571, portion of Allotment 123, 26 3 8-8 23/3/38 Paremoremo Parish Auckland Land District. j" Section 3, Block IV, Kawhia South S.D. .. 685 1 0 26/6/37 854 Awaroa River .. Section 7, Block IV, Kawhia South S.D. .. 23 2 16 26/6/37 855 Taupiri .. .. . ■ Allotment 503, Taupiri Parish .. .. 41 3 32 26/6/37 856 Lake Rotoma .. .. Sections 10 and 14, Block XI, Rotoma S.D. 483 3 24 26/6/37 f Sections 1 and 2, Block V, Whareorino S.D. 551 0 0 23/3/38 875 Kiritehere-Waikawau-Awakino J Sections 12 and 13, Block V, Whareorino S.D. 15 2 0 23/3/38 Road j Section 6, Block VII, Whareorino S.D. .. 423 1 0 23/3/38 Section 7, Block X, Whareorino S.D. .. 467 0 0 23/3/38 878 Ngongotaha Mountain .. Section 7, Block III, Horohoro S.D. .. 239 3 13 23/3/38 876 Wairere Falls .. .. Part of Section 2, Block XV, Wairere S.D. 47 0 0 23/3/38 Gisborne. Land District. 858 I Waiawa .. .. .. I Section 8, Block IX, Waiawa S.D. .. I 335 3 0 \ 26/6/37 Hawke's Bay Land District. 794 Awamate .. .. .. Lot 1, D.P. 6318, part Hurumua No. 3 0 1 38-4 3/5/37 Block, Block I, Clyde S.D. „ . _ f Section 21, Block IV, Puketapu S.D. .. 7 1 24 26/6/37 859 Tongoio I'alls .. Section 22, Block IV, Puketapu S.D. .. 2 1 20 26/6/37 Taranaki Land District. 860 I Stoney Creek .. .. I Section 15, Block X, Cape S.D. .. .. I 64 0 0 i 26/6/37 882 j Mataimaroke Road .. I Section 8, Block IV, Hawera S.D. .. | 6 0 0 | 23/3/38 Wellington Land District. 829 Rongokaupo Hill .. .. Section 17, Block I, Karioi S.D... ..I 113 I 28 18/6/37 f Section 7, Block IV, Makotuku S.D. .. 1 0 30-53 18/6/37 _ , TT ... j Section 8, Block IV, Makotuku S.D. .. 11 11-46 18/6/37 818 Pvongokaupo Hill .. - Section 9, Block IV, Makotuku S.D. .. 9 2 20-73 18/6/37 [ Section 10, Block IV, Makotuku S.D. ..I 8 2 22-97 18/6/37 Nelson Land District. 862 Buller Gorge .. .. Section 45, Block IV, Ohika S.D. .. 50 0 0 (b) 889 Lewis Pass .. .. In Lewis S.D. .. .. .. 28,200 0 0 (c) 887 Kohika Lakes .. .. Section 1, Block I, Pakawau S.D. .. 54 0 6 (a) 886 Warbeck Valley .. .. Section 9, Block I, and Section 14, Block V, 1,965 0 0 (a) Matakitaki S.D. 861 Six-mile Creek .. .. Section 2, Block XI, Motupiko S.D. .. 781 2 24 26/6/37 834 Buller Gorge .. .. Section 20, Block II, Ohika S.D. .. 69 I 24 26/6/37 835 Riwaka Valley .. . . Section 26, Block VII, Kaiteriteri S.D. .. 110 1 25 23/9/37 888 Astrolabe .. .. .. Section 21, Block VI, Kaiteriteri S.D. .. 15 0 0 23/3/38 Marlborough Land District. 892 | Blue Duck .. .. I Section 7, Block XVI, Kaitarau S.D. ..I 11 0 0 | 23/3/38

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Reserves made in 1937-38 under the Scenery Preservation Act, 1908, and Amendments —continued.

Revocation of Reservations.

2—C. 6.

