EGMONT NATIONAL PARK BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 68, 6 April 1901, Page 3

EGMONT NATIONAL PARK BOARD.

ANNUAL MEETING. The first annual masting of tho E»in«it National Park Board was held at the Borough Clumbers on ' Thursday. Present: Messrs Strauchon (in the chair), E. Mixwell, P. W. Wilkie, R. Dingle, E. Burgoss, G. W. Marchant, 0. E. Major, W. A. Collis and H. Okey. Mr. S. Percy Smith (Treasurir) was grantod leave of absence from the meeting. The West Egnaonfc Fores* Board wrote agreeing to continue to act till 31st March, as desired by the National Park Boird. and asking if ,£SO granted by the Government could ba expended by the local authority. The Government Printor wrote re binding copies of the National Park Act. Th-i Surveyor-General forwarded an | agreement to give £45 to the Boird, and stated that a sum of £BO had bean granted for expenditure by tha Sur-veyor-General ©n track', etc. The North Egmont Forest Bo\rd forwarded recommendations from Miss Hirst in reference to addition?, etc., to! the Mountain Cottage. The West Egmont Forest Bjard forwarded a list of names of proposed members of tha District Committee, Mr. N. K. MoDiarmid wroti, stating! he would be unable to act as Treasurer of the Biard. The Secretary of the Eist Egmoat Forest Board forwarded a repirt, and a cheque for a balance ef £94 4s 5i to tha credit of the Board ; all? stating that the accurate number of visitors was not obtainable, but approximatsly it was about 200. Regarding the requosH for information as to the expenditure of the graat received by the West Egmont Boird, the Chairman slid, in answer to Mr, Maxwell, th»t the money was available for expenditure by the SurreycrGeoeral.

Mr. Dingle report-ad en the condition of ifis South Egmonl Botrd's aft'drs. Us was unable to get a correct bilance-sheet made up, but would bo able to, do bo in a fortnight or ,80, The Chairman, reporting on the | North Egmons Forest Board, stated that there was practically nothing done lately. It would be ad fin bio to fix a date for closing. The season had for the greater part been a poor oue. Some discussion took place in reference to closing the mountain houses, and it was eventually decided, an th» motion of Mr. Col is, eeco ided by &r. Okey, that tha caretakers be givan authority to close the houses oh the l&th April, subject to the approval of the local committees, if the tourist traffic does not warrant the house 3 being kept open longer. Th« following district committees were appointed; Egmont District, Messrs. 0. \V. Qov.itt, 0. K. Stock, B. Dockrill, W. H. Skinner, Oh&s. Olliver. East Egmont Distriet: Messrs. T. H. Penn, J. Masters, R. H. Cameron, T, E. Hamorfcon, J. D. Morrison. West Egmont District: Messrs. F. W. BYetbey, H. Stones, J. Colmer, W. H. Keasberry, H. Kitohingmsn. South Egmont District: Messrs. W. Hornby, W. Stoidart, J. Hastie, J. H. Frethoy, B. 0. Robbins. It was dtcidel that thn B-.ard'«i account be k*pt with the Bank of New! Za.ihnd, tin clnirmau and t'eisurar to sign cheqn s. Oa the motion or Mr. Coliii it was decided that thj Patua and Pouakai reserves ba inoludsd in the portion under the northern ommittee.

At the suggestion of Mr. Burgess the Minister for Public Works is to ba remioded of a propssitien which ha tnade during a recent visit that a grant bo given by the Gavarnmeu 1 ; for f«r;hdr improving the Pembroke ro track »> as to make it available for vehicular traffic, and requesting him to endetvor to ge.S the Minister of Linda to grantj a sum for the purpose. The sum of X 94 4s sd, recsived from the Eist Egmont Bojird is to be placed in tbe general fund and u'ed far work ia hand. A vota of thanks w »« pa«s?d to the late Fo/eat Boards for acting up to 31st March, Mr. Dingle moved that the next meeting of the Bwrd be held at Stratford.—Mr Burgess seconded. Mr. Maxwell moved an amendment that the m?et\«j;fi ha hald in turn nt New Plymouth, Swatfurd, Hwera aad Qpunake, the next to I o at Stratford., ! —Mr. Okey seconded. , The amendment was carried. Meetings will hi aeU quarterly, at dates to be fixed, by the Chairman. The. regulations, drawn up by a subcommittee, for the conduot of business by the local committees, were considered, amended and approved. The Board adjourn^