c.—io.

Further particulars in regard to these areas will be given in next year's report. Grants and subsidies totalling £910 for various improvement purposes were granted to twenty-five Domain Boards during the year, while arrangements were also made for the diversion of funds standing at the credit of certain domains for use on other domains with no regular source of revenue. The Pohara Domain Board was authorized to receive financial assistance during the year by the action of the shareholders in the Golden Bay Bacon, Pork, and Poultry Curing and Freezing Co., Ltd. (in Liquidation), agreeing to the sum of £136 lis. lid. held by the Bank of New Zealand to the company's credit being paid to the Board for expenditure on the domain. The payment of the amount to the Board was authorized by section 15 of the Reserves and other Lands Disposal Act, 1940. PART lI.—NATIONAL PARKS. No new national-park areas were set aside during the year, nor were any additions made to existing parks. The following grants were made for general administration and improvement purposes : — £ Egmont National Park .. .. .. .. .. '250 Arthur Pass National Park .. .. .. .. .. 150 £400 A patrolman was again appointed for the season to supervise camp-sites in the Sounds National Park and to generally keep a watch for fires: Owing no doubt mainly to petrol restrictions, the number of campers was considerably less than in previous seasons. In anticipation of the early completion of the Homer Tunnel, it was considered advisable to make some provision for a camp-site near Milford Sound.. A suitable area has been decided upon, and it is intended that the area be placed under the control of the Tourist Department. Cats are still noticed in the park at times, but the patrolman is taking all possible steps to eradicate this menace to bird-life. Stoats and weasels are frequently noticed on roads and tracks. The unauthorized keeping of dogs in the area is being effectively kept in check. Extracts from the annual reports of the Tongariro, Egmont, and Arthur Pass National Park Boards are appended hereto.

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