9

Dftt© of No. local Name. Description. Area. Proclamation. Westland Land District. A. R. p. 897 Arnold River .. .. Reserves 1234, 1236, and 1452, Block IV, 192 2 5 (a) Hohonn S. D. 898 Lake Wahapo .. .. Part Reserve 124, Block XIII, Wataroa S.D. 850 0 0 (a) 841 Greymouth—Wesiport Road .. Reserve 1137, Block I, Waiwhero S.D. .. 16 1 7 26/6/37 866 Rapahoe Range .. .. Subdivision 2 of Section 3177, Block IT, 14 3 15 26/6/37 Cobden S.D. o/.r, ,, .. . f Reserve 1206, Block I, Poerua S.D. .. 11 0 15 4/9/37 86/ Hanhari .. .. 4 Keserve 1204, Block I, Poerua S. 1). .. 191 2 36 5/11/37 f Reserve 1184, Block XV, Gillespies S.D. .. 397 0 12 23/3/38 | Reserve 1185, Block XVI, Gillespies S.D. 74 1 25 23/3/38 865 Fox Glacier vicinity <! Reserve 1186, Block IV, Karangarua S.D. 24 2 17 23/3/38 I Reserve 1187, Block IV, Karangarua S.D. 542 2 15 23/3/38 I Reserve 1188, Block XIII, Waiho S.D. .. 103 1 12 23/3/38 894 Kopara ... .. .. Reserve 1228, Block I, Kopara S.D. .. 39 1 26 23/3/38 896 The Doughboy .. .. Reserve 1226, Block II, Toaroha S.D. .. 865 0 0 23/3/38 900 Lake Kanieri .. .. Part of Reserve 913, Block XI, Kanieri S.D. 74 0 0 23/3/38 Canterbury Land District. A. E. P. I r Reserve 4378, Blocks VI, VTI, IX, X, XI, 13,100 0 0 j 23/3/38 I XIII, XIV, and XV, Boyle S.D. ; and 903 I Lewis Pass .. «{ Blocks II and III, Skiddaw S. D. I Reserve 4379, Blocks I, V, VI, IX and X, 7,370 0 0 23/3/38 Skiddaw S.D. I Otaqo Land District. 849 Pounawea .. .. .. Section 94, Block VI, Glenomaru S.D. .. 51 3 0 22/6/37 848 Glenomaru .. • • Sections 2 of 9, 19, 20, 21, and 24, Block I, 406 3 25 20/1/38 Glenomaru S.D. 904 Table Hill .. .. .. Part of Section 28, Block VI, Woodland S.D. 21 2 15 23/3/38 f Section 17, Block I, Tautuku S.D. .. 7 1 0 23/3/38 906 Tahakopa River .. -! Section 13, Block II, Tautuku S.D. .. 7 2 24 23/3/38 I Section 14, Block II, Tautuku S.D. .. 2 0 10 23/3/38 _ ... , , f Section 44, Block XII, Tautuku S.D. .. 42 1 36 (a) 905 Catlm s-Waikawa Road Section 39, Block VIII, Tautuku S.D. .. 24 2 14 (a) Southland Land District. Section 487, Block VI, Forest Hill Hundred 218 1 23 23/3/38 Section 474, Block VII, Forest Hill Hundred 131 2 38 23/3/38 Sections 480 and 481, Block VI, Forest Hill 421 0 14 23/3/38 _ TT .„ Hundred 907 Forest Hill .. < Sections 484 and 485, Block II, and Section 672 0 12 23/3/38 486, Block VI, Forest Hill Hundred ; and Sections 7, 8, and 85, Block VIII, New [ River Hundred 908 Catlin's-Waikawa Road .. Section 14 and part Sections 9, 10, 11, 12, 594 0 0 (a) and 13, Block XV, and Sections 37, 39, and part Sections 21, 22, 23,24,25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, and 32, Block XVII, Waikawa S.D. 461 Otatara Bush .. .. Lot 2 of Section 10 and part Section 11, 126 0 33 (a) Block XXI, Invercargill Hundred (a) Section 26, Reserves and other Lands Disposal Act, 1937. (b) Section 20, Reserves and other Lands Disposal Act, 1037. (c) Section 24, Reserves and other Lands Disposal Act, 1937.

r i « ___ Date of Area. Proclamation. Hawke's Bay Land District. A. R. P. Section 24 (formerly part of Section 1), Block TV, Puketapu S.T). .. . .. I 1 0 20 | 18/6/37 Marlborough Land District. Part of Section 13, Block XI, Linkwater S.D. .. .. .. •• 9 0 0 (a) Total area revoked during the year .. .. .. .. 10 0 20 (a) Section 21. -Reserves and other Lands Disposal Act, 1937.

