C.—G

far as possible, and appropriate action will be taken if any cases of unauthorized advertising come under notice. It may be mentioned that two County Councils which have never given any permission for advertising on the public roads under their control have consented to the Department removing and destroying trade posters or other advertisements affixed to any tree growing on a public road, and action in that direction will be taken by our field officers from time to time in the districts concerned. An application was received during the year for permission to mill timber on an area of some 275 acres of a well-known scenic reserve. The request was supported by arguments to the effect that the area concerned was somewhat remote from existing or prospective tourist routes ; that an ample scenic area would still be left; and that if permission were refused the mill concerned would have to close down and throw its staff out of employment. The Department declined to approve of the granting of milling rights, but, as it is possible that similar applications will be made in the future, it may be advisable to place on record the exact, position with respect to the cutting of timber on scenic reserves. Section 15 (b) of the Scenery Preservation Act, 1908, provides that every person is liable to a fine not exceeding £100 who cuts or removes any timber or bush on a scenic reserve without the written authority of the Minister. The language of the section implies that the Minister possesses the power of granting written authority to any person to cut or remove timber from a reserve ; but as the main object of the Act is the conservation and preservation of scenery, and as the destruction of native bush must necessarily tend in the opposite direction, it is clear that such power should be exercised only in very exceptional circumstances, and that no authority should be granted unless it is perfectly clear that the cutting and removal of timber will not in any way damage the scenic features of the particular reserve concerned. It is necessary from, time to time to deal with cases involving the removal of dead or fallen trees from reserves. Applications of this nature, however, usually concern merely an individual tree or so, and can reasonably be approved, provided every care is taken to prevent damage to the hush ; but the Department has yet to experience a case where the circumstances would warrant the milling of standing bush on a scenic reserve. The Department had the honour last year of publishing an article by Dr. L. Cockayne, C.M.G., F.R.S., on the vegetation and flora of the Rainbow Mountain Scenic Reserve. That article was widely appreciated, and is succeeded this year by an exceedingly valuable and interesting paper on the glacial scenic reserves of Westland, contributed by Dr. Cockayne in collaboration with Dr. E. Teiclielmann, of Hokitika. The country dealt with includes the Franz Josef Scenic Reserve of 48,500 acres, an adjoining reserve of 14,120 acres, an area of 61,000 acres surrounding and including the Fox Glacier, and an area of 64,000 acres farther south, including the watersheds of the Copeland and Twain Rivers and the upper reaches of the Karangarua River. The two last-mentioned areas are at present Crown land, but arrangements are in hand to have them permanently set aside under the provisions of the Scenery Preservation Act, and when this action has been completed the Dominion will possess in this chain of reserves a national asset of unsurpassed beauty and grandeur. The reservation of the Fox Glacier area had been decided upon some time ago, and the desirability of reserving an additional area farther south was brought under notice by Mr. A. P. Harper, the president of the New Zealand Alpine Club, who has carried out extensive explorations in South Westland, and whose enthusiasm for our alpine regions is well known throughout the Dominion. The paper, now published, deals in detail with the intensely interesting vegetation of this unique region, describes the excursions that may be made through the beautiful forest and on the glaciers and snowfields, and discusses the bird-life as it exists to-day. The illustrations are exceptionally fine, and the Department has prepared a special map, which it is hoped will add, if that were possible, to the interest and value of the article. The Department is fortunate in being able to arrange for the publication of an article of such outstanding interest, and confidently anticipates that it will attract widespread attention both in the Dominion and overseas. Appendices. The appendices to this report are listed hereunder :— A. Schedule of reserves made and reservations revoked during the year, accompanied by statement of expenditure. B. Report of the Scenery Preservation Board. C. The Glacial Scenic Reserves of Westland (Dr. L. Cockayne, C.M.G., F.R.S., and Dr. E. Teichelmann). D. Kapiti Island. E. Hawke's Bay Scenic Reserves. F. Taranaki Scenic Reserves, together with Report of the New Plymouth Scenic Reserves Board. G. Marlborough Scenic Reserves. H. Westland Scenic Reserves. I. Canterbury Scenic Reserves. J. Tapuinikau Pa.

4