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The lease stipulates that the lessee shall have the exclusive right of providing the accommodation and other services mentioned in the lease, subject to the condition that should the Board at any time consider that further huts or hostels are necessary for the accommodation of the public, then the lessee is to have the first offer of providing such additional building or buildings. Should the lessee refuse or fail to accept such offer, then the right is reserved to the Board to itself erect such additional buildings, or to grant a further lease or leases to any person or company, with such ancillary easements, powers, and rights as the Board may see fit to grant. The Board has reserved the right to grant leases for bungalow-sites within the park, but such sites may not be used for letting purposes or for any trade or business. Further, the Board has reserved to itself the right to erect shelter-huts or mountain-houses, or to grant rights therefor, at an altitude exceeding 4,000 ft. This latter provision is to meet the needs of sports clubs and to afford accommodation in the future for the general mountaineer. The terms and conditions of the lease referred to have been decided upon after very careful deliberation. To arrive at a basis whereby the balance may be evenly held between the interests of the private lessee on the one hand and the public rights on the other has been no light task, but it is considered that the tenancy offered is a fair proposition viewed from both standpoints. The Board recognizes that a hostel is required to enable the public of New Zealand and oversea tourists to visit the park with a reasonable degree of comfort, but, in view of the very limited financial resources of the Board, it is considered that private enterprise should be afforded an opportunity of supplying the services required, under a reasonable franchise. Dining-hall and Social Room at Whakapapa. A social room, 30 ft. by 16 ft., with kitchen, 16 ft. by 10 ft., attached, was erected during the year, the total cost being £334. This building has proved a great convenience to the parties making their headquarters at Whakapapa. Addition to Park Area. By the passing of section 40 of the Reserves and other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Act, 1925, a further area of 4,643 acres, being parts of the Rangataua North Nos. 1 and 3 Blocks, was added to the park. This land was formerly part of a provisional State forest lying to the south of the park, and is traversed by the track leading to the Ohakune Hut. The thanks of the Board are due to the State Forest Service for the ready co-operation with the Board in approaching the Government for the necessary legislation. The area of the park now stands at 149,470 acres. Bruce Road. The following is a summary of the work carried out to the 31st March, 1926, under the supervision of the Public Works Department:— Formation : The work completed to 31st March includes 4 miles 6 chains of 18 ft. formation from Waimarino-Tokaanu Road to Whakapapa Huts; temporary bridge over the Whakapapa River; and 3 miles 12 chains of metalling. Formation is generally through pumice country intersected with swamps, and, where necessary, has been formed with pumice as a foundation for the metal. _ Culverting : Concrete culverts have been used throughout, and can be considered permanent; draining has been of a comprehensive nature, and no [trouble should be experienced in this connection in the future. Temporary bridge : This has been constructed of mountain-beech. It is a platform bridge, consisting of two 20 ft. spans, 12 ft. wide. Metalling : Metalling has been carried out to 3 miles 12 chains, a good class of volcanic stone being laid to the extent of 15 cubic yards per chain ; 74 chains of metalling remain to complete the work. Milling Operations. In accordance with the agreement reached with the Prisons Department, milling operations have, been carried out so as to leave intact the bush on the steep face a little to the north-east of Erua. The question of approaching the Government for power to grant other timber by way of exchange for the bush left on the steep face is now under consideration, but it is probable that the Board will arrange with the Prisons Department to discontinue milling operations in the area altogether. Forest adjacent to Ohakune. At the last meeting of the Board, held on the 18th December, 1925, a proposal was submitted that the timber should be milled on an area of approximately 62 acres situated adjacent to Ohakune Railway-station. It was, however, decided that consideration of the proposal should be deferred pending an inspection on the ground by members of the Board. The arguments brought forward in support of the proposal were that this block of timber was more or less in an isolated position, with the ever-present danger of fires spreading from the adjoining land and destroying the bush. The estimated quantity of timber is 1,860,000 superficial feet, valued at £4,650. It is probable that the Board will not favourably consider this proposal at the present time,

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