C.—lo.

APPENDIX.

REPORTS OF NATIONAL PARK BOARDS. TONGARIHO NATIONAL PARK. (R. G. Macmorran, Under-Secretary for Lands, Chairman.) _ Three meetings of the Wellington Executive of the Board were held during the year to deal with various matters affecting the park. The Manager at the Chateau reports that the popularity of the park as a holiday resort has been fully maintained. The completion of the mountain road in the summer of 1939-40 proved a boon to visitors last winter in that it was a very poor snow year. The road was kept open right through and guests were able to drive to the skiing-grounds. Scoria Flat Road. Advice was received during the year of the issue of an Order in Council declaring the extension of this road to be a main highway under the Main Highways Act, 1922. The whole length of this road, which extends tb a point 50 chains beyond the Salt Hut, has now been declared subject to the Main Highways Act. Entrance to the Park at Bruce Road Junction. Details of a scheme for improving the entrance to the park where the Bruce Road Main Highway junctions with the National Park - Taupo Main Highway were submitted to the Main Highways Board for consideration. The proposed scheme of improvement purposely placed emphasis on rocks rather than on gardens, as it was considered that the'latter would be difficult to maintain. In reporting on the Park Board's proposals, the Main Highways Board drew attention to the fact that traffic proceeding from the Chateau in the direction of Tokaanu had to proceed very carefully when crossing the line taken by State highway traffic from Tokaanu towards National Park. As an alternative to the Park Board's scheme, the Main Highways Board submitted proposals for improving the junction so as to provide a greater measure of safety for traffic. The estimated cost of the scheme proposed by the Main Highways Board was £400, and, if given effect to, would result in a considerable modification of the Park Board's proposals. In the circumstances it has been decided that no further action be taken in connection with this matter at the present time. Ohakune Track. The sum of £40 was authorized during the year for the purpose of carrying out necessary repair, work on this track. The work has been completed in a very satisfactory manner, and the track is now in good order. Erection oe a Memorial to the Late Mr. T. A. Blyth. At the last meeting of the Board consideration was given to proposals by the Ruapehu Ski Club (Inc.) for the erection in the park of a memorial to the late Mr. Blyth, a former member of the Board. It was suggested by the club that the memorial should take one of the following forms : (1) The erection of a small refuge hut on the summit plateau of Mount Ruapehu, say, below Pare-te-tai-tonga ; or (2) The erection of a stone shelter-seat with direction-indicator at a point between the end of the road and the club's hut near Olaf's Jump. After careful consideration it was decided to advise the club that the Park Board favoured" the erection of a shelter, provided that it was made of natural materials and erected on a site approved by the Board. Fees for Camping in the Park. As the Board has no permanent Ranger and has experienced considerable difficulty in collecting fees for camping in the park, it has been decided to revoke the scale of fees for camping until such time as the Board is in a position to apppoint a permanent Ranger. Destruction op Wild Cats. An officer of the Department of Internal Affairs visited the park during the year, and as a result of his efforts twenty-eight wild cats, four rats, and two stoats were destroyed. The thanks of the Board for the valuable help and assistance afforded by the Department in this connection are recorded. Honorary Ranger. In addition to Mr. L. J. Bayfield, Manager at the Chateau, Mr. W. F. Hussey, of Ohakune, has been appointed ail honorary Ranger of the park. Mr. Hussey is occupying land adjacent to the Ohakune Track, and his services as an honorary Ranger are much appreciated.

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