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Section 6 authorizes the District Land Registrar to issue, in the name of His Majesty the King, a title or titles under the Land Transfer Act, 1915, to the whole or portions of the land comprised in the park. Ohakune Track. — During the past year repairs and new works have been carried out on this track, which leads from Ohakune to the hut on the southern slopes of Ruapehu. The hut is situated on the 4,500 ft. level. The track is approximately eight miles and three-quarters in length. Crater Lake on Ruapehu. —Mr. T. A. Blyth, of Ohakune, states that a party visited this lake and reported a, slight rise in temperature from that of June last year. Charges for Accommodation. —At a meeting held in June, 1927, the Board decided to increase the charge for accommodation at the huts and for camping. The old scale was as follows : Accommodation — In huts (per person per night), 2s. ;in tent (per person per night), Is. Camping—Tent holding not more than four (per week), 7s. 6d. ; tent holding between four and eight (per week), 10s. ; tent holding more than eight (per week), £1. The new scale which has been approved and brought into force is as under : Accommodation —In huts (per person per night), 3s. ;in tent (per person per night), Is. 6d. Camping— Tent holding not more than four (per week), 10s. ; tent holding between four and eight (per week), 15s. ; tent holding more than eight (per week), £1 ss. At the January meeting of the Board the question as to the accommodation of children under seventeen years of age was discussed, and. it was decided that when a bunk is occupied the full fee be paid, but that boys or girls under seventeen years of age be charged 6d. per night if bunks are fully occupied, and that two children be considered as being equal to one adult as regards occupation of a bunk. Charges for Admission of Horses and Vehicles to the Park. —In accordance with the powers conferred on the Board by the amending Act of 1927, a by-law fixing charges for the admission of horses and. vehicles to the park was passed and adopted by resolution at a meeting held on the 21st January, 1.928. The charges are as follows : Bruce Road : For each motor-car, 2s. 6d. ; for each motor-cycle (without side-car), Is. ; for each motor-cycle (with side-car), Is. 6d. ; for each motor-lorry or bus carrying less than twenty passengers, ss. ; for each motor-lorry or bus carrying twenty passengers or more, 10s. ; for each motor-lorry (carrying goods only), ss. ; for each horse (with or without vehicle), Is. Ohakune Track —For each horse, 2s. It is hoped that the revenue received from these tolls will materially assist the Board in keeping the roadways in order. Waihohonu Hut. —During the year a floor was placed in this hut and minor repairs carried out. The work was undertaken voluntarily by members of the Ruapehu Ski Club, the materials being supplied by the Board. The thanks and appreciation of the Board are here recorded for the cordial support and services rendered on this and previous occasions by members of this club. Heather.—The Heather Committee (Messrs. W. H. Field, M.P., E. Phillips Turner, and B. C. Aston) have in company again visited the park for the purpose of continuing their observations on the growth of imported heathers within the park boundaries. Their investigations elicited no new facts, and it is anticipated that observations will require to be continued over several seasons before any definite evidence is available as to the growth of heather under different conditions. Under these circumstances no report is now submitted. Warden's Report. Mr. John Cullen, 1.5.0., warden of the park, reports as follows : — " I beg to report that I paid several visits to the National Park during the past year, and during the month of October I supervised, the liberation of 25,000 rainbow-trout fry in the Whakapapanui, Whakapapaiti, and Mahuia Streams. This fry was given by the Under-Secretary, Department of Internal Affairs, from the Tokaanu Hatchery as a free gift to the Park Board. Stocking these streams during the past fifteen years has had very good results, as several anglers have succeeded in landing fair bags of trout, some of the fish weighing over 8 lb. Two fires were started by some irresponsible persons. One, near the Moturoa Bush, was extinguished by a prison gang sent by the officer in charge, Waikune Prison. Had. this fire got well away it might have resulted in serious damage to the Moturoa Bush, which contains valuable timber. The other fire, which burned, over 2,000 acres of open tussock country, originated near the site of the old shepherd's hut, close to the Maungatepopo River and travelled as far south as near the northern base of Pukeonaki; Maori rabbiters are supposed to have caused this fire. None of the beautiful clumps of native bush were touched by it. Te and Ketetahi have been steaming very actively at times, and on one occasion the former was sending up an immense column of black steam, the activity only lasting about two hours. I see no change in the bird-life in the bush during recent years." In regard, to fire-prevention, the Board may have to consider the question of moving in the direction of having a fire district established. Ranger's Report. Mr. A. Cowling, the Ranger at Whakapapa, in his report remarks as follows :— " Volcanic Eruptions.—There has been no unusual disturbance until the 3rd February last, when Ketetahi Springs showed great activity ; steam-clouds could be seen fifteen miles distant. On the 4th March Mount Ngauruhoe showed great activity. Several loud explosions were accompanied by masses of volcanic ash, and rocks were hurled from the main crater ; these could be plainly seen by persons at the Whakapapa huts. "Winter Sports. — During the past winter season members of the Tararua, Tramping Club, Ruapehu Ski Club, and Teachers' Training College held their annual sports gathering, the whole of the Whakapapa hut accommodation being fully booked for the months of August and September.

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