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Summary of Reserves.

Private Scenic Reserves declared under Section 6 of the Scenery Reservation Amendment Act, 1933.

Statement showing Expenditure on Scenery Preservation for the Year ended 31st March, 1938. £ s. d. Acquisition of land and improvements to reserves .. .. .. .. 3,778 7 2 General administration, eradication of noxious weeds, destruction of rabbits, maintenance, &c. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202 18 1 Surveys and valuations .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 51 3 3 Trounson Kauri Park : Charges in connection with improvement, maintenance, and protection . . .. .. . . .. . . . . . . 439 8 2 Waitangi Historic Reserve: Clearing, ploughing, grassing, internal roading, and compensation .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . 54 14 6 Waitangi Endowment: Tree-planting, &c. .. .. .. .. .. 1,047 14 9 Net expenditure for year .. .. .. .. .. .. 5,574 5 11

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Land District. Number. Area. A. K. P. North Auckland .. .. .. .. .. .. 3* 489 0 34-8 Auckland .. .. .. .. .. .. 7* 2,978 1 5 Gisborne .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 335 3 0 Hawke's Bay .. .. .. .. .. .. | 1* 10 1 2-4 Taranaki .. .. .. .. .. .. | 2 70 0 0 Wellington .. .. .. .. .. .. | 1* 134 0 33-69 Nelson .. .. .. .. .. .. | 6* 31,245 1 39 Marlborough .. .. .. .. .. .. : * 1100 Westland .. .. .. .. .. ..I 11* 3,396 3 25 Canterbury .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 20,470 0 0 Otago .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7* 564 1 4 Southland .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 2,163 2 0 Total reservations for year ended 31st March, 1938 .. 46 61,868 3 23-89 Reservations up to 31st March, 1937 .. .. .. 1,030 740,645 2 29-5 i 1,076 802,514 2 13-39 Less reservations revoked .. .. .. .. j .. 10 0 20 I 1,076 802,504 1 33-39 I * Also additions to existing reserves.

Local Name. Description. Area. Warrant Nelson Land District. a. r. p. Astrolabe .. .. .. I Section 7, Block VI, Kaiteriteri S.D. .. ] 479 2 7 | 3/5/37 Canterbury Land District. p, , r , , f Rural Section 1515, Block VI, Hororata S.D. 20 0 0 23/7/37 r one ore ,ree - .. Rural Section 2234, Block VI, Hororata S.D. 20 0 0 23/7/37 Total area .. .. .. 519 2 7

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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.

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v P „ r I Compensation Fencing and Surveys, Board's ! Salari „„ T . , for Land. Maintenance. Valuations, &c. Expenses. £ £ £ £ £ £ 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 l,964t 49 1 280 3.589 1919-20 .. .. 510 188 12 .. 40 750 1920-21 .. .. 3,031 471 299 .. 25 3,826 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 3,220 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 1 150$ 14,141 1929-30.. .. 445 1,548 108 6 300+ 2,407 1930-31 .. .. 574 1,335 92 2 300} 2,303 1931-32.. .. 2,373 838 1,099 16 279$ 4,605 1932-33 .. .. 7 476 15 .. 200} 698 1933-34.. .. 92 1,221 21 .. 156$ 1,490 1934-35.. .. 750 1,804 § 18 .. 38} 2,610 1935-36.. .. 909 3,4731| 3 .. .. 4,385 1936-37.. .. 476 2,132 .. .. .. 2,608 1937-38.. .. 3,327 2,196** 51 .. .. 5,574 Grand total .. 174,680 35,204 19,058 3,471 5,624 238,037 * Included in Board's expenses. t Includes £1,750 paid to Summit Road Scenic Reserve Board. % Ranger for Summit Road Scenic Reserves. § Includes £1,344 expended on Waitangi Endowment and Historic Reserve. || Includes £2,814 expended on Waitangi Endowment and Historic Reserve. If Includes £1,621 expended on Waitangi Endowment and Historic Reserve. ** Includes £1,102 expended on Waitangi Endowment and Historic Reserve.

