EGMONT NATIONAL PARK BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 20 December 1907, Page 3

EGMONT NATIONAL PARK BOARD.

The hguiont .National Balk Board met at -New Plymouth yesterday. Mr F Simpson, Commissioner of Crown Lands! presided, and there were also present: f r * • kiltie (Hawera lwrough), C. Uoodson (llawera borough), \\. I'. Kirkwood (Stratford borougu), S. Percy Smith (Government nominee), J. K. Uaranaki county), K. Dingle (Government nominee), A. Coliis (i'civ Plymouth borough), and G. A. Alarchaut {Stratford county).

CHAIKAIA.VS lvKl'Oß'f. ike ciiairmaii's annual report stated that tiie number of visitors to the North i-gniont Mountain House Just year was ItHJU, with receipts from all sournes •titfcj is lod, and expenditure Xil'i 3s -Id. Dawson a 1-alls again headed the returns with --OU visitors, and receipts from fees, were £7O lis, expenditure £54 Us 7d. At the ltaliotu (Western) house there were about 100. Xy record was kept at Stratford. The annual rel«rt states that this house lias had a Boating population, mainly visitors between the -Xurth anil South houses, and tlie small amount of fees had been absorbed by necessary expenditure and upkeep. In fact, now that the system of tracks between the various houses was being inaugurated, the tourist drifted eittier to the North or South house as a fixed abode, and used the East and West as stopping-places to insped objects of interest in the locality and break the journey. In answer to Mr. ilkie the chairman said the report was compiled from information received from officers and committees.

Mr \\ ilkle said tluit he was of opinion that more people travelled from the Stratford house to Dawson's Falls than from the Falls to Stratford. It was a never-ending source of trouble to the cu-todian at the Falls, who complained that his hotkie was used" and the foes paid at the East house.

Mr Coliis said he knew of several parties from the North house who had paid at the Falli house upon visiting "there. To Air Hill, the chairman said there had been no record kept of the number of visitors to the Stratford house.

Mr Dingle said there was no permanent cart taker at the Stratford house. Last Hummer Mr Lloyd, one of tlic Hoard's best caretakers in the past, had taken charge of the Stratford rest, but his total takings were only JCIU. lie had had to take road work to make a

The chairman said tliat the Falls anil North houses were far more convenient and commodious than the Stratford house.

Mr Kirkwood asked if Mr St. Clair was entitled to keep all the earnings from the new "hotel'' cottage \it the Falls home. Mr Wilkie said the custodian was entiled to the earnings from the house, eight shillings per head per day, the Board receiving the usual daily shilling toll. The caretaker had furnished the cottage well, and deserved what he could make.

Mr Collis said that at North Egmont a shilling toll was collected at the gate and another for the use of the house.

Mr Dingle said the rule was that each committee should work on its own lines. The cottage at the Falls had been built out of revenue earned by excellent management, and the Falls house was very successful. ''You can't get lielter accommodation in Wellington for eight shillings a day than you get there," he concluded.

.Mr Collis said that he had no desire to criticise the Falls management, lie was merely seeking information so that the Xorth committee might "go and do likewise.'"

Mr Marchaut congratulated the South committee upon their moot successful management. He thought, however, that the nunilier of visitors had increased so mueh that there was need for now

more general management on the part of the Board. At present the management of the houses themselves was prac-

tic-ally beyond the control of the Boar l. .Mr Smith suggested the appointment of a committee to visit the houses and report upon the whole question of accommodation with a view to arriving at uniformity. STATF.MKXT OF ACCOUNTS

1 lie i-erre;ary. Mr 11. Shu-kiT, -iilimit- j te.l a statement of acouuU Hum 2iith j ' I'-iober, I'.KMi. There had lii'cii a crctlii then of Cl 7S- 2d. lieceipts since then had been (lovcrnment subsidy JJ2OO, and rent, iK! lis 3d; total Oil 0s (id. Expenditure: Maintenance of houses, North toll His (id, South CI I 12s 2d, Fast t.j 14s sd. Maintenance of tracks. North £l„ £3 13s, West C!> ll>s. l'rinting and advertising, North ,C 78, (id, South £3 17s Od; in--uram e t(i (is, travelling expenses t'J 14s Sd; miscellaneous, 16s Bd.

Committee' expenditure to date was: Xorth. CO2 12s M. balance 15s 3d; South, €3B 19a (kl. balance .£32 10s 8d; Kii-t, CIO 17s llil, balance Cl2 16s 7<); W>«t fin (b 4d, dr. balance 10= Hdj lioard, ES 9s 4d; balance JIIOI !)s ■ld. Tlic statement as submitted was adopted. After the luncheon adjournment, the re-appointments of Messrs W. 11. St. flair and F. MqmV as caretaker of tlit- Falls and Xorth Egniont houses re-r|K-ctively were confirmed. | A hearty vote of thanks was unani-ti!"»-ly accorded Mr Coodson for his I l 1'"-.'!!! n f spectacular binoculars to the Falls li'iu<e.

A committee \v;ih set up to enquire intfi 1110 app'i<ati.»n nf Mr O. A. Adlam f«»r fa > a reduction of rent. fb) reduction of area by eliminating .'{o acres of Im-h. or fe) pcrmivion to fell 15 acres <>f -crub. mi the 117 acres of land at f>akura hold hv liiiu under bw*o from the Board. wa* granted to flic Kast committee to move the Strafford house to a more suitable *ite. and to fell and lay on water, the Board making a special «rnnt of €"»0 towards the cost. Mr Colli- a j;rant of C2."i f<«r the erection of a -bolter hut on !fn|lv Mat tor tlie aecommodat ion of I to Vails. I Tho Touri-t Department'- vote of C2'"i alUated as follow-:-North T»I inont hoiw South (Kalis) €7". I Ka-t €4O. We-t €2O.