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1928. N EW ZEALAND

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. SCENERY-PRESERVATION: REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1928, 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.

Sir, — Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, 31st July, 1928. I have the honour to submit herewith report on scenery-preservation for the year ended 31st March, 1928. I have, &c, J. B. Thompson, Under-Secretary for Lands. The Hon. A. 1). McLeod, Minister in Charge of Scenery-preservation, Wellington.

REPORT. The total area of reservations made during the year was some 11,786 acres. In the North Auckland Land District an area of 1 acre 3 roods 28 perches on the banks of the Waima River was taken for scenic and historic purposes by arrangement with the Methodist Mission Property Trustees, who owned the land. The area contains an exceptionally large and beautiful oak-tree, reputed to have been planted by the early missionaries ; and the spot is a favourite picnicplace for people of the district. Thanks are due to the Mission Property Trustees for the generous manner in which they met the desire of the local people to have this particular area reserved for all time. Arrangements are being made by the Department for the appointment of a special Board of local residents to control the reserve. Several reservations were effected in the Auckland Land District. On the Kiritchere Road an area of 910 acres of Crown land, together with 1,069 acres of provisional State forest, was set aside for scenic purposes. The bush on these areas is described as being particularly beautiful, while the land itself is too steep for farming. Legislative authority was necessary in connection with the settingaside of the provisional State forest portion, and this was provided by section 14 of the Reserves and other Lands Disposal Act, 1927. An addition was made to the many fine reserves in the Rotoma district by the setting-aside of a further area of 426 acres of Crown land. This particular reservation will preserve a beautiful stretch of bush lands, and will materially add to the already considerable scenic attractions of the locality. An area of 110 acres adjoining the Recreation and Hot Springs Reserves at Te Aroha was reserved during the year, while the acquisition was completed of some 3,849 acres surrounding and including the Maungatautari Mountain. The bulk of the funds for the purchase of the last-mentioned reserve was provided by the Crown, the remainder being found b\ the Matamata, Waipa, and Waikato County Councils, the Cambridge Borough Council, and the Leamington

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