c.-o

1919 NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. SCENERY-PRESERVATION. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1919; 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.

Bm. Department of ijands and Survey, Wellington, 16th June, 1919. I Lave the honour to submit herewith report on scenery-preservation for the twelve months ended the 31st March, 1919. I have, &c, T. N. Bbodrick, Under-Secretary for Lands. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Minister in Charge of Scenery-preservation, Wellington.

EEPOKT. Reservations. During the war operations under the Scenery Preservation Act, as stated in previous reports, were circumscribed, and during the last financial year very few areas were acquired. Some reservations were, however, made, and are detailed in Appendix A. comprising the following :- Auckland Land District. —An area of 86 acres on the northern side of the Whangaroa arm of Lake Rotoma. This is a very pretty piece of bush adjoining the previous scenery reserve that was made in the locality, and contains a fine display of ferns. It is in view of the Matata -Whakatane Road, ti nd its reservation will now preserve the best of the scenery in the locality. A small area of 8 acres in the Omapere district was acquired by means of exchange. This land consists of half fern and balance of heavy mixed bush situated, near falls in the Waihoanga Stream. The scenery is picturesque and most suitable for reservation. A very necessary reservation was that of an area, of Native land on the slopes of Ngongotaha Mountain, overlooking Rotorua. From the top of this mountain there is a magnificent view of the whole of the surrounding scenery, and, although an area of 282 acres around the top of the mountain had been previously purchased as a reserve, the bush on the Rotohokahoka Block, through which the winding mountain-path ran, was also necessary as an addition to the reserve so as to enable the mountain and its pretty bush to be satisfactorily protected. The ascent of the Ngongotaha, Mountain is one of the attractions of the Rotorua, district, being within easy motor access of the town, and consequently the reserve will be much appreciated. Nelson Land District.—-An area of 267 acres of land were acquired and reserved. It forms the steep bush-clad sea-face from Totaranui Bay to the northern point of Waiharakeke Hay, and is of great beauty as seen from the seaward approach,

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