C.—'lo

indicated that he expected the Board to seek further assistance from local bodies and from the public generally, and that the Government should not be relied upon entirely for financial supplies. It will be for the Board to consider the Hon. the Minister's wishes at the annual meeting. It is scarcely necessary to say that the Board is highly appreciative of the courteous and sympathetic reception accorded its representatives by the Hon. the Minister, and his ready and generous response to their claim for assistance. The most stimulating aspect is, of course, the knowledge that the Hon. the Minister appreciates the worth of the Park and the value of the Board's endeavours, and is prepared to encourage its activities in a practical way. Personnel. —Since our last report—although prior to the last annual meeting —the Board has been reappointed for a term of three years, and Messrs. K. G. Archer and J. D. Pascoe have been added to its strength. During the year Mr. J. F. Quinn, the Chairman of the Board, was transferred to Wellington, and consequently vacated his position on the Board. The Deputy Commissioner of Crown Lands, Mr. L. J. Poff, has acted as Chairman pending the arrival of Mr. N. C. Kensington, who succeeds Mr. Quinn. Professor R. Speight was on leave most of the year while he was abroad, but he has now returned. Meetings.—The Board met twice during the year, in April and September, and held its annual inspection on the 23rd June. Although a fourth meeting shpuld be held, there were several matters not ready for consideration in December, and it was thought best to defer the meeting. At the September meeting the Board fixed its programme of works for some time ahead, and this will be carried out as finance allows. The Grounds Committee, under Dr. McKay, has made several inspections, accompanied by Mr. M. J. Barnett, and work has thereby been carried out under adequate control. Township. —Commendable improvement continues to be made in the appearance of the allotments and buildings. Rents have come in very well, none of the arrears mentioned in the Statement of Accounts being due from township leases. There is every indication of some demand for new allotments, although inquirers are deterred by the information that there are no sections left in the main township. The big majority of the present leases expire on the 31st March, 1938, having run a period of seven years. The Board will soon have to decide its policy regarding the renewal of these leases. Sports. —The most unfavourable year since the inception of the Board was experienced this year. Snow conditions were again poor in the winter, and railway excursions were few and indifferently patronized. The summer months were marked for an inordinate amount of rain. The two clubs, the Canterbury Mountaineering Club and the Christchurch Ski Club, who centre their activities in the Park, seem not a whit discouraged. The former has erected a capacious and attractive club-house, and the latter has made additions to its hut in the Temple Basin. The construction of a tennis-court, which the Board subsidized, has proved a boon to residents and visitors. A club has been formed, and is active in controlling the game and maintaining the court. General. —The completion of the Waimakariri Bridge is one of the most important advances in the history of the Park. With the bridging of some smaller streams which is proceeding, the main road is free of any particular difficulties, and traffic is increasing considerably. This improved access has had a noticeably favourable effect on the use made of the Park. The memorial to Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson, the discoverer of the pass, and a foundation, member of the Board, has been finished, and an unveiling ceremony, to which the Board is invited, will be held on the 18th April. The destruction, by fire of the Bealey Hotel removes a famous landmark. To those who suffered by loss of life and property, the Board has tendered its sympathy. So far no steps have been taken by the Highways Board to straighten and widen the road leading into the township. The removal of the railway turntable ought to facilitate this. The survey for the hydro-electric power-lines from Canterbury to Westland has been completed, and the erection of the towers bearing the transmission-lines over the pass is to be undertaken immediately. The Board's Ranger (Mr. C. E. Warden) has submitted his annual report, and this is available to members. Thanks are tendered to Mr. M. J. Barnett for his continued supervision of work and his advice in various matters; to the Railways Department and its officers for courtesies in connection with supplies of tools ; to the public press for its steady encouragement and much-valued publicity ; to our Ranger and honorary rangers, in particular, Mr. and Mrs. R. Scott ; to Dr. William McKay in his capacity as Chairman of the Grounds Committee, to which position he continues to devote much time and thought ; to Messrs. W. A. Kennedy and J. D. Pascoe for their gifts of photographs for publicity purposes. Re post of the Grounds Committee. This has been compiled by Dr. William McKay, and is submitted hereunder : — " Since the last meeting of the Board in September, the weather has been of the worst description, constituting probably one of the most prolonged rainy periods ever recorded in the Park area. This has made outdoor work most difficult to carry out. The two works in the list considered of most importance by the Board were the Punchbowl Bridge over the Bealey River and the Alpine Rock Garden at the township. " Alpine Rockery. —The almost incessant wet weather made it impossible to commence this work until the beginning of February, when Mr. M. J. Barnett sent up three men, including a working foreman. Good progress has been made in spite of much broken time, so that already a good conception can be formed of the effect that will be produced on completion of the planting. Mr. Barnett has made several visits to the Park to overlook operations,

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