c.—6.

1932. NEW ZEA L A N I).

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. SCENERY-PRESERVATION. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1932, TOGETHER WITH STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURE AND SCHEDULE OF LANDS ACQUIRED AND RESERVED DURING THE YEAR UNDER THE SCENERY PRESERVATION ACT.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 17 of the Scenery Preservation Act, 1908.

Sir, — Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, Ist August, 1932. I have the honour to submit herewith a report on scenery-preservation for the year ended 31st March, 1932. I have, kc., W. Robertson, Under-Secretary for Lands. The Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister in Charge of Scenery-preservation, Wellington.

REPORT,

Proclamations issued during the year setting apart land as scenic or historic reserves under the provisions of the Scenery Preservation Act covered an area of some 12,773 acres. In the North Auckland Land District arrangements were completed for an addition of 297 acres to the scenic reserve abutting on the majestic Bream Head and including Manaia Mountain, forming the promontory commanding the entrance to the Whangarei Harbour. The jagged peaks of Manaia Mountain and Bream Head comprise the outstanding natural features on that portion of the coast between Cape Rodney on the one hand and the Three Gables at Tutukaka on the other. The total area of this reserve has now been extended to approximately 675 acres, stretching along the northern foreshore of the harbour from Smugglers Bay to the Bream Head. The inspiring spectacle of these dominant sentinels and the rugged grandeur and imposing scenic beauty of the bush-clad ravines of this locality evoked especial mention by Captain Cook in his journal. The whole area is clothed in valuable natural bush, including some handsome stands of ancient puriri, the preservation of which is much to be desired. The only other land reserved in this district was a small area of 1J acres lying into and forming a natural corner of the famous Trounson Kauri Park. Reservations in the Auckland Land District included the magnificent bush areas along the shores of Lake Okataina, and also some fine reserves in the Waione Block on the Rotoiti-Okataina Road. Reference was made in the report for the year ending 31st March, 1921, to the intention of the Native owners to present these areas to the Crown, and the Department is now pleased to report that the matter has been satisfactorily completed. With regard to the Okataina areas provisions relating to the cession by the Native owners to the Crown were set forth in section 20 of the Native Land Amendment, and Native Land Claims Adjustment Act, 1921-22. It was provided that the lands to be ceded should be determined by the Native owners or their representatives, and should be defined by the Crown by survey. The areas were duly surveyed and the plans showing the reserves were approved by certain of the leading men on behalf of the owners. A Proclamation was then prepared declaring the various areas, covering a total of 2,970 acres 3 roods 33 perches, to have been duly ceded to the Crown by the Native owners, and upon the gazettal of this document on the 4th June, 1931, the lands vested in the Crown as scenic reserves subject to the Scenery Preservation Act, 1908. The matter of the management of the ceded areas was dealt with in section 32 of the Native Land Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment Act, 1928, which provided that the GovernorGeneral might vest the control of the reserves in a special Board of Control, consisting of not less than six persons, of whom five were to be members of the Ngati-Tarawhai Subtribe. The Board of Control was appointed in April, 1932, and regulations prescribing its practice and procedure have also been issued. The appointment was made under section 17 of the Native Purposes Act, 1931, which has replaced the previous legislation mentioned above.