NATIONAL PARK BOARD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 73, 27 March 1915, Page 8

NATIONAL PARK BOARD.

THE QUARTERLY MEETING. j

The Egmont National Park Board jnofc at Dawson's Falls House yesterday, when there were present: —The Chairman (Mr G. H. Ballard, Commissioner of Crown Lands), Messrs C; Goodson (Hawera Borough Council), J. It. Hill (Taranaki County), T. B. Crump (Eltham), R. McK. Morison (Stratford Borough), Percy Smith (Government representative), P. Wilcox (Egmont), W. A. Collis (New Plymouth Borough), and H. Stocker (secretary). An apology was received from Mr IT. W.'Wilkie (Hawera County). CORRESPONDENCE.

: Mr H. J. G. Allen (lion sec) Kaponga wrote stating that a Tourist Committee had been formed in the town for the purpose of assisting tourists and advertising the Dawson Falls House. By this means they anticipated increasing the revenue and popularity of the scenic resort. This action was .subject to the approval of the Board, which they desired to obtain.—Approved. The clerk Parihaka Road Board wrote stating that the Board had been granted the sum of £2O towards work on the track to the Rahotu Mountain (louse; also asking that the work be carried out at once.—Received. Mr Percy Smith forwarded translation of letter sent to him by a native, one Taurua, of Rahotu, as follows: "Friend, this is my word to you. 1 ••Mil desirous of going to Manuka Camp, below the .Mountain House, whore 1 would like to live permanently, and die there, at the place about which I am petitioning. I will take care of the road to the Mountain if my prayer is acceded to—From Taurua Murirapa." —The Board bad no power to grant the petitioner permission to live at the Ihouse.

The secretary of tlie South Taranaki Automobile Association, at Hawera, wrote as follows:—"At a meeting ot the Association the following resolution was passed : That the Hoard bo written to suggesting that a "twopence in the slot" telephone be installed at the gate of the reserve, and that this Association is willing to contribute half the cost of same with a limit of liability to the Associaton of £2 10s.—It was agreed that this was a very good idea for the protection of travellers on the narrow and circuitous track, and the Board decided to pay half cost up to £l2 10s to instal the telephone. TREES— M ORE TREES.

Mr Morison ventilated the question of ti ee-planting on the reserve. He considered the Board should write to the Government Forestry Department with a view to making a start in planting suitable trees on.the reserve. There were hundreds of acres of practically waste lands, which could be made use of in this way. He referred to what war; being done at Rotorua. No end of timber would be required in New Zealand in the future, and it would he a useful and permanent work. His idea was to apply to the Department for the supply of 100.000 trees from the State Forestry and .have them planted by the Government. The Pembroke Road Reserve was one place that he had in mind for the scheme, but there were many other places where it could be pUt into operation. He mentioned two trees—Spruce (Abies Douglasi), and Pious Radiata, winch he was certain would do well in these localities.

Members agreed that the idea was in the right direction, and on the motion of Mr Morison, seconded by Mr Crump, it was decided to apply to the Government for the trees and the planting thereof.

GENERAL. As to the Board's leases, it was stated that one tenant was behind in payments, and it was decided to give the tenant three months' notice; also to give another tenant notice to clear his section of gqr.se. ',

Mr Moriso.n moved that Mr J. B. Hinc, M.P., lie written to soliciting his assistance in having the Pembroke Road reserve outside the forest reserve vested in the Board. Seconded by Mv Wilcox and carried, tue chairman agreeing to write to the Under Secretary lor Lands on the subject.

On llio motion of Mr Collis, seconded by Mr Smith, the matter of the Everett Road reserve, near Inglewood, was referred to the chairman for report at next meeting of the Board. In connertion with a desire from the North House for the levelling of some trees in order to obtain a better view at one spot the matter was left in the hands of Mr Collis with power to act. Mr Smith intimated his intention to donate some seed of the Japanese walnut for planting at the House. He said the tree was a bcautitu'i one, while it also had the merit of growing very quickly. QUARTERLY STATEMENT. Eecoipts.—Balance :51st December, 1914, £655 !s Id! North Committee.—Park fees* £52 lis 6d, cottage fees £25 2s, horse toll £(j 9s, motor toll £33 Is Gs, stable and paddock fees £1 Gs, hostelry fees £2GG Os Id, Government subsidy £6O, total £444 10s Id. South Committee. —House fees £l7 10s, cottage fees £8 10s, motor toll £3 17s Gd, horse toll £2 Is, Government subsidy £6O, total £92 Is Gd. East Committee., —House fees £3 Gs Gd, park fees £lO 4s Gd, horse toll £2 4s, motor toll £1 15s, Government subsidy £6O, total £77 10s. West Committee.—House fees IC'« Gd, Government subsidy £2O, total j'2o 10s Gd. Grand total £1289 16s 2d. EXPENDITURE. North Committee.—Committee (travelling expenses £3, repairs £l3 9s, track work £49 7s, carting £l2 3s 9d, advertising and stationery £3 17s 3d, collector toll fees £l3 13s 4d, hosr.elrv wages "£242 10s, hostelry supplies £540 13s 3d. Total £B7B 13s 7d. South Committee. —Advertising £l2 101, track work £l9 2s 6d, repairs £l4 lou 3d, supplies £l3 7a lid; caretaker

fees £73 3s 9d, total £132 19s 3d. i, East Committee—Supplies £2 18s 6d, 'repairs £ll 10s 9d, track work £8 Is I 9d, advertising and stationery £3 17s, J committee travelling expenses xos Bd, ' caretaker fees £ll Los, bank charge ss. total £39 4s 6(1.

Board,— Audit fee £0 13s 6d, petty cash (stamps, telegrams) £2. track work (Manganui Gorge) £5. total £l3 13s -Id. _ " Balance 20th Februa ••;*. £220 as id. Grand total £1289 10s 2d. BALANCES. North Committee, £ll2 4s 9d. South Committee £34 1-s lid, South Kaponga, account £3O los. total £6» 10s Hd. ~ East Committee £22 9s .d, Last Stratford account £8 -Is, total £3O 13s West Committee £2O 0s fid. Grand total £228 10s. Board Dr., £3 Is Bd. Towl lU> 5s Id.