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1930. NEW ZE A LAND

TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD.

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

Sir, — Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, 30th June, 1930. I have the honour to submit to you the report of the Tongariro National Park Board, covering its operations during the year ended 31st March, 1930. I have, &c, J. B. Thompson, Chairman, Tongariro National Park Board. The Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister of Lands.

REPORT. In presenting this report it may not be out of place to again refer to the wise policy pursued by this Dominion in setting apart national parks and scenic and other reserves for the enjoyment of the present and future generations. In the July number of the " Geographical Review,' , ptiblished by the American Geographical Society, is an article dealing with the book written by Mr. James Cowan, F.R.G.S., and published by the Board. The following extract taken from the review published by the society is of particular interest :— " The Tongariro National Park is situated in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand, half way between Wellington and Auckland, about 150 miles from each. It covers an area of almost 250 square miles, representing, however, only 6 per cent, of the national-park area of New Zealand, which totals over two and half million acres. This is virtually one-third of the area of the national parks in the United States. It is perhaps fair to say that no other country of the world has so great a proportion of its area devoted to national parks and forests as New Zealand has. Not even the United States can boast so great a variety of physiographic and geological features so splendidly preserved in her public play-grounds." The Chateau. With the opening of the Chateau at Whakapapa an important stage was reached in connection with the development of the park. The building, a brief description of which was given in the report for the previous year, was completed by the Ist August, 1929, and, considering its size and elaborate nature, there seems little doubt it was erected in record time. The architect (Mr. H. Hall, architect and structural engineer, of Timaru) and the builders (the Fletcher Construction Co.) are to be congratulated upon the skill and organization displayed. New Zealand now has in the Chateau a luxurious hotel built on modern lines and quite up to the standard to be found in any part of the world. The Chateau is owned and operated by the Tongariro Park Tourist Co., Ltd., under a ground lease from the Board and subject to conditions which the Board has imposed in the public interest governing the Chateau.