c.—io.

by Mrs. B. Taylor, of Wanganui, and Mr. H. G. Birch, of Maxwell, for the purposes of public recreation-grounds. Three concrete swimming-pools and two bathing-sheds have been constructed on the Pakaraka area, and a swimming-pool is to be constructed on the Westmere area by the Domain Board—the AVaitotara County Council. Brief mention may be made of some of the new domains constituted during the year as follows: An area of 108 acres of the Parahirahi Block was set aside to provide" for recreation requirements in the Kaikohe district. The Kaikohe Town Board, which intends to plant and generally develop the land for recreation, has been entrusted with the control and management of the new domain. At Kerepeehi arrangements were made to set aside an area of 25 acres of Crown land to provide a sports-ground for the district, and the control of the new reserve has been taken over by the Hauraki Plains County Council. Kerepeehi is situated in the centre of a large district which will some day be much more thickly populated than it is at present, and as large an area as possible was therefore set aside with a view to making adequate provision for future requirements. The reservation over the Guthrie Domain in the Rotorua district was cancelled by section 16 of the Reserves and other Lands Disposal Act, 1932, the land being required in connection with a Native-land development scheme. The legislation provided for the setting-aside of a new recreation area to take the place of the old domain, and during the year under review the new domain was duly constituted, an area of over 18 acres having been made available for the purpose out of Native land. The old Buffalo Domain at Coromandel, which was found to be incapable of development for recreation purposes, has been sold, and the proceeds used towards the purchase of a new ai'ea more suitable for a sports-ground. The purchase was rendered possible by reason of the fact that the proceeds from the sale of the old domain were augmented by certain funds that had been made available in Coromandel for the provision of a recreation-ground there. An area of a little over 6 acres at the mouth of the Waipatiki Stream was made a public domain, together with an area of 29 acres of bush situated a little farther up the stream. The locality is popular, and the beach is a very fine one of yellow sand, probably the best within easy reach of Napier. The Hawke's Bay County Council is represented on the Board of control which has been appointed. At Kaiteriteri, near Riwaka, an area of 2 acres became vested in the Crown on the subdivision of private property, and was constituted a public domain. The beach in this locality is a good one for bathing, and has become very popular since the new coast road was constructed a few years ago. Bathing-sheds have been erected on the road reserve adjoining the new domain, and arrangements may possibly be made later on to include portion of the road reserve in the domain. Four areas of Government road lying between the Grove Road and the waters of Queen Charlotte Sound near Picton were stopped, declared Crown land, reserved for recreation purposes, and made a public domain during the year. These areas are favourite picnic spots, and adequate control of camping is very necessary in the public interest. A Domain Board on which there are representatives of the Department, the Marlborough Coxuity Council, and the Picton Borough Council has been set up to exercise control. An exchange was arranged of an area of 2 acres 0 roods 22-5 perches of the Leamington Domain which had been leased to the Cambridge Dairy Company for many years for an area of 2 acres 2 roods of freehold held by the company. Other exchanges completed during the year were of 3 acres of the Puhoi Domain for some 9 acres of freehold, and of 17 acres 1 rood 24 perches of the Eastbourne Domain for 18 acres 2 roods 4 perches of freehold property. In the latter case the area obtained in exchange contains a favourite camping and picnic spot commonly known as Butterfly Creek, and since the arrangements were completed the Eastbourne Borough Council, which is the controlling authority, has greatly improved the track access and generally developed the area for public use. An area of 62 acres 2 roods of the Kauri Point Domain at Birkenhead was set apart under the Public Works Act for defence purposes during the year. The reservation for domain purposes was cancelled over the following areas during the period under review:— (a) Part of the Oruawharo Domain, comprising 43 acres 3 roods 8 perches. In this case the domain was too large for the requirements of the district, and the reservation over the area mentioned was revoked so that the land can be disposed of for settlement. A small portion of the domain has been retained under reservation. (b) Part of the Patumahoe Domain, comprising 22 acres 0 roods 20 perches. The domain consisted of a small sports area in the township, and an outlying area of some 22 acres. The residents of the district wish to obtain a further playing-field within easy reach of the township, and it is proposed to sell the 22 acres and to devote the proceeds to the purchase of a suitable area.

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