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Session 11. 1918. 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 of His Excellency.

Sir, — Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, 6th June, 1918. I have the honour to report on the public domains of the Dominion for the year ended 31st December, 1917. There are now 576 domains administered under Part II of the Public Reserves and Domains Act, 1908, comprising a total area of 85,155 acres, including the Wanganui River Trust Domain of 33,033 acres. During the year under review four new domains, containing a total area of 87 acres, were constituted and controlling Domain Boards appointed. The appointment of one Domain Board was revoked. Five hundred and twenty-nine of the domains mentioned above are controlled by Domain Boards appointed from time to time, and forty-seven are controlled by the Commissioners of Crown Lands until local Domain Boards can be obtained. Public domains are not used for sports and pastimes to the same extent as in pre-war times owing to the absence of so many young men from the Dominion on active service ; and, owing to the financial conditions created by the war and to the scarcity of suitable labour and material, Domain Boards, generally speaking, are not proceeding with improvement-works at present. In some cases, however, necessary improvements have been effected personally by the Domain Board members, and in practically every case the domains are being maintained in good order. Some Boards appear to take little interest in the domains under their control, and are dilatory in supplying the returns required by law. On the whole the position with regard to the public domains of the Dominion may be regarded as satisfactory. I have, Ac, T. N. Brodrick, Under-Secretary. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Minister of Lands.

Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (800 copies), £1 ss.

Authority : Marcus F. Marks, Government Printer, Wellington.—1918.

Price 3d.]