7

C.—6

APPENDIX C. New Plymouth Scenic Reserves Board. Five meetings of the Board were held during the year, and in addition several inspections of the various reserves were made. Mr. R. W. J. Davies resigned from the Board during the year owing to his inability to attend meetings. Mr. V. C. Davies has been appointed to replace him, and lias rendered valuable assistance during his term of office. Pukerangiora Pa : The trees which were planted 011 this pa in 1924 have made excellent growth during the year. Further expenditure has been found necessary to cope with the fern and gorse, both on the site of the pa itself and on the road-line fronting same. Meeting of the Waters Reserve : Action was taken during the year to obtain control of the suspension bridge giving access to this reserve. Contributions towards the cost of repairs were obtained from the New Plymouth Borough Council, Taranaki County Council, Tourist and Expansion League, Taranaki Acclimatization Society, and the Taranaki Automobile Association. A subsidy of £25 was also obtained from the Scenery Preservation Fund. Arrangements had been made to dispose of the bridge to Mr. T. Alexander, of Wanganui, but he agreed to cancel the sale, and the work of renovation was then put in progress. Repairs have now been completed by the bridge overseer and staff of the Taranaki County Council. The thanks of the Board are due to the latter body for their assistance in carrying out the work, and to the District Engineer of the Public Works Department for supplying a very full report 011 the condition of the bridge, and complete plans and specifications for the repair work. It is proposed to further improve the bridge by running wire netting along the sides, thus making it absolutely safe for foot traffic. Additional authority will, however, have to be obtained before this work can be carried out. It was also found necessary to acquire a small area of 11 perches at the western end of the bridge in order to give the necessary access. The Mangorei Dairy Co. agreed to transfer this free of cost 011 condition that the right is reserved to them to convey cream across the bridge should this be found necessary in the future. Mr. Claude H. Weston has given his services gratuitously in regard to the legal expenses in connection with the transfer. Puketi Pa : Arrangements have been made to grant a lease of this pa to the New Plymouth High Schools Board for a further term of five years, at a nominal rental. A considerable expenditure is required each year by the lessees to cope with the suppression of weeds 011 this reserve. Pukemiro and Onaero Reserves : These were inspected during the year, and arrangements have been made to carry out repairs to the fencing, and also to plant trees along the western boundary of the Onaero Reserve. Koru Pa : This reserve is now under the control of the Board, the Native owners, Kehu Moepuke and her niece, having generously donated the pa-site to the Crown, in trust for reservation for historic purposes. The thanks of the Board and the public are due to Mr. W. J. Gray, of Okato, for his action in arranging this transfer. Awa te Take Pa : This pa was inspected in December last, and control has now been vested in the Board. Mr. Henry Cole, of Tikorangi, lias been appointed honorary inspector. It is proposed to have inspections made of Sections 17 and 19, Block VIII, Paritutu, a small reserve 011 the coast, at an early date, with a view to having them brought under the control of the Board. Okoke Pa : This reserve has been kept in good order by Mr. Bleaklev, the lessee, but some arrangement will have to be made in regard to fencing the boundaries, and pressure brought to bear on the adjoining owners to keep the land clear of weeds. Ratapihipihi Reserve : The open portion of this reserve is still under lease to Mr. A. R. Gudopp, who has done good work in clearing up the blackberry, &c. The thanks of the Board are due to the honorary inspectors who have been appointed to look after the reserves in their various districts. These are —Mr. S. Topless, who has control of the Pukemiro and Onaero Reserves; Mr. P. H. E. Surrey, of Pukerangiora Pa; Mr. A. R. Gudopp, of Ratapihipihi Reserve Mr. Henry Cole, of Awa-te-Take Pa Scenic Reserve ; and Mr. R. W. J. Davies, of the reserves in the Taranaki District generally. W. D. Armit, Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chairman of Scenic Reserves Board. APPENDIX D. Kapiti Island. The following is an extract from the caretaker's report for the year ended 31st Ma.rch, 1927. The Department is fortunate in having such an experienced and painstaking officer as Mr. Wilkinson in charge at Kapiti. Although the island is of course his first consideration, he is an enthusiastic student of the flora and fauna of the Dominion as a whole. H. W. C. Mackintosh, Commissioner of Crown Lands. Taken on the whole, the seasons of the past year were favourable to the growth of plant-life. Although during the early spring we experienced two severe snowstorms (a rare occurrence on Kapiti), and some of the trees, especially the mahoe and tree-ferns near the summit of the island, suffered severely, there is hardly any trace of the damage to be seen now,