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1943 NEW ZEALAND

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY SCENERY PRESERVATION

REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1943, TOGETHER WITH STATEMENT OP EXPENDITURE AND SCHEDULE OP 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

Sib, — Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, Ist June, 1943. I have the honour to submit herewith a report on scenery preservation for the year ended 31st March, 1943. I have, &c., R. G. Macmokran, Under-Secretary for Lands. The Hon. the Minister in Charge of Scenery Preservation, Wellington.

REPORT As indicated in last year's report, operations under the Act have been restricted on account of the abnormal conditions occasioned by the war. However, eleven areas totalling some 6,800 acres were set apart as scenic reserves in various parts of the Dominion. The reservations made included 4,066 acres situated in the Mangamuka Gorge, North Auckland. This land contains native bush of outstanding beauty, excellent panoramic views of which may be obtained from the Whangarei-Kaitaia Main Highway. Another reservation in the North Auckland district was an area of 102 acres near Wellsford comprising a natural basin in young kauri bush. In the Auckland Land District an area of 208 acres of mixed bush situated in the Mangapiko Valley, Waikato County, was set apart under the Act, while in the Wellington District an area of 11 acres of nice bush near Makuri, Pahiatua County, was placed under reservation. The areas set apart in the South Island included 1,660 acres of hilly bush land along the Anatoki River in Takaka County, Nelson, while in Westland reservations totalling some 595 acres will make attractive additions to the scenic reserves in that district. A farther area set apart was a piece of bush land comprising approximately 164 acres situated on both sides of the Catlins-Waikawa Road in Otago. During the year the sum of £2,255 was applied towards the purchase of an area of 1,623 acres, but the Proclamation bringing the land concerned under the provisions of the Scenery Preservation Act has not yet been issued. This area will be dealt with in next year's report.