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APPENDIX 13. LEWIS PASS ROAI).—A SHORT DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT. Brief Description. The road over the Lewis Pass shortens the distance from Christchurch to many places on the west coast compared with distances by way of the older Arthur Pass route. The chief gains are : To Reefton, 35 miles ; Westport, 36 miles ; Murchison, 64 miles ; Nelson, 64 miles. The head of the Pass is 120 miles from Christchurch and 41J miles from Reefton. It is one of the lowest passes in the Southern Alps. The road was officially opened for traffic on the 30th October, 1937, by the Hon. R. Semple, Minister of Public Works. Early History. The Pass appears to have been used in the later wars among the Maori tribes up till about one hundred and twenty years ago. According to the historian Mr. James Cowan, the hot mineral waters of Maruia Springs, in the valley of the upper mountain route between the east and west coasts, were well known to the ancient Maori tribes on both sides of the Island. The Maruia route made a convenient, if hazardous, highway for warriors and parties carrying greenstone. It was the bartering expeditions which led to war expeditions, and Cannibal Gorge, Kope-o-Kai-Tangata, appears to have derived its name from repeated acts of cannibalism carried out in its gloomy recesses. The precious pounamu stone was the chief cause of these Maori hostilities, but it is also said that the pursuit of wekas and eel-fishing at the head of the rivers of the Maruia led to many fights. The Ngati-Tumataroriri, an ancient tribe of the Buller and Nelson country, appears to have disputed the possession of the Maruia Valley and the surrounding country with the Ngai-Tahu from Kaiapoi and Kaikoura. The Maruia Valley was a land of plenty, as the meaning of its name implies. The old Maoris found bird-life of all kinds —kakapo, the ground parrot, wekas or woodhens, kokako or native crows, and paradise duck. Some of these have vanished with the years, but many arc appearing again. Ancient Maori folk-lore of the Maruia tells of a huge predatory bird which, it was declared, was large enough to carry off human beings from the ground to its den or lair amid the heights of Cannibal Gorge. After the Maoris, many of the men who went to the West Coast in the days of the gold rushes used this route, and later a bridle-track was formed, known as the Rolleston Track. The completion of the new metalled highway over the Pass will make commonplace a crossing of the range that in the past was full of adventure. In the height of the gold-digging days hundreds of miners accompanied by strings of pack-horses made a precarious way from Canterbury over the Pass to the goldfields. The needs of the miningcamps also led to mobs of cattle being driven over by this route. The sons of the late Mr. George Rutherford, it is stated, used to drive fat stock from their station on the Canterbury side of the Pass to the diggings. Mr. Graham Flowers, now of the Accommodation House, Lake Rotoroa, who was one of the pioneer dealers of the eighties, also frequently took cattle through this route to the coast. Early French Settlers. The most romantic story about the mountain country traversed by the Lewis Pass Road concerns the band of French settlers who reputedly in the early sixties established themselves on the Hats and undulating hills high up near the junction of the Lewis and Boyle Rivers, in what is known as the Magdalen Valley. They called their settlement St. Andrews, and with great industry cultivated their alpine pastures. In the valley they depastured herds of beef cattle and milch cows, and, it is said, installed a cheese-making plant. Periodically, but at long intervals, they packed their cheese over the Lewis Pass Track to the gold-diggings, selling it to the miners, and returning loaded up with stores. They also drove fat cattle across to the diggings. These French settlers survived several years of hardship in country where every winter the snow lay deep on their pastures. Then, one year they visited the diggings for the last time with a consignment of cheese and cattle. They were not heard of again on the diggings, and the only remaining signs of their occupation are the crumbling walls of their sod and stone huts, and some of the gorse hedges. Part of one of their homesteads is now used as a musterer's hut on Glenhope Station. Description op Route. The Lewis Pass Road proper may be said to begin on the Christchurch-Hannier Road, at a point about half a mile south of the Waiau Bridge. En route to Lewis Pass we turn north-west at this point, cross a terrace, and drop down alongside the Waiau River itself. The road follows closely along the right-hand bank of the river for some distance, being protected at one or two points by a system of groynes which have been found necessary to protect the road from river erosion. The country along this stretch is not particularly interesting, and the road passes over several small creeks by open ford. The first bridge we cross is at Handysides Creek, and shortly after this the road takes a fairly sharp rise, to pass over what is known as Boundary Creek. The view from here, looking back down the Waiau River and across the Hanmer Plantations, is, in the afternoon light with a sinking sun, very attractive, particularly in the autumn, when the larch plantations are changing their foliage colouring. The country here, on either side of the river, is pastoral, and in some cases the menace of shingle slides is very apparent.

