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1944 NEW ZEALAND

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY SCENERY PRESERVATION REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1944, 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, 16th August, 1944. Sir, — I have the honour to submit herewith a report on scenery preservation for the year ended 31st March, 1944. I have, &c., R. G. Macmorran, Under-Secretary for Lands. The Hon. the Minister in Charge of Scenery Preservation, Wellington.

REPORT

The past year was one of restricted activity so far as the actual reservation of new areas was concerned, and Proclamations issued covered si total area of only 143 acres. Several purchases were made, but the transfers to the Crown were not completed in time to permit of the reservation of the land concerned during the period under review. These areas, together with some gift areas referred to below and various pieces of Crown land that have been selected for reservation, will be dealt with in the next report. An area of 30 acres in the Clevedon district, Manukau County, lias been donated to the Crown by Orere Estates, Ltd. The gift area adjoins the Te Morehu Scenic Reserve, given by the late Captain Humphreys-Davies, and the combined areas will form a valuable bush reserve in a district where but little native bush remains. A generous gift of 218 acres in the Kaeo Parish, North Auckland, has been made by Mr. J. W. Hayes and members of his family, residents of Kaeo. The main portion of the area is in native bush of considerable merit, and there is an outstanding hill of bold rocky formation. Apart from desiring that the land should be created a scenic reserve, it is the expressed wish of the donors to preserve a water-catchment area for Kaeo Township. In Westland some lake margins formerly laid out as road reserves but not required as such have been added to adjoining scenic reserves, and some small islands in Lake Brunner possessing historical interest as well as scenic beauty have been set aside under the Act. During the year the small area on which is situated the Canterbury Women s Pioneer Memorial, and which was donated by the late Mr. J. F. Scott at Opawa, was transferred to the Crown. It is proposed to reserve the area for scenic and historic purposes and to grant control to the Christcliurch City Council. The gift of this area, on which is erected a suitable memorial to commemorate the