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1928. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. PUBLIC DOMAINS OF NEW ZEALAND (ANNUAL REPORT ON).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington. 31st July, 1928. Sir — I have the honour to report on the public domains of the Dominion for the year ended 31st March, 1928. Thirteen new domains, totalling 105 acres, were brought under the provisions of Part II of the Public Reserves and Domains Act, 1908, during the year. Boards have been appointed to control eleven of the new areas, and appointments will be made in due course for the other two. Additions totalling some 80 acres were also made to sixteen existing domains. The total number of domains administered under Part II of the Act is now 691, comprising a total area of approximately 69,000 acres. The various Commissioners of Crown Lands administer forty-six of these domains, 246 are controlled by local authorities acting as Domain Boards, while the remainder are under the care of local Boards appointed from time to time. As usual, a number of matters affecting public domains were dealt with in the Reserves and other Lands Disposal Act. The reservation over the Mahurangi Domain, which was not used for recreation purposes, and which had been leased from time to time, was cancelled, and the land declared available for disposal under the Land Act. The proceeds from the sale thereof are to be applied, with the prior approval of the Minister, in the purchase of other land for recreation purposes. Authority was granted the Mount Albert Borough Council, which is also the Mount Albert Domain Board, to raise a special loan, subject to a poll of ratepayers, of a sum not exceeding £25,000, the proceeds of such loan to be applied in improving the domain. The reservation over portion of the Massey Park Domain, being a small triangular area of 1 acre 3 roods which proved unsuitable for recreation purposes, was cancelled, with a view to the land being sold and the proceeds applied towards the purchase of a more suitable area. Portion of the Mount Wellington Domain, containing an area of 1 rood 34-9 perches, was exchanged for an area of 1 acre 1 rood 1 perch of an adjacent quarry reserve. The quarry adjoins the domain, and in order that it may be worked to the best advantage it was found necessary that a small portion of the domain should be added to the quarry. In exchange an unused portion of the quarry reserve was added to the domain. A distinct advantage of the exchange is that the domain obtains additional access from a public road. The reservation over the Pakiri Domain, which had proved unsuitable for recreation purposes, was cancelled, and the land declared available for disposal under the Land Act. An area of 5 acres, which was acquired some years ago by the Pakiri residents, and held in trust for the purpose of a public recreation-ground for the district, has been vested in the Crown as a recreation reserve, the local residents agreeing to this. A local Domain Board is now being appointed to control the new domain. The proceeds from the sale of the old domain are to be applied towards the maintenance and improvement of the new area. Authority was granted for the cancellation of the reservation over the Ormond Domain. The land is not considered suitable for recreation purposes, and another area in the district is being acquired as a public domain. Authority was granted the Carnival Park Domain Board to apply portion of its funds towards the improvement of roads and footpaths giving access to the domain.