7

C—6

Compensation for Native Lands acquired for Scenery Purposes under the Public Works Act, 1908.

APPENDIX B. Report by the Inspector of Scenic Reserves. For the first quarter of the past year I was, as Secretary of the late Royal Commission on Forestry, engaged in work outside my ordinary duties. I undertook also the superintendence of sand-dune reclamation works initiated by the Lands Department. In connection with scenery-preservation proper, the chief work of the year was an inspection and report, with recommendations, for the acquisition of the forest encompassing the beautiful and romantic lakes Waikaremoana and Waikare-iti. The land surrounding these lakes is of a broken nature, of poor quality, and, being at an altitude of from 2,000 ft. to 3,500 ft., is at present of small farming-value. As the speculator has not yet reached this locality, it is probable that the lands could be acquired for a comparatively small amount of compensation. There is a comfortable accommodation-house at Waikaremoana, and already, in the summer, when motor-cars can get through from Napier, Gisborne, and Wairoa, a considerable number of sightseers and fishermen make it their holiday resort. If the last few miles of the road going round the lake were metalled with some of the fine hard sandstone that abounds there, motor-cars would be able to make the trip with more surety, the expense would be lessened, and, as a consequence, more visitors would resort there. The lake lies at an altitude of over 2,000 ft. above the sea, and on this account the dwellers of the large coastal cities find this lessened atmospheric pressure most invigorating. The feature that compels one's admiration the most when one reaches the low saddle from which this beautiful lake is first viewed is the Panekiri Bluff, which, rising abruptly from the water some 1,500 ft., stands defiant, like a colossal sentinel guarding the sanctity of this terra nova. Each islet, each cliff, each bay has a story which connects it with the history of the Maori warriors of the past. The mountains round the lake rise to an altitude of 4,000 ft., so those fond of climbing can enjoy this exercise ad libitum. Trout are now plentiful in the lake, and deer in the forest, so the sportsman is afforded ample scope for the indulgence of his proclivities. With regard to the deer, I must strongly recommend that sufficient shooting be allowed, and even encouraged,

Name of Reserve. Particulars of Block, &c. Amount. D'Urville Island Reserve Hongi's Track Reserve Kumutoto Reserve Part Rangitoto 3b 2 Block Part Rotoiti Nos. 6 and 7 Blocks Part Section 2, Sections 3 and 11, Block I, Arapawa Part Okoheriki 2c No. 3 Block Section 12, Block I and part Block II, Awakino Part Whaiti Kuranui 1a Block Lot 189, Waiotahi Parish, Hiwarau A Part Te Taumanu Block Part Purahotangihia, Block IV, Puketapu Sections 6-10, Waiketi, Block I, Tarawera Part Waimarino 4b 2 Block £ s. d. 106 0 0 10 11 5 32 5 7 Mamaku Reserve .. Mangoira, Mokau .. Ngatira Reserve .. Ohiwaru Reserve .. Rotoma Reserve .. Tongoio Falls Reserve Waiketi Hot Sprngs Waimarino Reserve 264 19 0 439 0 0 148 6 3 23 3 7 1 3 3 1 2 11 10 0 0 431 13 5 £1,468 5 5 Cost of Surveys, &c, of Icenic Reserves undertaken during Year 1913-14. Name of Reserve. Particulars of Block, &o. Amount. Atene Reserve Ngapaeruru (Dannevirke) Puketarata Reserve Makahau Reserve Mangoira, Mokau Wanganui River Ohoutahi Reserve Waimarino Reserve Wanganui River bank Valuations, travelling-expenses, and lej of reserves Tauakira 2o, 2p, and 2q Blocks Sections 21 and 20, Block V, Mangatoro Kanihinihi 1 and 2 Blocks Part Block X, Wangaehu S.D Section 12, Block I, and part Block II, Awakino Blocks II, III, IV, Piopiotea S.D. .. Part Block XIV, Kareti S.D. Waimarino 2, 3, 4, and 5 Blocks Taumatamahoe 2b No. 2 .. ;al expenses incidental to acquiring and survey £ s. d. 66 15 6 16 15 6 10 13 0 12 12 0 12 2 0 14 15 2 53 5 6 402 8 7 627 1 9 331 2 7 £1,547 11 7