C—6.

Item 5. — Compensation for Native Lands acquired for Scenery Purposes under the Public Works Act, 1908.

APPENDIX B. Report of the Inspectors of Scenic Reserves. Owing to the exigencies occasioned by the war and the consequent demand upon officers of the Public Service, the services of the Inspector (Mr. E, Phillips Turner, I'YR.G.S.) were utilized during the year upon other work, of more urgency than inspection. After the war his supervision and inspection work will be resumed. Report on Scionic Reserves, Queen Charlotte Sound. During the year just ended matters in connection witli the above reserves have been fairly quiet, and I have in no single instance been called upon to wain visitors or others against bringing or using firearms on the reserves. Taken on the whole the summer in this locality has been a fairly dry one, particularly so throughout the month of March, but one reserve only has been damaged by fire, and that not to a serious extent. Visitors for the greater part of the year were very occasional, though the discrepancy was fully made up during the months of December and January, when the numbers were fairly large considering the unsettled state of the times. I was particularly impressed by the spirit of Orderliness obtaining amongst the crews of various visiting yachts, in contradistinction to the vandalism displayed in several instances on previous occasions. The first week of last November saw a torrential fall of rain continuing for several days, when a considerable amount of damage was done by slips and land-slides. Several of the reserves now show ugly scars from this cause, the chief sufferer in this respect being Ship Cove, where a number of slips and a large slide of several acres in extent came down, bringing with it all growth and depositing it into the sea. It will be many years before the scars are again clothed in their native growth. One slip in the gorge of the main stream brought down an accumulation of debris, clicking the mouth and diverting the stream against the foundation of the Cook Monument, and greatly endangering it thereby. Precautionary measures have been taken to obviate this, a stone groyne encased in wire netting having been built up-stream, diverting it into a new course, which should ensure the safety of the monument. Sanitary conveniences at Ship Cove were also inspected and put into a thorough state of repair. Some 15 acres of the Pattens Point Reserve was destroyed by fire, caused by a spark Hying some 5 or 6 chains from, a scrub-fire on an adjoining property and lodging in a mass of dry manuka. Though at present the burnt area presents an unsightly blot on the reserve, in a few years' time it will again show its normal appearance, as the destroyed portion consists mainly of a growth of small manuka scrub which will soon cover the surface of the land again. In nearly every instance fires on these reserves have been caused by the adjoining settlers persisting in firing on their properties when the wind is driving to the reserves. They have been repeatedly warned against this practice, but to date little notice has been taken. [t should not be difficult, when ordinary precautions are taken, to ensure the reserves from the risk of spreading fires. During the course of the year 120 days were spent in visiting, inspecting, and otherwise looking after the general welfare of the reserves, the time of call being varied from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., and in many cases I stayed at the bays for the night. Harvey Turner, Inspector.

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Name of Reserve. Particulars of Block, &c. Amount. Amount. I , Mamaku .. .. .. Part Okoheriki 2c No. 3b Tongoio .Falls . . .. Part Purahotangihia, Block IV Mangoira . . . . . . Mangoira 1 and 2, Blocks VIII and X, Awakino North, and II and III, Awakino S.D. Ngatira .. .. Part Whaiti Kuranui J a Mangapohue Natural Bridge .. Part Taumatatotara No. 1a 2 and part Kinoliaku West L No. 2b Ohura .. .. .. Access road to Ohura Falls * a rl £ s. d. 13 1 1 4 14 9 111 2 5 .16 15 6 46 3 4 10 0 0 £ s. d. 13 1 1 4 14 9 111 2 5 16 15 6 46 3 4 10 0 0 £201 17 1 Item 11/.. — Cost of Surveys, <ke., of Scenic Reserves. Advertising Valuation, legal expenses, eve. ... ... ... ... ... ... Survey of Gravenor Bush, &c. Report on scenic reserve. Lake Okataina Survey, Ahikouka Scenic Reserve .., £ s. (I. 14 1 :', 8 9 6 25 12 0 18 3 2 9 10 I .£75 16 0