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Supervision of Reserves. During the year special Scenic Boards were appointed or reappointed as follows : Whangaroa County Council, to control the Ranfurly Bay Scenic Reserve ; Manukau County Council, to control the Clevedon Scenic Reserves ; Akaroa County Council, to control the Otepatotu Scenic Reserve ; Dunedin City Council, to control the Waipori Falls Scenic Reserves and the Kaikorai Valley Scenic Reserve ; Otago University Council, to control the Mapoutahi Pa Historic Reserve ; Invercargill City Council, to control the Waihopai River Scenic Reserve ; and the Tapuinikau Pa, Waikaka, and Rotoiti Scenic Boards, to control their respective reserves. Five warrants were issued placing additional areas under the control of the Kirk's Bush, Pelorus Bridge, Hundalee, and Summit Road Scenic Reserves Boards respectively. During the year 107 ladies and gentlemen were appointed honorary inspectors for scenic reserves throughout the Dominion, and a certificate of appointment was issued in each case. Vacancies were filled on the Pongaroa and Kirk's Bush Scenic Boards, and additional members were appointed to the Pelorus Bridge Scenic Board. A warrant was issued revoking the vesting of control of the Taihape Scenic Reserves in a special Scenic Board, and the control of the reserves was vested in the Taihape Borough Council. Warrants under the hand of the Minister pursuant to the provisions of section 2 of the Scenery Preservation Amendment Act, 1926, were issued authorizing the use of firearms for the destruction of goats on the Everett Road Scenic Reserves, and of pigs and goats on the Pelorus Bridge Reserves. Damage to Reserves, etc. Reports from all districts indicate that the great majority of our scenic reserves are in a good state of preservation. A few cases of timber trespass were reported and fully investigated. In February a serious fire broke out in the north-east portion of the Trounson Kauri Park, near Kaihu, and threatened to destroy the whole of the reserve, as a strong wind was blowing on to the park at the time. Fortunately, the caretaker, with the aid of settlers and others, was able to cope with the outbreak, and. although a number of kauri-trees were destroyed and will have to be removed, the untiring zeal displayed by the workers undoubtedly saved the main forest from total destruction. Special attention is being given to improving fire-breaks in order to render the forest immune, as far as possible, from further outbreaks. The Electrical Branch of the Public Works Department was granted permission to clear a traverse line through a scenic reserve in Blocks V, VII, and VIII, Patetere North Survey District, for the purposes of the Arapuni-Waikaremoana transmission-line, the total area to be dealt with comprising some 51| acres. Excavation work in connection with the Westport-Inangahua Railway has to some extent marred the attractiveness of the Hawk's Crag Reserve in the Buller Gorge. However, it is probable that vegetation will soon become re-established and cover the scars caused by the railway-construction works. Three small fires occurred in scenic reserves in Marlborough during the year, but were, fortunately, got under control without a great deal of damage being done. One of these started in the Pelorus Bridge Reserve, and at one stage threatened to endanger the whole area. However, settlers in the vicinity performed splendid work, and their exertions, assisted by a change in the wind and a fortunate rain-shower, confined the fire to a space of about half an acre. General. Experiments in the spraying of blackberry were carried out on the Te Reinga Scenic Reserve during the year, but were not particularly successful. Large numbers of applications are being received by the Department for the right to remove posts and general fencing-material from scenic reserves. The great majority of these applications are declined, and, although in some cases it is possible to give favourable consideration to a request for the removal of dead timber where there is no possibility of damage being done, the Department has no intention of allowing scenic reserves to be used as a source of supply for fencing-timber. Some further applications have also been made for permission to mill timber on scenic reserves. This matter was briefly discussed in last year's report, and it is hardly necessary to state that the applications received during the year under review were very definitely refused. Appendices. A schedule of reserves made and reservations revoked during the year, accompanied by a statement of expenditure, follows as Appendix A, while Appendix B records the work carried out on Kapiti Island. The detailed reports from the various land districts are not being published this year, owing to lack of space.

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