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The road winds up and down to negotiate the difficulties the country presents, and after passing over Calf Creek and Gorge Creek, which are provided with under-strutted wooden bridges, we arrive opposite the position where the Waiau River junctions with the Hope. In the fork of the Waiau and the Hope lies the homestead of the Glen Hope Run, and we see here the remains of a bridge which was once erected across the Hope to connect that homestead with the south bank of the river ; this bridge was washed away in a heavy flood shortly after its erection. The road then proceeds by Horseshoe Lake, a tarn situated close to the fault-line that runs through this country, a reminder of the earthquake on the Ist September, 1888. The picture presented looking westward across the lake, with the poplars and pine plantations of the Glynwye Homestead in the foreground and away to Mount Garfield in the distance, is at all times a pleasing one and in some lights particularly so. The road drops down to pass over Kakapo Stream by a temporary wooden bridge, and then proceeds on past the Glynwye Homestead, leaving the old suspension sheep-bridge across the Hope on our right. This bridge was erected by Mr. Duncan Rutherford when he held the pastoral license covering the country on both sides of the Hope. Passing Glynwye the road proceeds to the bridge crossing the Hope, and after passing over this, a temporary structure, takes a turn along the left bank of the river, crossing a concrete bridge over what is called Nathans Creek, shortly before reaching the homestead known as " The Poplars." The bush areas we now see on the right-hand side of the road have recently become State forest, and on turning up the Doubtful River about a mile beyond " The Poplars " we get our first real view of the scenic reserves which lie around Mount Garfield. The bush in these reserves consists almost wholly of birch, but it is nevertheless well worthy of preservation from a scenic point of view, as well as from one of utility. Given a fine day, the views from here on to the Pass itself are really charming. The air is crystal clear, and at every turn in the road there is some new feature to be seen. At Rough Creek, which flows down from the slopes of Mount Garfield into the Doubtful, there is stated to be an area of bush which harbours a number of songbirds, and Mr. Barrett, the licensee, states that he often took his lunch in this particular spot when working sheep in that locality in order to listen to these songsters. We then come to the junction of the Doubtful with the River Boyle, and turning up into the Boyle we meet with a heavier class of bush. The country on the right is fairly open with clumps of bush dotted here and there on the hillsides, but on the opposite bank of the river the bush reaches from the river's edge to the sky-line, and as we pass the Doubtful and the Nina the glimpses up their valleys are worthy of attention. It may be noted that the earlier plans of this district show as proceeding up these valleys a line noted as the approximate route of the proposed line of the Bast and West Coast Railway, one being via the Doubtful Pass by Mr. Foy, and another being marked " Mr. J. Blackett's surveyed line of railway to Reefton via the Lewis Pass." The road changes from flat to shingle sidelings, crossing here and there over small creeks and then turning up to pass the Boyle by a temporary wooden bridge. After passing over the open space immediately north of the Boyle where it joins with the Lewis we enter into Scenic Reserve No. 4378 and remain within the boundaries of this reserve until reaching Lewis Pass. Shortly before entering this reserve, 011 the opposite side of the Lewis River may be seen the Sylvia Falls, and a further mile or so along the road, also across the river, the maps record the existence of a hot spring. From this place to the Pass itself the road is practically wholly within the bush, and outside of the winter months this is a very pleasant drive. Numerous small streams are met with and passed, some by bridges, others by open ford. The workers 011 the road gave their own particular names to the majority of these streams, such as Dan's Creek and Dorothy's, Margaret's, and Maud's Creeks, the last three being named after the wives of the engineers 011 the job. The grade throughout the length of this road from the Waiau Ferry to the Lewis Pass is, taking it generally, an easy one, the places in which a steep climb is required being for relatively short lengths, and the road is becoming increasingly popular from month to month. The surface of the road is excellent, and with the passing of the years it should be capable of maintaining a good volume of traffic. Winter brings snow, which lies for some time generally 011 the higher turns of the road up towards the Pass, and at the Pass itself is a mountain tarn which in the winter-time is said to be covered with a coating of thick ice providing an excellent skating-area, Over the Pass into the Westland side the country bccomes much more broken as we drop down towards the Maruia Springs.

