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1916. NEW ZEALAND.

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

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

Sir, — Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, Ist May. 1916. I have the honour to report on the public domains of the Dominion for the year ended 31st December, 1915. At the commencement of the year under review there were 561 domains subject to the provisions of Part II of the Public Reserves and Domains Act, 1908. Seven new ones were made during the year, and the Cromwell Domain was vested in the Cromwell Borough Council. The number at the end of the year was therefore 567, containing a total area of 85,874 acres, of which 33,033 is in the Wanganui River Trust Domain. Fifty-seven domains are controlled by Commissioners of Crown Lands, and 510 by local Domain Boards appointed from time to time. From the reports of the Boards it is quite evident that the gradual improvement of the majority of these places of public recreation continues, and it is pleasing to note that in the cases where no new improvements are reported necessary maintenance-work has not been neglected. It has been the custom in the past to grant financial assistance to Boards controlling new domains in sparsely populated districts, and to Boards undertaking any special work, but this assistance has had to be discontinued except in the most pressing cases, owing to the war. A number of Boards have omitted to furnish reports as required by section 48 of the Public Reserves and Domains Act, 1908, and inquiries are being made with a view to ensuring compliance with the law. I have, kc, T, N. Bbodrick, Under-Secretary. The Right Hon. W. F. Massey, P.C., Minister of Lands.

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