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1938. 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, Sir, — ■ Wellington, 30th June, 1938. 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, 1938. I have, &c., W. Roi3.ertson, The. Hon. Frank Langstone, Minister of Lands. Under-Secretary for Lands.

REPORT. PART I.—PUBLIC DOMAINS. At the 31st March, 1938, the total number of public domains administered under the provisions of Part II of the Public Reserves, Domains, and National Parks Act, 1928, was 789, covering a total area of 75,779 acres. Fifty-two of these domains are controlled by the various Commissioners of Crown Lands, 255 are controlled by local authorities acting as Domain Boards, while the remaining 482 are controlled by local Boards appointed from time to time. During the year eleven new domains, with a total area of 183 acres, were reserved and brought under Part II of the Act, and arrangements made for their control. Additions totalling 357 acres were also made to twenty existing domains. The new domains comprised the following : — (a) An area of 5 acres at One Tree Point, Whangarei, now known as the One Tree Point Domain. (b) An area of 2 acres 1 rood 10 perches on the Church Mission Block at Matakawau, now known as the Matakawau Domain. (c) An area of 5 acres in the Kaitaia Town District, now known as the Tangonge Domain. This area has been placed under the control of the Kaitaia Town Board. (d) An area of 1 acre 1 rood 17-8 perches in Tairua Village, now known as the Tairua Domain. Tennis-courts are being constructed on the reserve. The land was settlement land, and the Department is arranging for the payment of an appropriate sum to the Land for Settlements Account on account of the capital value of the area. (e) An area of 5 acres 3 roods 3 perches at Waimarama, Hawke's Bay, now known as the Waimarama Domain. This domain has been placed under the control of the Hawke's Bay County Council. (f) An area of 12 acres 1 rood 32 perches at Clifton, now known as the Clifton No. 2 Domain. This area was donated by the late Mr. F. L. Gordon, the Department paying the costs of survey and also portion of the legal charges incurred in connection with the transfer of the land to the Crown. A generous donation of £100 was made by Mr. G. Husheer, of Napier, towards the cost of fencing and the erection of bathing-sheds, and other improvements. Local interest in the new domain is very keen, and the Domain Board appointed includes representatives of the Napier and Hastings Borough Councils and of the Hawke's Bay County Council. The domain is a favourite picnic spot, and is also a stopping-place for visitors to the Cape Kidnapper Bird Sanctuary a little farther along the coast.

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