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1929. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. SCENERY-PRESERVATION. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1929, TOGETHER WITH STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS AND SCHEDULE OF LANDS ACQUIRED AND RESERVED DURING THE YEAR UNDER THE SCENERY PRESERVATION ACT.

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

Department of Lands .and Survey, Wellington, 31st July, 1929. Sir— I have the honour to submit herewith a report on scenery-preservation for the year ended 31st March, 1929. I have, &c., J. B. Thompson, Under-Secretary for Lands. The Hon. G. W. Forbes, Minister in Charge of Scenery-preservation, Wellington.

RE POUT. Proclamations issued during the year setting land apart as scenic or historic reserves under the provisions of the Scenery Preservation Act covered a total area of 42,436 acres. This includes some 14,502 acres in West-land (formerly portions of provisional State forests), for the reservation of which for scenic purposes it was necessary to obtain the authority of the special legislation enacted as section 14 of the Reserves and other Lands Disposal Act, 1928. In the North Auckland Land District an area of 52 acres 2 roods 24-5 perches, comprising portion of the Okuratope No. 2 Block, was acquired from the Native owners, and a further area of 3 acres 1 rood 12-6 perches was purchased from European owners to give access to the block. On this area was situated the well-known Okuratope Pa, which was occupied by Hongi at the time of Marsden's visit to New Zealand in 1817. The earthwork of the pa is fairly well preserved, although the palisading has mostly disappeared. There is a good deal of native bush, and apart altogether from its historic interest the block has considerable scenic value. After the area had been acquired it was discovered that a small tapu area had inadvertently been included within its boundaries. Arrangements were therefore made to revest, this particular portion of 1 rood 36 perches in the Natives, and a Proclamation was issued accordingly. It is proposed to appoint a special Board in due course to control the reserve. The Trounson Kauri Park, of 1,080 acres, was also proclaimed during the year. Further reference to this area is made in Appendix E of this report.

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