DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY PUBLIC DOMAINS AND NATIONAL PARKS OF NEW ZEALAND (ANNUAL REPORT ON)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1945 Session I, C-10

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1945 NEW ZEALAND

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY PUBLIC DOMAINS AND NATIONAL PARKS OF NEW ZEALAND (ANNUAL REPORT ON)

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

Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, 23rd August, 1945. Sir,— I have the honour to submit herewith a report on the public domains and national parks of the Dominion for the year ended 31st March, 1945. I have, &c., .R. 6. Macmorran, Under-Secretary for Lands, The Hon. the Minister of Lands.

REPORT PART I.—PUBLIC DOMAINS At 31st March, 1945, the total number of public domains administered under the provisions of Part II of the Public Reserves, Domains, and National Parks Act, 1928, was 817, covering a total area of 79 85§ acres. Forty-three of these domains are controlled by the various Commissioners of Crown Lands 300 are controlled by local authorities acting as Domain Boards, and the remaining 474 are controlled by local Boards appointed from time to time. During the year 6 new domains, with a total area of 98 acres, were constituted and arrangements made for their control. Additions totalling approximately 103 acres were made to 8 existing domains. Particulars of the new domains are as.follows: — Tapanui Domain (Otago). —This domain, the total area of which is 68 acres and 37 perches, comprises part of the Tapanui Commonage Reserve containing 56 acres and 37 perches, and a former agricultural and pastoral reserve comprising 12 acres. For many years past this land has been used for football, cricket, and golf, and it was considered desirable to constitute the areas a public domain and place the control in the hands of the Tapanui Borough Council acting in the capacity of a Domain Board. Tapawera Memorial Park Domain (Nelson).—The land included in this domain comprises an area of 4 acres 3 roods 28-4 perches purchased in 1920 by the residents of Tapawera and district by means of funds raised by public subscriptions. The area was vested in trustees upon trust for those soldiers who lost their lives in the first Great War and upon further trust to permit the land to be used as a public recreation-ground. Owing to the trustees having either died or left the district, the local people decided that the future administration would be facilitated if the land were placed under the control of a Domain Board. The area was declared to be a public domain by section 7of the Reserves and other Lands Disposal Act, 1944. The domain is used for cricket, tennis, picnics, and general recreation. Mahia Domain (Hawlce's Bay).—This area, comprising 1 rood 34-9 perches, is situated on the coast some one hundred and twenty miles north-west from Napier. It was formerly a piece of unoccupied Crown land, but as the Wairoa County Council desired to provide facilities on the area such as shelter sheds and conveniences for the rapidly increasing number of visitors who use the beach at this point as a seaside resort, the land was constituted a public domain and placed under the control of the Council. Wainui-o-Mata Domain (Wellington).—This domain, comprising a total area of 17 acres and 8 perches, consists of a number of reserves which became vested in the Crown for recreation purposes on the subdivision of private land at Wainui-o-Mata, some fifteen miles north-east from Wellington. The area has been placed under the control of a Board of local residents, and it is intended to proceed with a programme of development when funds are available.

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Pufienui Domain (North Auckland) .—This area of 5 acres and 8-1 perches is situated near Papatoetoe, some twelve miles south from Auckland. The land is practically level and well suited for development as a recreation-ground. Ngahere Domain (Westland). —This domain, comprising 3 acres 3 roods 28 perches, is situated at Ngahere, some fifteen miles north from Greymouth. The area is adjacent to the local school and has been used as a recreation-ground and as a playground for the school-children for many years. An active Domain Board has now been formed to control the area, and an intensive programme of further development is being carried out. Additions to existing domains were made as follows: —

The area of 21 acrcs and 20 perches added to the Piha Beach Domain should prove a valuable addition to this domain, which is becoming a popular camping and picnicking resort. The addition to the Tui Park Domain comprises a block of approximately 17 acres situated adjacent to the Borough of Te Aroha. The Borough Council, acting in its capacity as the Domain Board, proposes to clear the noxious weeds and develop the area as botanical gardens, &c. The area of 28 acres and 20 perches added to the Kaiteriteri Domain is portion of an old Military Reserve situated at Tasman Bay, Nelson. This land was the site of an old Maori pa and has many historical associations. The area of approximately 19 acres added to the Christchurch Domain is situated on the Summit Road along the Port Hills. The land was donated to the Crown by Mrs. M. G. Scott, widow of the late Mr. G. P. Scott, of Opawa, on the understanding that the area was to be planted in suitable trees and shrubs and developed in a fitting manner by the Christchurch Domain Board. PART ll.— NATIONAL PARKS During the year the Egmont National Park Board accepted an offer by the Government to take over the roads through the Egmont National Park and to subsidize donations made by local bodies up to an annual amount of £1,250, subject to all existing tolls and park fees being abolished. As a result of the agreement reached, the Board's finances should be placed on a sound basis.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (540 copies), £3 10s.

Authority: E. V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington.—l94s.

Price .Jtl]

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Land District. Domain. Area added. A. R. P. North Auckland .. .. .. Piha Beach .. .. .. 21 0 20 Auckland .. .. ..To Awamutu .. .. .. 1 1 17-72 ,, .. .. .. .. Tui Park .. .. .. 17 0 31 Wellington .. .. .. .. Carnival Park .. .. .. 12 5 Nelson .. .. .. .. Kaiteriteri .. .. .. 28 0 20 ,, .. .. .. .. Rabbit Island .. .. .. 13 0 0 Westland . . . . .. .. Greymouth .. .. .. 1 3 23-5 Canterbury .. .. .. .. Christchurch .. .. .. 19 0 38 Total area added to eight domains ... .. .. 103 1 35-22