MASTERTON'S SCENIC RESORTS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3018, 14 October 1908, Page 5

MASTERTON'S SCENIC RESORTS.

ACQUIRING MR MATTHEWS' BUSH. LANDS DEPARTMENT UNABLET TO DO SO. The following letter to Mr A. W. Hogg, M.P., from the Minister of Lands (Hon. R. Mc Nab) was read at the meeting of the Masterton Borough Council last evening:— Sir, —With reference to an application made by you, on behalf of the Masterton Borough Council, in April, 1907, that an area of private land adjacent to the 'railway station be acquired and reserved for scenic purposes, I have to inform you that the Scenery Preservation Board has had this matter under, consideration for a considerable time, but at its meeting on the 11th September last,. passed a final resolution that as the land in question is more suitable for Domain purposes than scenic reservation, and id very highly priced, whilst no offer has been made by tl © local authorities orvothers to share the cost o* acquisition, it is inadvis* able to purchase the land for scenery reservation. Under these circumstances, I regret that I am unable to proceed further in the matter. I may mention that the valuation of the land is over £2O per acre, and as fifty acres lias been proposed for reservation, the outlay for purchase money alone would be over £I,OOO, whilst the necessary fencing, supervision and maintenance would also have to be considered. The <twner appeared reluctant to sell the land, and stated! that he had purposely reserved the bush for future requirements. On the area of fifty acres it is reported that only some six or eight acres of green bush now remain, in small clumps scattered over the flat land.—• i have the honour to be, Sir, yoar obedient servant, ROBERT McN\R, Minister of Lands. It was decided to thank Mr Hogg for his efforts in the matter, which was referred to the Park Committee.