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APPENDIX C. KAPITI ISLAND RESERVE. (H. W. C. Mackintosh, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) I have much pleasure in reporting that the year just closed has been an excellent one for the bird and plant life 011 Kapiti Reserve. Although in November it looked as if a dry summer were to be experienced, copious rains fell at intervals throughout that season, with the result that plants made wonderful growth and, at time of writing, are still growing. Some young trees have made a growth of as much as 2 ft. of new wood, and this growth has been maintained all over the reserve with the exception of very exposed situations and along the shore 011 the western side of the island. It is gratifying to note that even on this wind-swept part of the island there is a certain amount of regeneration taking place as a result of pohutukawa and taupata planted there and the quantities of kowhai-seed scattered on the cliffs. Manuka, flax, koromiko, akeake, and several other species are gradually working down from the top. This is a very hard place to deal with, as erosion is going on all the time and plants can be put only behind big stones or rocks along the bottom where slips coming down will not fall on them or along the top where the land is not likely to slip. At the southern end of the island taupata and pohutukawa, planted about six years ago, are doing well, and amongst these the Cook Strait koromiko and flax are prominent. Hundreds of little trees belonging to the island have been planted in this locality, and in the course of a year or two will be providing food for the birds. White-pines planted in the swamp and on different parts of the island are growing, and there must be five hundred of these trees: Some at Rangatira are 8 ft. high. The grass areas are being gradually covered with bush-trees of all descriptions, and each year shows an improvement, while the danger from fire is being further removed. Most of the tracks used twelve years ago are now practically impassable without the aid of a slasher. Amongst the manuka, too, a change is taking place. Other trees are beginning to show their tops above the manuka, and in time much of it will be crowded out. Manuka is a useful tree which provides insect-eating birds with a certain amount of food and the parrakeets and kaka with seed, but there are other trees more useful, and in any case, there is a great deal of manuka on the island. Unremitting warfare continues to be waged against vermin, and the Caretaker and his assistant have done great work in this respect, and just over one thousand rats have been killed. Opossums to the number of 428 were taken during the year. The increase of birdlife is largely due to the destruction of vermin. During the year the boat-shed was shifted and a concrete slipway laid down, enabling the Caretaker to put the boat into the shed at any stage of the tide, weather, of course, permitting. This relieves Mr. Wilkinson of a great deal of worry when the launch was 011 the moorings. The Caretaker desires me to acknowledge the assistance given to him in this matter by Messrs. K. Jones, Bennett, Hughes, Spencer and his son. Mr. Wilkinson also desires me to thank the following donors of plants and seeds : — Mr. H. Hughes, Foxton .. .. .. .. Plants. Mr. A. Ainsworth, Kilbirnie . . . . . . Plants. Mr. Newcombe, Internal Affairs Department .. Plants. Mr. Morris Jones, Kelburn .. .. .. Plants. Mr. B. C. Aston, Kelburn .. . . . . Plants. Mr. T. Hughes, Paraparaumu .. .. .. Seeds. Mr. G. Hughes, Kapiti .. .. .. .. Plants. (From Captain Sanderson's garden.) All the plants have been put out in suitable places. I desire to again place on record my high appreciation of the able and painstaking manner in which Mr. A. S. Wilkinson, the Caretaker of the reserve, carries out his duties. I append hereto extracts from Mr. Wilkinson's annual report on the reserve : — " Most of the plants on the island flowered well. There were some glorious patches of the hekatara, and I have never seen a more beautiful sight than the kaikomako when in full bloom. The rata was also lovely, and the pohutukawa, too. When these two species were in flower we saw little of our tame honey-eaters. They were all away enjoying the bounteous feast. The kohekohe had very few flowers on it last season, but shows promise of being heavily laden this time. All the trunks and branches are covered with buds, so the honey-eaters are assured of a feast later on. This is one of the most valuable trees we have, as it flowers in the winter time. The cabbage-tree hardly flowered at all. Indeed, I saw only one flower 011 these trees at Rangatira. The so-called flax (Phormium) provided a lot of food for the honey-eaters in December, but even this plant did not flower like it did two years ago. Most of the trees are now laden or have been laden with fruit. The karaka berries are finished, but these trees had more fruit on them than I have ever seen. A more beautiful sight could hardly be imagined than to see half a dozen or more native pigeons feeding on a karaka-tree loaded with the lovely golden berries. The hinau, with its snow-white flowers like a lily-of-the-valley, is another tree that presents a beautiful picture to the nature-lover. And the tawa —a handsome tree at any time, though the flowers, like many of our natives, are insignificant—becomes more beautiful when loaded as it was with fruit resembling a small diamond plum, amongst which the pigeons were feeding. Some of the more conspicuous of the trees loaded with fruit at the present time are miro, matai, hinau, ngaio, titoki, houhou, horoeka, toru, matipo, kaikomako, mahoe, and nikau. The summer just ended has been the best season for the birds since we came here just on fourteen years ago. All species have done well. Most of those around our home that we know personally

