THE ROTOKARE DOMAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 173, 24 July 1903, Page 4

THE ROTOKARE DOMAIN.

We have to thank Mr Major for a copy of the Rotokare Domain Act Repeal Bill. The principal clause reads us follows:—2. (1) "The Rotokare Domain Act, 1899," is hereby repealed, and all leases and agreements to let 'made thereunder are hereby revoked and cancelled. Provided that the holder of any valid lease or valid agreement for a lease of any part of the Rotokare Domain made by the Hawera Borough Council under the authority !of the Act hereby repealed shall be ; entitled to such compensation (not exceeding twice the amount actually exI peoded by him on improvements under his lease or agreement prior to the tenth day of July, one thousand nine hundred and three) as may be assessed under "The Public Works Act, 1895." (2) The Rotokare Domain shall continue Ito be a publio domain under "The Public Domains Act, 1881," as if the Act hereby repealed had not been passed.— Star.

The Reserve now reverts back to its original position under the Domain Act, and becomes vested again in the Commissioner oi Crown Lands for Taraneki, who at once took steps on Thursday to inform the lessees of their altered position, and warning them to immediately cease falling the forest; and also intimating that proceedings would at once be taken against any one offending, or even trespassing on the Domain. The Crown Lands Ranger, Mr Barron, was despatched to take the necessary steps to carry this out and lay information if required. Mr Oollis, secretary to the Scenery Preservation Society, wired to the Premier on Wednesday thanking him for his efforts in Parliament, to which Mr Seddon replied congratulating Taranaki on saving another of its beauty spots from destruction, but stating that the real credit of saving the position was entirely due to the prompt steps taken by Mr Mackenzie, Commissioner of Crown Lands, who had, from the moment it was known what was going on, pressed the immediate necessity of drastic action being taken.