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this district of unrivalled natural features six areas of Crown land of great scenic value, including Lakes Rasselas, Paringa, and Ellery, were set aside as permanent reserves. Lake Paringa is. of Unique shape and remarkable beauty, and is completely surrounded by forest, which will later be reserved to the skyline so as to preserve to the full the scenic value of the lake. The land concerned is State forest; but the Forest Service has willingly consented to hand the required areas over... to this Department for reservation under the Scenery Preservation Act. Lake Ellery is an outstanding scenic gem of a beauty which it would be difficult to surpass. Here again large areas of surrounding State forest are being made available in order to worthily complete the scenic reservation. Reservations in the Canterbury Land District were limited to a few small areas in South Canterbury, including an area of acres in the Waihi Gorge donated by members of the Barker family for the purpose of providing ready access to a scenic reserve across the river and an area of 5 acres near the junction of the Opuha and Opihi Rivers containing some small limestone caves with rock paintings and carvings of some historic interest. The latter area was surrendered by a Crown lessee from his lease to facilitate action for reservation, and has been set apart for scenic and historic purposes. The Mackenzie County Council has undertaken to securely fence part of the area with a netting fence. Near the coast in the Taieri district, Otago, an area of 60 acres of Crown land was reserved under the Act. It consists largely of a steep-sided gully, and carries a fair stand of native bush of some scenic value. The land was applied for by an adjoining owner as an addition to' his holding ; but it was decided that it would be a mistake to attempt to clear the bush and that the area should be made a permanent reserve. The areas set apart throughout the Dominion during the year may be roughly classified as follows : Area Class of Land. (Acres). Gift areas .. .. .. .. .. .. 487 Land purchased by the Crown .. .. .. .. 2,073 Crown land areas .. .. .. .. 6,145 State forest land .. .. .. .. .. 92 Crown leasehold areas made available in various ways .. 1,870 Public reserves .. .. .. . . 1,104, Land purchased by the Crown assisted by local bodies, &c. .. 14 Maori land acquired by way of exchange .. .. .. 132 11,917 The reservation over three areas totalling 199 acres was cancelled during the year. The Rochfort Scenic Reserve of 136 acres at Ohakune has for many years, given the Department a great deal of concern. At one time it carried a magnificent stand of bush; but unfortunately through exposure, gales, and fires such inroads have been made into the reserve that hope of saving the bush has had to be abandoned. The remaining trees have reached maturity, and as they are growing in shallow soil over an iron pan and have no protection from the prevailing winds they are exceedingly liable to be uprooted by severe gales from time to time. It was therefore reluctantly decided that the reservation should be cancelled and the remaining trees disposed of to the best advantage. The reserve was, with others in the district, controlled by the Ohakune Lakes Scfenic Board, which agreed' to relinquish control of the Rochfort Reserve in order that the reservation might be cancelled. The proceeds from the sale of timber will be used towards the purchase of bush land in the locality for addition to the Tongariro National Park. The reservation over an open area of 50 acres 3 roods 23-6 perches of the Brown River Scenic Reserve under the control of the Pelorus Scenic Board was revoked, and the land incorporated in the adjoining State forest. The arfea so dealt

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