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Session 11. 1921. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY: SCENERY-PRESERVATION. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1921, 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.

Sir, — Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, 10th June, 1921. I have the honour to submit herewith report on scenery-preservation for the twelve months ended the 31st March, 1921. I have, &.C., T. N. Brodrick, Under-Secretary for Lands. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Minister in Charge of Scenery-preservation, Wellington.

REPORT.

Reservations in Year. Comparatively few reservations were made during the past year, the areas dealt with being Crown land as follows :— Auckland Land District. —Two sections of bush land in the Thames Survey District were proclaimed. They comprise steep and broken country covered with heavy forest. A beautiful waterfall is situated on one of the sections. Hawlce's Bay Land District. —An area of bush-covered land on the Motu-Opotiki Road was set aside, and this reservation provides a further addition to the beautiful scenery along the route. Other areas will be secured as opportunity offers, so that this highway should become a popular drive for motorists and visitors to the district. Taranaki Land District. —A small area along the Rotokare Road, some five or six miles inland from Eltham, was proclaimed. It consists of a hillside covered with a mixed forest comprising .tawa, rimu, rata, &c. Wellington Land District. —An area covered with native forest between the Owhango Township and the Whakapapa River was permanently reserved. This reserve is well seen from the railwayline, and will form a noticeable addition to the other scenic reservations along the same route. Within the reserve is a pretty lagoon. West-land Ijand District. —A small reserve on the banks of the Waiho River below the Waiho Gorge was set apart. Visitors to the magnificent Franz Josef Glacier will pass by this reserve, and will be pleased to see its permanent reservation. Canterbury iMnd District. —An area of GOO acres, lying to the north-west of and adjoining the Peel Forest Scenic Reserve of 511 acres, was gazetted, and it may now be stated that the whole of the well-known Peel Forest lias been secured for the public. The recent addition contains mostly mixed bush, and is situated on high broken country with a southerly aspect.

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