DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY SCENERY PRESERVATION REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1945, TOGETHER WITH STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURE AND SCHEDULE OF LANDS RESERVED DURING THE YEAR UNDER THE SCENERY PRESERVATION ACT

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1945 Session I, C-06

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1945 NEW ZEALAND

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY SCENERY PRESERVATION REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1945, TOGETHER WITH STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURE AND SCHEDULE OF LANDS 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, 28th August, 1945. Sir,— I have the honour to submit herewith a report on scenery preservation for the year ended 31st March, 1945. I have, &c., R. G. Macmorran, Under-Secretary for Lands. The Hon. the Minister in Charge of Scenery Preservation, Wellington.

REPORT

During the year under review, areas totalling 64,040 acres were set apart as scenic reserves in various parts, of the Dominion. The reservations made included areas totalling approximately 650 acres situated alongside existing reserves in the Mangamuku Gorge, North Auckland. In the Auckland Land District the reservation was completed of an area of 629 acres of steep bush-covered country near Whareorino. An area of approximately 330 acres situated near Puketitiri, Hawke's Bay, and known as the Ball's Clearing Scenic Reserve, was formally set apart during the year. This reserve, on which 89 acres of bush has been kept intact, was handed over by the State Forest Service in order that it might be permanently reserved for scenic purposes. The area of virgin bush included in this reserve is of a particularly fine type. In the Taranaki District an area of approximately 16 acres, situated on the main Ohura Highway, was. placed under reservation. This land is covered in native bush and is an attractive feature along the main highway. An area of some 55 acres, comprising portion of an old stock reserve and certain closed roads situated along the coast near Punakaiki, Nelson Land District, on the Westport-Greymouth main road was reserved during the year. This reserve will be placed under the control of the Punakaiki Scenic Board, which controls various reserves in the locality. In the Otago Land District areas totalling 62,200 acres of Crown land and State forest in the Haast, Young, Wilkin, and McKerrow Survey Districts, along the new Haast Pass Road, were placed under reservation for scenic purposes. Portions of these areas were previously held under pastoral licenses, but arrangements were made for the surrender of the bush areas from the runs. The areas concerned, which for the most part are covered with beautiful beech forest, extend from a few miles above Lake Wanaka to the summit of the range. Scenic reserves throughout the Dominion have, as far as possible under existing conditions, been kept under observation. No serious damage by fire was caused during the year. Honorary Inspectors and Scenic Boards, have continued to co-operate with the Department and have taken a keen interest in assisting in protecting the various reserves. In the Trounson Kauri Park Reserve near Kaihu essential work such as clearing of fire breaks, repairing of fences, &c., has received full attention, while a further area has been planted for shelter purposes. The amenities at the Cape Kidnapper Bird Sanctuary have been improved, and the sanctuary continues to prove an attraction for people from all over the Dominion. On Kapiti Island good progress has been made with the planting of suitable areas, and the thanks of the Department is extended to the people who have rendered assistance in this direction.

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The following schedule gives details of the areas actually set apart during the year

Reserves made in 1944-45 under the Scenery Preservation Act, 1908, and Amendments

The reservation over two areas totalling 37 acres 1 rood was revoked during the year. The number of scenic reservations in the Dominion is now 1,202, covering a total area of 914,164 acres. Expenditure during the year amounted to £2,884, details being as follows : —• £ Acquisition of land . . .. . . .. . . .. . . 304 General administration, maintenance charges, improvements, and grants to Scenic Boards .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,503 Trounson Kauri Park : Charges in connection with improvement, maintenance, and protection .. .. .. .. .. 444 Waitangi Endowment: Tree-planting, &c. .. .. .. .. 633 Total expenditure for year .. .. .. ~ .. £2,884 The total expenditure to date since 1904 is £263,747, including £185,671 spent on the acquisition of land.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing copies, £4 10s.)

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

Price 3d.]

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TJafn QJ 1 Local Name. Description. Area. Proclamation. North Auckland Land District A. B. P. Mangamuka Gorge .. .. Allotments N.W. 123, 124, 230, 231, 232, Maunga- 649 3 09 27/3/45 taniwha Parish, and Sections 2 and 3, Block IX, Maungataniwha Survey District Leigh .. .. .. Section 106, Village of Leigh, Block I, Rodney 1 2 12 27/3/45 Survey District Arai .. .. .. Allotment N.E. 29, Arai Parish, Block II, Pakiri 120 0 00 27/3/45 Survey District Orero .. .. .. Lot 1, D.P. 31082, Portion of Orere and Taupo 30 0 19 27/3/45 Block, Block X, Wairoa Survey District Auckland Land District Whareorino .. .. .. Section 22, Block VII, Whareorino Survey District 517 0 14 30/10/44 „ .. .. .. Sections 18 and 25, Block VII, Whareorino Survey 112 0 08 30/10/44 District Hawke's Bay Land District Ball's Clearing .. .. Section 100 (formerly Part Section 98), Block XIV, 290 3 03 27/3/45 Pohui Survey District „ .. .. Section 101 (formerly Part Section 98), Block XIV, 40 3 37 27/3/45 Pohui Survey District Taranaki Land District Ohura .. .. .. Subdivision 2 of Section 13, Block IX, Ohura 3 I 39-8 27/3/45 Survey District .. .. .. Section 14, Block IX, Ohura Survey District .. 12 3 26 27/3/45 Nelson Land District l'unakaiki .. .. .. Section 22, Block IX, Brighton Survey District 52 3 15 27/3/45 „ .. .. .. Sections 24 to 34 (inclusive), Block IX, Brighton 3 0 07-2 27/3/45 Survey District Westland Ixind District Lake Kaniere .. .. Reserves 1850 and 1851 (formerly closed roads), 0 0 15'8 27/3/45 Block XI, Kaniere Survey District Pukekura .. .. .. Reserve 1843 (formerly closed road), Block XV, 2 0 31 19/5/44 Waitaha Survey District „ .. .. .. Reserve 1844 (formerly closed road), Block XV, 2 1 35-8 19/5/44 Waitaha Survey District „ .. .. .. Reserve 1845 (formerly closed road), Block XV, 1 1 7'4 19/5/44 Waitaha Survey District Canterbury Land District Summit Road .. ..I Reserve 4476 (formerly Part Lot 1, D.P. 4499), I 0 0 6'8 i 5/12/44 I Block IV, Halswell Survey District Otago Land District Haast Pass .. .. .. Part Section 3333 and parts of Section 3332 in the 33,500 0 00 27/3/45 Haast, Young, and Wilkin Survey Districts „ .. .. .. Section 3333, part of Section 3332, and parts of 28,700 0 00 27/3/45 Runs 98 and 99, Haast and McKerrow Survey Districts — 64,040 3 06-8