C.—6.

Copeland and Twain Rivers. —Steps are in train to have set apart an area of 64,000 acres immediately to the south of the Fox Glacier region, and will include the watersheds of the Copeland and Twain Rivers and the upper source of the Karangarua River, together with some extent of subalpine region. In addition, and not the least important feature, the Copeland tracks traverse the area, crossing the Alps via Fitzgerald Pass into Canterbury and down the Hooker Glacier to Mount Cook Hermitage. This track already enjoys a certain amount of popularity, and only requires the further improvement of the Main South Road and a little more publicity to bring it into full recognition. Lake Kanieri. —This popular reserve, situated only twelve miles from Hokitika by a good metalled road, continues to attract an increasing number of visitors. Further roading is being carried out around the edge of the lake to give access to Dorothy Falls, with an ultimate outlet on to the Styx River. Dorothy Falls is also accessible by launch. Boating is becoming increasingly popular —to such an extent that measures were recently taken by the Board to exercise some form of control over the erection of boat-sheds on the shores of the lake, with the result that a number of boat-shed sites have been laid out in certain approved localities and are being readily taken up at small rentals. This course was found necessary not only from a scenic point of view, but also to ensure the non-pollution of the waters of the lake, which is the source of the Hokitika town water-supply. Quinnat salmon appear to be increasing in the lake, and some good fishing was obtained by local residents last season. Punahaiki Scenic Reserve. —With the completion of the Westport-Greymouth Coast Road this reserve is coming in for a large measure of popularity, the equable climate and the prolific growth of nikau-palms along the roadside endowing it with a semitropical appearance. The laminated rock formation, outcropping at some points, is to some extent unique, and is usually not allowed to miss the eye of the camera. A portion of the reserve was recently fenced to prevent damage to the bush by cattle, and some improvements were made on the track leading to the phenomenon known as the Blowhole. Lake Mahinapua —This reserve lies only a few miles to the southward of Hokitika, and, although on the Hokitika-Ross Railway, was only recently opened up by roal, and will now be accessible by car and enjoy much more popularity. Mahinapua Creek, the outlet for the lake, is being cleaned out and made accessible to launches, thus tending further to bring this picturesque little lake and its surroundings into full recognition. Some very fine stands of bush have from to time been reserved along the Main South Road, and the avenues formed by numbers of the colossal giants of the forest, with its verdant and prolific undergrowth, must be seen to be appreciated. In this direction the Department is particularly fortunate in having secured a very fine stand of bush on the Main South Road a few miles to the south of Ross for scenic purposes, which in the course of a year or two would otherwise have been milled out. Another pretty piece of bush, with tree-fern predominating, was secured at Barrytown, the acquisition being facilitated by the generosity of a Crown lessee, who permitted the area to be taken out of his lease without payment. Other reserves which might be mentioned generally are those which, owing to their isolation, are as yet little visited. To preserve, however, their natural scenery it was necessary to make early provision for their reservation, and they now only await adequate access to bring them into popularity and open up their natural beauties to the public. In conclusion, I desire to add that there are yet many isolated areas suitable for reservation in Westland, which are, however, at present secure from molestation, and will no doubt be set apart when the necessity arises.

APPENDIX I. CANTERBURY SCENIC RESERVES. (W. Stewart, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) In July, 1929, the Arthur Pass National Park Board was set up. This Board controls an area of 80,000 acres in Canterbury, together with 37,000 acres in the Westland district. The area taken over consisted of National Park reserve, forest reserve, and scenic ;"sserve. The Peel Forest .Reserve, comprising an area of 1,208 acres, is controlled by a special Board set up under special Act in 1926. Peel Forest is one of the finest stands of mixed rain forest in Canterbury. The Summit Road Scenic Reserves Board controls some twelve reserves totalling 1,212 acres, while the Port Hills - Akaroa Summit Road Public Trust controls a further seven areas, comprising 574 acres. These Port Hills reserves are dotted along the crest of the hills from Sumner to Akaroa. With the extension of the formation of the Summit Road these reserves are growing in popularity with the public, and the value and beauty of them is becoming more keenly appreciated. A scenic area of bush in South Canterbury is some 127 acres on the southern banks of the Haehae te Moana River. The area is controlled by a special Board. A portion containing 41 acres is in poor scrub, and the reservation over this area is being uplifted and the area added to an adjoining lease of part of the Four Peaks Settlement, and in exchange an area of 101 acres from the same lease is being added to the scenic reserve. The new area is in good mixed bush, and with the bush on the existing reserve will make one of the very popular bush resorts of the Geraldine district. The bush contains good specimens of totara, matai, rimu, and is in an excellent state of preservation.

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