a—io.

The Auckland Farmers' Freezing Co., Ltd., very generously donated an area of approximately 15 acres at Moerewa as a public domain., The land is very suitable for recreation purposes, and has been placed under the control of a Domain Board of local residents. The control of portion of the foreshore at Tomahawk,. Dunedin, was vested in the local Domain Board under the provisions of section 158 of the Harbours Act, 1923. The Eeserves and other Lands Disposal Act, 1930, dealt with two matters affecting public domains, and requiring special legislation. Authority was provided for the Crown, with the consent of the Palmerston North City Council, to grant to the Wanganui Education Board a lease of portion of the Palmerston North Domain as a site for swimming-baths for use primarily by the children attending the Hokowhitu School. The area concerned is approximately half an acre, and the general public are to have the right to use the baths at certain hours of the day. The Rahotu Domain Board was empowered to pay compensation, not exceeding £50, to the former lessee of portion of the domain. The lease granted did not provide for compensation ; but the lessee, with the knowledge and approval of the Board, effected certain improvements which increased the value of the land for leasing purposes, and for which the Board agreed to pay reasonable compensation. After full investigation it was considered equitable that the Board should be empowered to honour its arrangement with the lessee, and legislative authority was provided accordingly. PART lI.—NATIONAL PARKS. No new parks were constituted during the year, but various areas of Crown land and reserves were added to the Arthur Pass National Park under section 71 of the Public Reserves, Domains, and National Parks Act, 1928. Certain small subdivisions in the Arthur's Pass Township were also added to this park under the authority of section 8 of the Reserves and other Lands Disposal Act, 1930. Some of the sections had been let on temporary tenancies by the Land Board as sites for huts and cottages ; but the Park Board has now been granted full control, with power to lease sections upon such terms and conditions as the Minister approves. Arthur's Pass is rapidly becoming a popular resort, and it is considered desirable that the Board should have authority over the township area, situated as it is in the heart of the park, so as to effectively control the land and regulate the leasing of the subdivisions. Extracts from the annual reports of the Tongariro, Egmont, Arthur Pass, and Peel Forest Boards are appended hereto.

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