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SUPERVISION OF RESERVES During the year special Boards were appointed or reappointed as follows: the Ohakune Lakes Scenic Board to control the Ohakune Lakes Scenic Reserves; the Hae Hae te Moana Scenic Board to control the Hae Hae te Moana Scenic Reserves; the Whangaroa County Council to control the Ranfurly Bay Scenic Reserve; the Lake Rotoiti Scenic Board to control the Lake Rotoiti Scenic Reserves; the Hutt County Council to control the Lowry Bay Scenic Reserve; the Lyttelton Harbour Board to control the Ripa Island Historic Reserve; and the Rawene To-wn Board to control a scenic reserve in Hokianga suburbs. Vacancies in various Boards were filled, and additional members were appointed to the Hutchison and New Plymouth Scenic Reserve Boards. Forty-eight gentlemen were appointed throughout the Dominion as honorary Inspectors of Scenic Reserves. The Department is greatly helped in the task of safeguarding scenic reserves by the keen interest shown by the public-spirited people who accept appointment as honorary Inspectors. Despite extreme pressure of work in other directions, as many inspections as possible have been made by members of the field staff of the Department itself, and the Ranger on Stewart Island made periodical inspections of the reserves on the island throughout the year. Caretakers are in residence on the Trounson Kauri Park Reserve and the Balls' Clearing (Puketitiri, Hawke's Bay Reserve). GENERAL It is pleasing to be able to report that the past year proved a great improvement on the preceding one, when the very existence of some of the more important scenic reserves in various parts of the country was menaced by fire. Fire damage during the year under review was practically nil, although very dry conditions obtained in some districts in the hotter months. Some minor cases of trespass were reported, and appropriate action was taken in all cases. The usual maintenance and improvement work was carried out on Trounson Kauri Park, which maintains its great popularity with the general public. The Cape Kidnapper Bird Sanctuary again attracted many hundreds: of visitors during the nesting season, and the collection-box held by one of the honorary Rangers at Clifton, who also issues the necessary permits to visitors, yielded good returns to the controlling Board. Some small grants were made to Scenic Boards for fencing and general improvements, and the Department itself attended to the fencing of a few reserves. FUTURE OPERATIONS A good many Crown areas have been listed for reservation in the near future, and should prove valuable additions to the Dominion's scenic reserves. In particular, it is hoped during the coming year to complete the settingapart of large areas of Crown land and State forest in South Westland, many of them on the route of the Main South Road. The ready co-operation of the State Forest Service in this connection is gratefully acknowledged. It is proposed, as funds and opportunities permit, to continue the purchase of selected areas of private land that possess scenic attractions, and it is hoped that more gifts will be made by owners to the State of bush and other areas that they would like to see dedicated to the public for all time. The continued co-operation of local bodies in the acquisition of scenic areas in their districts is also confidently anticipated.

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