EGMONT NATIONAL PARK BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81879, 2 November 1906, Page 3

EGMONT NATIONAL PARK BOARD.

Tlio annual meeting- of the Egmont National Park Board was held at New Plymouth on Thursday. Piesent: Messrs F. Simp.-on, Commissioner of Crown Lands (in thc_ chair), N. King (Mayor of StraU'ordJ, it. Dingle (Stratford County), p. \Y. Wtlkie (Haveia-, W. A. Collis (New P.ymouth Borough), J. R. Hill (laranaki County), and S. Percy Smith (Government nominee). Mr Moore (Opunake) apologised for his absence, and Mr Hastie sent in bis nVgnation.

The Chairman presented the annual report-. For the past season, al though well above the average, a falling off in the number of visitors had to be recorded, mainly owing to the unsettled weather, as the roads —at any rate to the main houseswere now negotiable for wluel traffic. At the northern end this was more particularly the case; in fact, the trip had been made from New Plymouth to the Egmont House by motor car, driven all the way. At tlw southern end the road could be driven over, but required metalling, the formation being soft, particularly should the weather be wet. lli s Excellency the Govftrnor paid a vsit to the Dawson Fa:ls (southern) house this season by this route, waiting noc being necessary any part of the way. Now that the road approaches were passable attention had been giv en to making serviceable tracks between the various houses, and the round trip had been accomplished in the day Communication had also bten opened up between the Egmont (northern) hou=c and Bell's Falls, and this route was being largely avaued of. As a result of m-peclions made, the Board could more particularly stiongly recommend visitors to tile Egmont and Dav. r sons 1' alls houses, owing to the presence of caretakers (married) and a sure supply of provisions and bedding. As had been pointed out trum tune to tinu, Uie queauon of wild caa.e trespassing in til'.' reserve woulu soon have to be

seriously cons.dered, and legislative sanction obta.ned io keep i.u-be guu 11 as a piotection to lounsts and the loiest llora. Ihe number of visitors who actually signed the book at Uie Egmont was about 1600 and th.; fees receivable by the Board had been spent m the upkeep of houses, and track extensions and repairs. Tinnumber of visitors to Dawson's Falls hou~c was aboui 1700, a considerable decrease on :ast yeai, due to the wet wcatner prevailing throughout die season, and the consequent bad state of the road. The local revenue from fees, etc., lrom this house amounted to ,£b'S ii;, but ihis did not include the amouiu to Ihe cusiodian, which wou.d bring the total to about /i-ioo. Tile pnnetpal expenditure was 111 the erec-

uon ot an additional mountain cottage, at a co~t of about ,£l5O. This cotiage was built and funnelled with (he object of providing ordinary ho tel accommodation for a limited number of .vigors, and the Board cou.d safely recommend visitors to the South Egmont house, knowing tiny would fand quaituis will above the average. in addition to the above expenditure, ordinal y upkeep accounted for some £so. The number of visitors to the Raliotu (western) house was about 100; the irack being in very fair order, and the accommodation also very fair. The fees received were practically all absorbed in repairs and improvements to the track, logging up, etc., glazing and other repairs to the house, The Stratford \easl) house was for the present more an adjunct to the Dawson's

Falls house than a residence resort lor tourists, and work in the l</f;al.tj had mainly been on track formation.' The statement of accounts showed that the year commenced with a balance of £O4 7/10. Rents brought 111 £it it), 7, and damages tor cattle ttespass £l, The year closed with a credit balance of ,£47 b.3. The North Egmont committee had a debit balance of ,A 1 i-; 6; South Egmont a debit of /.j y/iu, West Egmont a deb t of 10.4 and the Ea-t Egmont a cied.t of Xj 13 14,(>. The report was adopted. 'lhe Disti.ci Railway Engineer wrote complaining thai stray cattle were doing great damage to the embankments and lil.ings on the \\ ar puku line.

The Board decided to use the most dra-tii provisions of the law in order to clear the reserve of these cattl. it being stated that some su were us ng the reserve tor grazing puip -3. The Tourist Department wrote tavourably concerning t,ic boards application fur meteorolugical nien'.s; but legtetted that there were u'j ambulance s'.ieahet- ava'iab e. Special p, .mission was given to tile 'j'aianaki !■":< ul Club to secure specimen and shrubs fiont t.ie Re-'-tve, lur planting in the Club's plot in the Recreation Ground*; such plants 10 be removed only under the conitol and direction of t.ie l'lesid'-nt, Mr S. l'crcy-Smith. The action of the Dawson s Fa Is CommUKe and the Noiiii hgmonl ,'oinmill'o n icappo ut,ng Mc-is V.'.

H. St. Cl.nr and K. Morii:, f-p'-r: ■jvtly a- cumakcis, v.a~ ijppnn-d.\ and the Cliaiunan's appointment ' M; (Joibetl on the South committee \va?J confirmed, Mr St. Clair that tlie should l>c -worn in as *p»" nal co»)Uab! ,,v . Ill' - Jioard d:scu-- I 'd 'he matter vry U;lly, and alter cont> t'crat'on, decided thai ilw powers in ill'' appointment* a* ■ an-takeis and ranker- ihe men ample j)"\\! 1 is t" deal with any di*nirbanc- w any objectiunabh' v : .»h-

Mr L .\\ ■ (ratiUT i"' ->i l;ned hi- po--iii«>n on ihe North House —The puliation re ct ivd with ,md Mr 11. S'-< k- ■ i appointed. ff Mr (1. \\ . J'.tlm-I'. anil ii'a-uicr \ u \\v !s>>aKl. ie-i % L»md hi> p sinon.—ln a'<rp:inu. ih<- mi'inhcrwaini y the highly '(■ry. pa ucrk dene by M" PiihiHT and exih«'ir at his 1 < s : l' menl. Mi 11. Stot k' r wapp"int< ( |. w\ th<' "ana- rciiiur.o-.U it mi a- paid in tie' hit' 1 secretary. The (ir'ivernment of /Jjco wa-i a!lo<'at<d a-, loil ays •. Daw-»>n--Falh /J;5. Xorih M,union' /j'ls, /Jit; will b»' retained by the Boaul fer h d«-c : d»'d to lu»id tie x ni"'t'ntf of the B ,; arcJ at the .\mi!i