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During the year portion of the Mayfield Domain of 1| acres was set apart as a site for a public hall for the district. The reservation over about f- acre of the Kaikoura Domain was changed to a reserve for county buildings, as county offices were erected on this area some years ago. The reservation of slightly over acre of the Featherston Domain was revoked as this small area had been held under lease for many years and is used for an automobile-servicing station. It was not required for recreation and had never been so used. The reservation for recreation purposes over Lauder Domain, Otago Land District, was cancelled. This domain, constituted in 1884, is in Central Otago about 120 miles from Dunedin, and originally contained 200 acres. Some years ago 105 acres was sold to the Vincent Jockey Club, which has used the area, as a racecourse. Owing to the general topography of the balance, the greater part is not suitable for recreation, and most of it will be sold as farming-land. PART lI—NATIONAL PARKS The various controlling Boards report considerable progress in overtaking arrears of maintenance and development work held over during the war years. Some necessary projects are still incomplete due to shortages of essential materials. The Egmont National Park is becoming increasingly popular with alpinists, tourists,, and local visitors, so much so that difficulty is now being experienced in catering for the large number who patronize this resort. The roads giving access to the hostels are called upon to carry very heavy traffic throughout the year, and the Works Department is at present busily engaged on enlarging and improving the road up to Dawson Falls. There is only a one-way road to the North Egmont Hostel and all traffic has to be checked in and out. It would be very difficult indeed to form a two-way road. The Board has been concerned for some time past with the damage and destruction caused by opossums and to a lesser extent by goats. There are only two rangers on the park area to give attention to these matters, and although various blocks have been let to trappers, there appears to be no appreciable decrease in the number of opossums. One result of the presence of goats and opossums has been an increase in the amount of erosion, and this aspect of the problem is being examined by a special committee appointed for that purpose. Increased Government assistance was made available to the Board during the year to enable urgent improvements to be carried out. Excellent results have been achieved by deer-control parties in the Tongariro' National Park, and this pest has now been practically eliminated from the park area. Various clubs operating within the park are erecting huts, which will be of high-standard construction. They are intended primarily for the use of club members, but will be available to any one in the case of an emergency. The erection of these huts will prove a great boon to skiing and tramping enthusiasts, and will provide a means for the fuller use and enjoyment of park lands. Further repair work to tracks and bridges on the park was carried out during the year. The purchase from Mr. J. S. Cameron of some 2,085 acres at Totaranui for addition to the Abel Tasman National Park was completed during the year. This area contains some very fine native bush, and in addition it will enable access to be obtained to the northern part of the park by a fair motor road. The foreshore of the property along Totaranui Bay has been set aside for camp sites and for the use of visitors generally. Included in the area purchased from Mr. Cameron is 125 acres of farm land, and this area,, together with the dwelling, cow-shed, and other buildings, has been leased for a term of fourteen years. The Arthur Pass National Park Board was granted Government assistance during the year to carry out improvements on the park and to assist in the payment of a fulltime caretaker. Further roading and other improvements have also become necessary in the Arthur Pass Township. The Board has this work in hand and is also arranging more suitable accommodation for the caretaker.

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