EGMONT NATIONAL PARK.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 53, 24 August 1911, Page 7

EGMONT NATIONAL PARK.

To the Editor. - •Sir,—ln your local in this morning's News, purporting to correct a misstatement made in your paper of the 22nd in an article referring to the services of Mr. W. H. Skinner, you made several errors, which no doubt happened in my speaking to you on the subject through the telephone and your failing to hear perfectly what i endeavored to convey to you.. So I ask you now to insert this letter, in order "to put before the public a, correct statement. This is due not only to Mr. Skinner (who is the lasi man in the world to desire to take credit for services lie had not rendered), but to the other parties concerned. The facts respecting Mount Egmont National Park are these: The reserve was •et apart and reserved as a national park ••a. park for the people for all tim«, thirty-seven years ago, by the Provincial Government of Taranaki when the waste lands of the Grown belonged to the Provincial Governments, the Provincial Government of'.Taranaki then being the late Mr P. A. Carrkgton, Superintendent of the Province; Hon. T. Kelly, Provincial Secretary; and myself, Secretary for Lands. At this time Mr. Skinner was a young man, a surveyor in the service, I believe, of the Provincial Government. The Scenery Preservation Society was not tb.en in existence, nor,did it come into existence until some years afterwards. . Mr. Skinner, I believe, was instrumental, many years after the park had been made a public reserve, in getting a board appointed to look after and manage it.—l am, etc.,

ARTHUR STANDISH. New Plymouth, August 23.