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1934. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. PUBLIC DOMAINS AND NATIONAL PARKS OF NEW ZEALAND (ANNUAL REPORT ON).

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

Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, Ist September, 1934. Sib,— I have the honour to submit herewith a report on the public domains and national parks of the Dominion for the year ended 31st March, 1934. I have, &c., W. Robertson, The Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister of Lands. ' Under-Secretary for Lands.

REPORT.

PART I,— public domains. At the 31st March, 1934, the total number of public domains administered under the provisions of Part II of the Public Reserves, Domains, and National Parks Act, 1928, was 765, covering a total area of 75,278 acres. Forty-three of these domains are controlled by the various Commissioners of Crown Lands, 273 are controlled by local authorities acting as Domain Boards, and the remaining 449 are under the control of local Boards appointed from time to time. During the year eight new domains, with a total area of 198 acres, were reserved and brought under Part II of the Act. Boards were appointed to control six of the new areas, and at the close of the period under review arrangements were in hand for the control of the other two. Additions, totalling 74 acres, were also made to eleven existing domains. Of a few of the more interesting reserves set apart during the year brief mention may be made of the following : At Coes Ford, on the Selwyn River, an area of some 40 acres was made a public domain and placed under the control of a widely representative Board of Control. The area consists mainly of the usual Canterbury river-bed land partly covered with willows. There is a large swimming-pool in the river with a permanent spring-board, and severaL clear pieces of ground fairly well grassed and suitable for games and sports. The place has been a favourite picnic spot for many years, and is extremely well patronized by the public during the summer months; At Waitarere Beach, near Levin, the Department controlled two recreation reserves, totalling some 15 acres, which had been vested in the Crown on the subdivision of private property into township allotments. The residents there made representations that the reserves should be brought under local control, and the Department was very pleased to make the necessary arrangements. Ihe beach is accessible by a first-class metal road, and the bathing and fishing are very good. An area of some 16 acres near the mouth of the Wanganui River was made a public domain and placed under the control of the Wanganui City Council. The land had been set apart many years ago as a Landguard Battery Reserve, but not being required for defence purposes the old reservation was cancelled in 1932. The land is situated on a high elevation near the Wanganui Airport, and is suitable for picnic purposes as well as being a natural vantage ground for the viewing of air pageants. The Department was unable, owing to lack of funds, to provide any assistance in the way of grants or subsidies for the purchase of recreation areas in districts where no provision has been made for public recreation-grounds and where suitable areas of Crown land are no longer available for reservation. Orders in Council were issued appointing fifty-eight Boards to control domains for further terms, while fifty-seven vacancies on various Boards were filled by the appointment of suitable persons nominated by the residents of the various districts concerned. Additional members were appointed to the Ruawai, Cambridge, Tangimoana, and Motutara Domain Boards. Other documents issued included warrants authorizing the erection of public halls on the Mangamingi, Hatuma, and Mairangi Bay Domains, and Warrants increasing the number of on which charges for admission may be made m the cases of the Taihape Oval and Dannevjrke Domains. Permission was also granted to several Domain Boards to increase the charges for admission to their domains on special occasions during the year. Ten sets of new by-laws were approved.

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