DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY: PUBLIC DOMAINS OF NEW ZEALAND (ANNUAL REPORT ON).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1921 Session I-II, C-10

C—lo

Session 11. 1921. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY: PUBLIC DOMAINS OF NEW ZEALAND (ANNUAL REPORT ON).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Hut, — Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, 10th Juno, 1921. I have the honour to report on the public domains of the Dominion for the year ended 31st March, 1921. The domains now administered under Part II of the Public Domains and Reserves Act, 1908, number 597, comprising a total area of 83,413 acres. Included in this area is the Wanganui River Trust Domain, of 33,184 acres. By section 115 of the Reserves and other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Act, 1920, an area of 2,245 acres of the Rabbit Island Domain was declared to be a reserve for plantation purposes, and this almost wholly accounts for the decrease from last year's total area of 85,426 acres. Fifty domains arc controlled by the Commissioners of Crown Lands, and the remainder by local Domain Boards appointed from time to time. During the year ten new domains, totalling 184 acres, were constituted. Nine of these are now controlled by local Domain Boards, and in the other case a Board will shortly be appointed. The Temuka. and Arowhenua Domains were amalgamated under the name of the Temuka Domain, and placed under the control of the Temuka Borough Council. The reservation over the East Tamaki Domain, which had been found unsuitable for recreation purposes, was cancelled, and the land declared Crown land available for disposal under the Land Act, 1908. The proceeds from the sale will be utilized towards the purchase, of a more suitable area. A small area at Kimbolton formerly used as a cricket and sports .ground was, at the request of the residents, amalgamated with the Kimbolton Domain. Provision was made enabling the use of portion of the Auckland Domain for the Davis Cup contest held in December, and the erection of a public hall on the Mount Somers Domain was authorized. Special legislation was also passed in several other cases. A perusal of the annual reports furnished by the controlling Boards shows that the domains are generally being administered in the best interests of the public. Although most of the Boards have not been able to carry out many new works, the existing improvements have been well maintained, and adequate facilities afforded for general recreation. It has again been found impossible to grant monetary assistance to Boards except in a few necessitous cases. In this connection it is pleasing to record that several cases have come under my notice where excellent work has been effected by the local residents, both in raising money for improving their domains and in providing free labour for the work. This spirit is worthy of the highest praise. A few Boards have failed to supply the Department with the reports required by statute, and inquiries are being made in these cases. I have, &c, T. N. Brodrick, Under-Secretary. The Hon. H. D. Guthrie, Minister of Lands.

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