3

C.—6

Supervision and Inspection or Reserves. During the year special Scenic Boards were appointed or reappointed as follows : the Birkenhead Borough Council to control the Birkenhead Reserve ; Northcote Borough Council for the Northcote Reserve ; Raetihi Borough Council for the Raetihi Reserves ; Rangitikei County Council for the Rangiwaea and Silverhope Reserves ; Rangataua Town Board for the Mangaehuehu Reserve ; Hutt County Council for the Silverstream Reserve; Nelson City Council for the Ururakau Reserve ; Dunedin City Council for the Evansdale Glen Reserve ; Edendale Town Board for the Edendale Reserves ; Southland Electric-power Board for the Lake Monowai Reserve ; and the Ruapekapeka Pa, Kirk's Bush, Pukaahu Hot Springs, Pukeamaru Range, Pelorus Bridge, Mount Balloon Hut, Haehae-te-Moana, and Papatowai Scenic Boards to control their respective reserves. Four warrants were issued, placing additional areas under the control of the New Plymouth, Pelorus Bridge, and Summit Road Scenic Reserves Boards, and vacancies in the membership of various Boards were filled as required. Appointments of honorary Inspectors were made as follows: Mr. C. S. Andrews, for the Ngougotaha Mountain Reserve ; Mr. H. Cole, for the Awa-te-Take Pa Reserve ; Mr. R. W. J. Davies, for various Taranaki reserves ; Messrs. F. P. Archer, P. E. Mills, C. H. Mills, A. W. Nisbet, and H. C. Christian, for the Tennyson Inlet and other reserves ; and Messrs. J. S. Winstan'ley and J. A. Perano, for the Queen Charlotte Sound Reserves. The system of vesting control of scenic reserves in local authorities or special Boards constituted under the Scenery Preservation Act has been continued during the year, and is giving very good results, as is also the appointment of honorary Inspectors for the purpose of safeguarding reserves and reporting acts of trespass, &c. The Department is pleased to accept the help and co-operation of all who have the interests of scenery-preservation at heart, and the appointment of Inspectors and of local Boards of control affords enthusiasts an opportunity of performing useful service of considerable value to the public and the State. It is recognized that in the great majority of cases the welfare of our scenic reserves rests almost wholly with the public, and on this account the growing appreciation of the beauty and value of our Native flora and fauna that is to be noted throughout the Dominion is greatly to be welcomed. As much supervision of reserves as possible has been carried out by departmental officers during the year, and officers of the State Forest Service have also afforded valuable assistance. The members of the Scenery Preservation Board carried out an inspection of various reserves in the Marlborough Sounds, and, in addition, the Chairman and Mr. B. M. Wilson looked into various matters of scenic interest in the Nelson and Westland Districts. General. Statements of accounts and balance-sheet are attached hereto. No attempt has been made to show the real value of the national asset as represented by our scenic reserves, as it is manifestly impossible to assess the monetary value of all the beauties and wonders of Nature with which the Dominion is so richly endowed. Appendices. Attached to this report are the following appendices A. Schedule of Reserves made and Reservations revoked during the Year, accompanied by Statement of Expenditure. B. Report of the Scenery Preservation Board. C. Report of the New Plymouth Scenic Reserves Board. D. Kapiti Island. E. Marlborough Scenic Reserves. F. Summit Road Scenic Reserves.