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have reared two batches of young, and some are now on their third. At the present time, 31st March, one of our tame pipits has a nest with four eggs in it. The korimako brought her young ones to our syrup-dish, and these birds have become tame enough to alight on the dish while held in the hand. They will even fly into the house to meet the person carrying out the dish. " All over the sanctuary, young birds are in evidence. Pigeons, kaka, tui, korimako, robins, tomtits, whiteheads, and fantails all show an increase. This increase is more easily estimated at the present time while the birds are young. It is not so easy when they arrive at maturity, because the stronger-flying species travel to and from the mainland. Kiwi are now present in places where, a few years ago, they were absent. They have been heard calling from our cottage during the last few months. The luxuriant growth of fern and under-scrub throughout the bush, which keeps the ground damp, has induced these interesting birds to spread out more. " The grey ducks bred around in different parts of the island in increasing numbers, and also the paradise ducks, but I think the latter suffer occasionally from the attentions of the black-backed gull. A pair of paradise had a nest under a rush bush near the boat-shed in which were eight eggs. Out of this clutch five young were hatched. A few hours after hatching the ducks took their little ones to the water. A pair of gulls were nesting on the beach not far from where the ducks had nested, and as soon as the young ducks appeared the gulls showed considerable interest in them. They seemed as though they were waiting for the young ones to get far enough away from their parents so they could catch them. And this is apparently what did happen, because the little ducklings gradually disappeared. In three days they were gone. I feel certain that they were all killed and eaten by the gulls, although I never actually saw the gulls catching them. " The old ducks made another attempt to rear a family, this time farther along the coast towards the south end of the island. Some weeks later they were seen swimming about with some young ones. Then these little ones disappeared. However, several pairs of paradise ducks were successful in rearing families at the north end. " The little blue penguins nested all round the island. I think every nesting-place along the shore was occupied. At the present time they are ashore. Their weird wailing voices can be heard both night and day. In the early part of the night they are especially noisy. " Blue herons nested in their usual places ; no new sites of these birds have been found for some years. The shore birds, such as stilts and banded dotterel, were present in their usual numbers about the lagoon at the north end, and the gulls and terns occupied their usual places round the island and on the adjoining small islets. Shags are about in their usual numbers.

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