C—6,

1911. NEW ZEALAND

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS: SCENERY-PRESERVATION. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1911; TOGETHER WITH STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS AND SCHEDULE OF LANDS ACQUIRED AND RESERVED DURING THE YEAR UNDER THE SCENERY PRESERVATION ACTS.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 17 of the Scenery Preservation Act, 1908.

Sir,— Department of Lands, Wellington, Ist June, 1911. I have the honour to submit herewith report on scenery-preservation for the twelve months ended the 31st March, 1911. I have, &c, William C. Kensington, The Hon. Thomas Mackenzie, Under-Secretary of Lands. Minister in Charge of Scenery-preservation.

REPORT. The chief event for the period under review was the passing of the Scenery Preservation Amendment Act of 1910, which enlarged the membership of the Scenery Preservation Board by including therein the Under-Secretary of the Native Department, ; enabled the Board to recommend the acquisition of Native lands, and provided the power to take such lands for scenery-preservation purposes ; and also improved the principal Act in several minor matters. The Minister is now authorized to grant leases or licenses over open or cleared portions of scenic reserves for short periods not exceeding five years. The Governor may, in certain cases, revoke the reservation of land no longer suitable for scenic purposes, and dispose of the land as Crown land, though in such cases the price obtained therefor must be paid to the credit of the scenery-preservation vote. He may also exchange Crown land for private land that it is desired to obtain for scenic reservation. In addition, no firearm may be discharged on a scenic reserve, nor may any bird or game be killed thereon. Scenic Reservations. During the year a total area of 25,442 acres was reserved under the Scenery Preservation Act, making, with the area previously reserved, a grand total of 65,989 acres. The chief reservations included three areas on the North Island Main Trunk Railway line ; an additional scenic area near the Waitomo Caves ; four areas in the back parts of the Nelson District : land around Lakes Kanieri and lanthe, in Westland ; land around the Sharplin Falls (now- called " Taheke-rua "), in Canterbury ; a further area at Mount Cargill, Dunedin ; Pudding Island, in the Otago Harbour ; the Kawarau Falls, at Frankton ; land on the Taieri River banks, and also the Catlin's River hank ; and an area in the Ranklebum district, along the Blackcleugh Stream.