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1939. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. SCENERY PRESERVATION. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1939, 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.

Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, Ist August, 1939. Sir, — I have the honour to submit herewith a report on scenery preservation for the year ended 31st March, 1939. I have, &c., R. G. Macmorran, Under-Secretary for Lands. The Hon. Frank Langstone, Minister in Charge of Scenery Preservation, Wellington.

REPORT. Areas set apart during the year by Proclamation as scenic or historic reserves under the Scenery Preservation Act covered a total area of 16,905 acres. In the North Auckland Land District an area of 40 acres was added to the Bream Head Reserves at the entrance to Whangarei Harbour. Reference was made in a previous report to the gift by Captain G. Humphreys-Davies of an area of bush land near Clevedon. This matter has now been completed by the transfer of 99 acres 3 roods 15 perches to the Crown and by the setting-aside of this area as a scenic reserve. The gift area, which is wholly in native bush, is ring-fenced, and will make a most valuable reserve in a district where most of the bush has been cleared in the interests of closer settlement of the land. At the request of Captain Humphreys-Davies the reserve has been named " Te Morehu Scenic Reserve " and dedicated to the memory of a faithful and respected Native friend of the donor. A bronze tablet bearing a suitable inscription in raised lettering is being placed in position at the entrance to the reserve. A valuable addition was made to the Kirk's Bush Scenic Reserve on the Great South Road at Papakura by the purchase of an area of 1J acres, which has had the effect of squaring up the boundaries of that particularly delightful beauty-spot. Provision has been made for fencing the additional area, and the Board controlling the reserve has arrangements in hand for cleaning up the land and planting the open spaces in native trees. Of the total purchase price of £325, the sum of £135 was contributed by the Papakura Town Board and prominent residents of the district, the balance being found by the Department. By arrangement with the State Forest Service an area of 382 acres of provisional State forest reserve in the Awakino watershed was set apart as a scenic reserve. The area comprises one of the few remaining pieces of bush land within easy distance of Dargaville, and has considerable value for water-conservation as well as for scenic purposes.

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