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Warden's Report. Mr. J. Cullen, 1.5.0., Warden of the park, in his annual report, remarks as follows :— " About the middle of last November a series of scrub and fern fires were started 011 the eastern slopes of Tongariro Mountain and destroyed a considerable area of scrub and fern country. Some of these fires when started were within the park boundary and others were outside it. These fires appeared to have been wilfully caused by some persons who were tramping on the mountain-side. I happened to be fishing at the Tongariro River at the time these fires started, and saw them started in six or seven different localities. Other fires were set going along the northern face of the mountain and travelled along the faces of the foothills for several miles, burning some of the Native bush on their way. " About the middle of August a fire started in that portion of the Military Reserve just west of the main road and bounded by the Tawhai Stream 011 the south, the Whakapapa-iti on the west, and the Ngatakutai Stream 011 the north; the frontage to the Waimarino-Tokaanu Road was one mile and the depth to the Whakapapa-iti Stream two miles. All vegetation and trees within the area were completely destroyed. The weather had been very dry at the time, and lam of opinion the fire was caused by some one in a passing car throwing out the end of a cigar still alight. The winter sports were 011 at the Chateau at that time, which was the cause of a continuous stream of cars passing to and fro to the Chateau. Luckily, the wind was from the north-east at the time ; had it been from southerly or westerly direction the fire would have crossed the road and burned all the area up to the Haunted Whare. I was at my cottage at the time the fire started. Bird-life in the native bush is being destroyed by cats that are wild in the bush. The team of bullocks that have been destroying native shrubs in the bush are still allowed to wander in the park. Deer continue to come and go between the park and Kakaramea and Pihanga Mountains on the north and the Kaimanawas on the east." Tramway License through Park Land near Ohakune. In 1930 a license for tramway in favour of Messrs. Bennett and Punch was granted (in conjunction with the Department of Lands and Survey) partly over Crown land and partly over National Park land. The tramway is situated to the east of the Mangawhero River and traverses a portion of the park near the Ohakune Railway-station. The annual rental fixed under the license for the park land was £10. In May, 1937, the license expired, and the Land Board resolved to grant a new license for a term of seven years over the Crown land. As the reports indicated that the company will require the tramway access for a considerable period in connection with its sawmilling operations on lands adjacent to the park, the Board resolved to grant a further right for seven years at the same annual rental. The departmental inspecting officers report that steam locomotives are not being used 011 the tram-line, and that the bush on the National Park has not suffered in any way through the exercise of the right granted by the Park Board. Resignation of Mr. J. B. Thompson, C.8.E., from Board. It is with regret that the Board announces the resignation of Mr. J. B. Thompson, C.8.E., as a member of the Board. Mr. Thompson was appointed Chairman of the Board upon its reconstitution under the Tongariro National Park Act, 1922, and continued in that capacity until his retirement from the Public Service 011 30th April, 1931. He was reappointed as a member of the Board on the 7th September, 1931. During his whole period of office Mr. Thompson took a keen and active interest in the welfare of the park, and his services were highly appreciated by the members of the Board. EGMONT NATIONAL PARK BOARD. (W. C. Weston, Chairman.) It is my duty to record the work of the Egmont National Park Board for the year endinc 31st, March, .1938. I think members may again congratulate themselves upon a year of progress. There has, undoubtedly, been a greatly increased public interest in the work of the Board and in the welfare of the reserve, upon which Taranaki is so dependent for its continued fertility and prosperity. Finance.—Finance has been the great difficulty during the year. The deadlock with the Government over the upkeep of the roads in the reserve and the question of the repayment of the £3,000 loan on the North Egmont Road is no nearer a solution. Seeing that the protection of the reserve is. of such importance and value to Taranaki, the Government, in the absence of joint help from the local bodies surrounding the mountain, might well find this necessary assistance out of the Consolidated Fund. Unfortunately, whilst the impasse continues, the Government is also withholding any further financial assistance for the routine work of the Board and the maintenance of the area of 78,922 acres which it controls. To say the least, this is most disheartening to members, who are so deeply interested in the protection of the tree and bird life of this wonderful reserve. This year local bodies have, without exception, made their annual contribution to the Board, and, in addition, the four Power Boards deriving their water-supply from the reserve have for the first time contributed, generously I think, to the Park Board's funds. During the year just ended, in spite of appeals to Ministers, no financial help whatever has been received from the Government, and as the Board has no endowments or fixed revenue of any kind the position is most unsatisfactory. Unless Government help is received during the next month or so it will be necessary to dispense with the services of the ranger.

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