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APPENDIX B. Report of the Scenery Preservation Board. The Scenery Preservation Board comprises the following members : Messrs. W. T. Neill (SurveyorGeneral), Chairman ; B. M. Wilson (General Manager, Tourist and Health Resorts); Chief Judge, R. M. Jones (Under-Secretary, Native Department) ; and the Commissioner of Crown Lands for the district in which the lands being dealt with are situated. Meetings were held in the office of the Surveyor-General, Wellington, on the 20th May, 1924, when matters in the North Auckland, Auckland, Gisborne, Taranaki, Wellington, Nelson, Marlborough, Westland, and Otago Land Districts were dealt with ; and on the 21st June, 1924, North Auckland Land District. Twenty-five recommendations were submitted by the Board to His Excellency the GovernorGeneral for the acquisition and reservation of scenic and historic areas throughout the Dominion under the Scenery Preservation Act. The Board's Secretary, Mr. W. R. Jourdain, retired from the Service on the 31st December. He was appointed Secretary in 1906, and during his long term of office always displayed a keen interest in all matters relating to scenery-preservation. He has been succeeded as Secretary by Mr. S. Gambrill. W. T. Neill, Chairman.

APPENDIX C. Marlborouuh Scenic Reserves. The past summer was rather wetter than usual, and probably on that account the reserves escaped damage by fire. The beautiful reserves along the Blenheim-Kaikoura-Canterbury main highway are a great asset to the country, and are being carefully watched and protected, as they are a great source of pleasure to the hundreds of people who annually picnic and camp in them. A systematic inspection of the whole of the scenic reserves in Marlborough has been carried out during the year, and it is pleasing to note that in no case was there any evidence of vandalism. I wish to place on record my high appreciation of the long and faithful services rendered to the Department by the late Mr. Francis Auchenleck, who died very suddenly in December last. He was for many years honorary Inspector of the Hundalee Reserves, and for years previous to his appointment exercised a fatherly interest in conserving the natural beauties of the whole of that part of the coast. J. Stevenson, Commissioner of Crown Lands.

APPENDIX D. North Auckland Scenic Reserves. During the past year 1 was able to personally inspect many of the scenic reserves in this district and a great many of the historical spots in the Bay of Islands and Hokianga districts, including Marsden Cross, the spot where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed, site of the first Government House. All these were reported on with a view to their permanent reservation. As outlined in my last report, I put in hand some of the precautions considered necessary to safeguard the magnificent Trounson Kauri Park. A fire which swept through it in March, after an exceptionally dry summer, showed that such necessary precaution had been too long delayed. Owing to financial reasons, we were late in getting to work on the projected precaution, and although damage was done to a portion of the park it is nothing to what might have happened. The forest guard and his mates worked heroically and saved the situation, and I trust and believe that we shall never be in such a dangerous position again. Eventually a strip round practically the whole of the boundary will need to be cleared and grassed. Providing a fire-break appears to be the only satisfactory way in which to cope with the danger from fire. The bridge over the Waima Stream having now been constructed, motor-cars can get into this reserve from the railway-station, and Mr. Trounson, sen., has just given an extra open area that will be excellent for parking cars and for picnics, &c. A new bridge for pedestrian traffic through the reserve is being constructed, and we hope soon to have a motor drive right alongside the eastern edge of the park, from the railway-station on the south to the caretaker's house on the north. I also visited the very beautiful Mangamuka Scenic Reserve, at the head of the Hokianga Inlet, on the way to Mangamuka. This reserve is conspicuous for the many shades of green that occur. In addition to the usual amount in the bush in other places, we have numerous karaka, puriri, and many beautiful kowhai. A visit of inspection was also made to the beautiful kauri forest at the foot of the Waitakerei Falls and Cascade Creek, which is being acquired, and which will, with the adjacent open country, make an ideal scenic reserve for the people of Auckland and the numerous tourists that will some day visit it. The access roads need improving, and a splendid drive can be made from Henderson towards Nihotapu, and thence right along the main range to Pukematekeo Trig, down to the new resort, where golf, tennis, swimming, and all other sports can be indulged in when the final scheme is carried out. At present the roads are obsolete and need revising, as this land has become valuable as a health and scenic resort.