SCENERY PRESERVATION SOCIETY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 82, 3 May 1909, Page 4

SCENERY PRESERVATION SOCIETY.

PRESIDENTIAL REPORT. Mr. W. A. Collis, president 0/ the Scenery Preservation Society, presented u report to a meeting of tiie committee of the society held in tiie Town Hall on Friday, iu the course of which he referred to tiie lack of public interest in the society. When the Government appointed a Scenery Commission, ho said, the feeling seemed to arise that the need for the society's exist, i' e had gone. He had, however, 0 . >'. l r two occasions acted -or the socv ..a appealed to, as in the ease 1 Wests Busi, on the Tariki road, for 1 -isUuic* in preventing the destruction of -centry, though in that ease, in spiu 01 Jiis 'baring written and forwarded petitions, the powers that be were too slow in moving to prevent the place being destroyed. He emphasised that it was not the society's sole aim to preserve large areas of country lor scenic purposes, for hi the largest cases climatic reasons ■wen those moat sought after in preserving forest areas. In proof of this he asked what would be the condition "of 'Taranaki in dry summers if the Kgmont National Park, tile source oi many rivers and creeks, had not been reserved. He did not take credit to the society for all the reserves made for these purposes; the Land Board had pursued an enlightened policy in this direction. There was, he said, ample scope for the society's efforts in assisting to keep iu order and further beautifying the reserves made, and in trying to get the younger generation to interest themselves in these things. Marsland Hill had been planted, and the result was now showing in the growth of trees; but more needed doing. (Since the report was written the reserve had been vested 111 the Borough Council.) The society had initiated the Esplanade, anil had made pathways and plantations round Paritutu, where more work needed. to be carried out. Since its lormaiion the society had spent about £l*so, ehiefly in and around New Plymouth. Some of its work had been destroyed by vandals, but in most cases the public are reaping the'benefit. Last year it contributed £0 worth of trees to the technical school grounds, and a similar amount to Marsland Hill. At tj»e present time the only actual work in hand was the making of three crosses, which is being carried out at the technical school under Mr. Sandford's direction, the society finding the timber. These arc 1 to be erected at Huirangi, Corbett Road, and Mahoetahi. The society has about £B6 in hand. The Lands Department had supplied him with a schedule showing the areas reserved in the Taranaki district for^State forests, timber, scenery, etc. In the Taranaki County 230 acres had been declared State forest reserves, 381 acres growth and preservation of timber reserves, and 173 acres scenerv Reserves. In the Clifton County the areas reserved were respectively 28,330 acres, 3741 acres, and 105 acres; Wnitomo County, 4108, 1258, and 1031 acres; Whangainomoira County, 3214, 1040, and 508 acres; Stratford County, 3414, 18.072, and 0 acres; Eltham County 200/ 1335, and 0 acres; Hawera Countv, 200, 4431, and 55 acres; Pa tea County, 38,829, 7101, and 806 acres; W ai■totara County, public domain, lfl»7 acres, and the Egmont National Park, 78,922 acres.