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1916. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY: SCENERY-PRESERVATION. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1916: TOGETHER WITH STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS 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 May, 1916. I have the honour to submit herewith report on scenery-preservation for the twelve months ended the 31st March, 1916. T. N. Brodrick, The Right Hon. W. F. Massey, P. 0., Under-Secretary for Lands. Minister in Charge of Scenery-preservation.

EEPOET. Ever since the passing of the Scenery Preservation Act, 1903 (now consolidated in the Scenery Preservation Act, 1908), the question of scenery-preservation has received careful attention, and every endeavour has been made to administer the funds annually voted by Parliament out of the moneys provided by the Act in such a manner as to secure the best of the magnificent scenery for which New Zealand is celebrated, consistent with the claims of settlement and other valid grounds, and the need for economy in purchasing and maintaining the large areas that have been acquired and set apart. In former years many large tracts of rugged and picturesque country have been proclaimed under the Act, but the great and pressing demands upon the finances of the country since the outbreak of war have necessitated the strictest economy, and consequently during the past year very little land has been reserved for scenery-preservation purposes. In the Auckland District a feature of great natural beauty in the King-country known as the " Mangapohue natural bridge " has been gazetted and preserved from destruction, and in the Wellington District the well-known Wharite Mountain, at the back of Palmerston North, situated on the boundary between the Wellington and Hawke's Bay Districts, has also been proclaimed. A very beautiful section clothed with native bush, within a mile of Ohakune, has been added to the scenic reserves of the district, and, being situated close to the main road, will form an attractive sight to travellers in that locality. A fine little area of bush land in the suburbs of Levin has also been acquired, and is now under the control of the Levin Borough Council acting as a