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APPENDIX. REPORTS OF NATIONAL PARK BOARDS, TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK BOARD- , (W. Robertson, Under-Secretary for Lands, Chairman.) Meetings of the Wellington Executive of the Board were held on 12th April and 20th December, 1935, and Ist February, 1936, to deal with the business of the Board, and it was not found necessary to call a full meeting of members. Ruapehu Ski Club's Hxjt. This matter was further considered at a meeting of the Wellington Executive on the 12th April, 1935, Mr. Marchant and Mr. Blyth being also present. It was decided —subject to the approval of the Board—that permission be granted to the Ruapehu Ski Club to either extend the present Glacier Hut or to build a separate hut on a site in the vicinity, the sleeping-accommodation in such hut not to exceed twelve bunks. A special sub-committee was set up to approve of plans and determine the location of the site. Board members subsequently confirmed the recommendations of the Wellington Executive, and after approval of the plans of the new hut and the location of the site by the sub-committee permission was granted to enable the club to proceed. At the close of the year the exterior of the hut was practically completed. Reservoirs at Ertja. Permission has been granted by the Board to the Wanganui Sash and Door Factory and Timber Co., Ltd., to construct two reservoirs with pipe-line leading to the company's mill at Erua. The upper or high-pressure reservoir will be used only in cases of emergency in connection with fires, and is not to be used for general purposes connected with the mill. Tracks. The Manager at the Chateau (Mr. L. J. Bayfeild) advises that during the year attention has been given to the various tracks, huts, &c., and the usual route to the top of Ruapehu is now better poled than it has ever been, and the same remark applies to the track to Ketetahi Springs. It is hoped that extension and repair of the Scoria Flat road will be undertaken after the present winter season. Whakapapa Gorge. This gorge, although not situated within the boundaries of the Tongariro Park, is nevertheless included in State lands reserved partly for defence purposes and partly for forestry purposes. Following on representations by His Worship the Mayor of Auckland (Mr. E. Davis) arrangements were made with the State Forest Service and the Defence Department to conserve the forest growth and natural scenic features at this spot. Deer. The officer in charge of the Waikune Prison reports that Warder Carson and AVarder Vincent shot 81 deer, 1 sow and litter, under permits issued by the Board. Winter Sports and Excursions to the Park. The Manager at the Chateau reports that the winter sports held during the period under review were more popular than ever, and the accommodation at the Chateau and in the various huts was fully taxed. This year the New Zealand Championships are to be held at the Park, and also for the first time a team of Australian skiers is to be present. The inter-colonial contests will take place immediately after the championships are completed. The following clubs have kindly submitted short accounts of visits of their members to the Park during the year under review, and extracts from these accounts are quoted:— The Ruapehu Ski Club (Inc.). —"The past year has been an active and successful one for the club. The Winter Sports Party made the 1 usual visit at the end of August and approximately seventy members took part. The reduction in numbers was due to the Dominion Championships being held at Mt. Cook this year. " Snow conditions were the best obtaining for some years, and the usual club ski sports were held, although somewhat delayed by inclement weather and poor visibility. " During the year work was commenced on the new glacier hut, which is now approaching completion. With this purpose in view working parties were on the mountain on every holiday and many week-ends from the winter onwards transporting materials, building foundations, and preparing the site. Tractor transport was made use of as far as possible, but, although a good track was formed by club members from the end of the Scoria Flat road to the "site, snow and weather conditions often made any transport other than man-power impracticable. On the last half-mile, of course, the use of any form of vehicle was out of the question. As a result of this most of the material had to be man-handled up the mountain. Incidentally, the tractor track mentioned above has proved of considerable value to people visiting the mountain. " The weather during many of these working parties can only be described as execrable, and culminated in the storm of February, when much of the roofing-iron stacked on the site was blown away and lost.

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