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Pukemiro and Onairo River Reserves: Inspected and reported on by the Chairman and Mr. Percy Smith in accordance with a resolution of the Board. The gorse on the latter reserve has been cleared at a cost of £6 10s. Pukerangiora Pa : Inspected by the Board. Gorse on road-line (26 chains) cleared at a cost of £20. The reserve has been leased for five years to Mr. E. Richards at £3 per annum, with improvement conditions, subject to section 9 of the Act. There is a proposal to fence off (when funds are available) and plant with karaka-trees a small plateau on this reserve to make it attractive to picnic parties and visitors. Ratapihipilii Reserve: Inspected by members of the Board. A four-years lease, with improvement conditions, over 5 acres of the open part of the reserve has been granted to Mr. R. Davies at ss. per annum. A track to give visitors access to the water has been graded by Mr. Percy Smith, and formation will follow when necessary funds are available for the purpose. Arrangements are already in hand by Messrs. Collis and Davies, members of the Board, to plant open patches of this reserve with young wattle-trees next spring. The wdiole of the eastern boundary of the reserve has been fenced in concrete and wood posts with six wires, and part of the southern boundary in wood posts, at a total cost to the Board of £22 2s. (id., the other half-cost having been defrayed by adjoining owners under arrangement. Funds : The Minister in Charge authorized £25 for maintenance and improvement of the reserves during the year. After providing for the half-cost of fencing two boundaries of the Ratapihipihi Reserve, referred to above, there was an unexpended balance of £2 17s. 6d. at the close of the year when the authority lapsed. The cost of gorse-clearing at Onairo and Pukerangiora Pa Reserves was defrayed by the Lands Department out of their ordinary noxious-weeds vote. As the foregoing amounts were authorizations and not in the nature of a direct grant in aid to the Board, they cannot be accounted for in the statement of accounts attached. Receipts and Expenditure. £ s. d. £ s. d Rent received .. . . . . .. 3 710 Fencing .. .. .. .. 22 2 (i Treasury . . .. .. 22 2 6 In bank . . .. .. .. 3 710 £25 10 4 £25 10 4 G. H. Bullaud, Chairman.

Report of Pongaroa Scenic Board. During the year four meetings of the Board were held, there being an average attendance of six members. The condition of the reserves is fairly good. Less cattle have been grazing there this year than formerly, and no fires have taken place on the 50-acre reserve, although a small fire took place on some clear laud in another part of the reserve. Stock trespassing on the reserve was impounded by the County Council's Ranger, and a portion of boundary-fence has been erected along the road, whilst other fencing is being repaired. Report of Whangarei Borough Council, controlling Coronation Scenic Reserve. The reserve is in first-class order, and no damage has been incurred during the past year. A bridge was constructed at the Kauika Road entrance at a cost of £8 10s., and interest paid on the loan amounted to £27 10s. Report of Invercargill Borough Council, controlling Waihopai River-bank Scenic Reserve. There has been very little work done during the past year. A new bathing-shed has been erected, and improvements carried out in the river and the grounds adjacent, at a total expenditure of £109 4s. 3d. Report of Levin Borough Council, acting as Waiopehu Scenic Board. The work done during the year consisted of planting trees, fencing, and erection of gates, the expenditure comprising £64 18s. 9d. The reserve is in good order. Report oe Northcotf Scenic Board on Kauri Gully, Northcote. The reserve and the tracks, bridges, &c, through it are generally in order. At the entrance to the gully there is a fairly level area of about 5 acres, formerly in tea-tree scrub of no value, and which was a source of danger to the reserve. The Board has made arrangements to lease this at a rental of £10 per annum for a term of five years, the area to be cleared of scrub and cultivated, the lessee to plant not less than 500 shrubs and trees during his term, and to lay the land down in grass before the license expires. The lessee has done good work in clearing the scrub, and intends cultivating the area as a strawberry garden until regrassed. He also acts as caretaker for the whole of the reserve at a remuneration equal to the rent of the land, and is to keep the whole of the reserve in good order and prevent damage. The reserve is a favourite resort for picnickers and campers from the surrounding district.

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