SCENIC RESERVES BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 April 1918, Page 2

SCENIC RESERVES BOARD.

ANNUAL MEUTJNO. Tim iuiniiiil jrieuting of lliu Board was held at the Lands Oliice .yesterday, Sir. (i. 11, Jiullurd, Commissioner -<if Crown Lauds, prodding. Jtlier members prosent, were: Messrs. S.. .Percy Smith, 1U1.C.5., W. A. Collrs. st-W. J. Davies, and l>r. Leulluim. ~

The |ccrctary Biil/mittcd the annual report; as follows, covering tile Board's operations for the year ended. 31st March last. The ..report and balance sheet as read, were, adopted on the ; motion of Mi'. Collia, seconded tjy; Mr... Smith.

The report stated that four quarterly*., meetings had been 'held. By Order ill Council, the Board's term of office • ha«l been extended to 30th April, 1920, that control of the scenic reserve, known as' "Tlie Meeting of the Waters," cOmpris--ing 01 acres, 2 roods, 30 percMs, had' been vested in. the Board.

At the instigation of the Board,/fHif Minister in Charge has decided to Ivavii" a special clause inserted in the; newly' drafted license, forms, with respect, to' the compulsory clearing of noxious! weeds on scenic reserves empowering the leasing authority, .in eases of de.f»ult, .to have the work of clearing done" at the expense of the lessee, etc. * The following'works had occupied the Board's attention during the year:— .... Ratapihipihi Reserve (50 acres): Path cutting in order to make the reserve, which is close to the New Plymouth 'borough, more accessible tp visitors had been carried out under the supervision of Mr. R. W. Davies, at & total cost of £8 7s 4d. The Board's best thinks are due to him and also to Mr- Percy Smith, for laying off the paths in ques-. tion. Other expenditure was incurred on this reserve for the planting of cer- | tain vacant spaces with young wattle trees in order to cruah blackberry, etc., i including the shifting of certain fencing; also grass cutting, the whole involvingan outlay of £l2 9s 4*l. Twenty reinforced concrete fencing posts vjfcre also secured for further fencing on the eastern, boundary of the reserve and are now on the ground awaiting erection. Pukerangi Pa Reserve (36 acres) Proposals in hand include the fencing in and planting with Icaraka trees of a small plateau on the reserve for picnic parties and,campers, and the wor'c will be taken in. hand the ensuing season. Mr. Percy Smith has fifty or more young trees ready for the purpose and they will be available for planting out when the fencing is completed. Puketi Pa Reserve ('9 acres, 3 roods, ;20 perches): Gorse clearing on this reserve, held under lease from the_poard by the Sew Plymouth. .Borough Council at a peppercorn rental, has been carried out during the year by the Council's employees, to the satisfaction of the Board. It is the intention of the Board (in terms of the Council's leaoe) to have' about a quarter acre of the reserve fenced in and planted during the approaching season with suitable native trees and shrubs.

"Meeting of ths Waters" Reserve (61 acres, 2 roods, 30 perches): An inspection of the reserve wag made by the Board in July bit and as a result, notices warning owners c.f stray stock have been posted on the land. Portion of the fencing buried by silt and i debris has been restored to prevent cattle trespass, the work being carried out under the superintendence of the honorary care-taker, Mr. Henry King. Further fence repairing where the reserve starts on the main road will shortlbe proceeded with. The Board claimcii and secured from the Taranaki County Council and ijtliers, royalties "amounting to £l2 9s for metal, etc., removed from the reserve.

Finance: The Minister in Charge authorised £4O for maintenance and improvement of the various reserves under the Board's control during the year, hut of this, owing to the shortness of time, only £l7 17s Id was spent up to 31st Mai-ch, when the authority lapsed.