c.—lo.

1942. N E W ZE ALA ND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. PUBLIC DOMAINS AND NATIONAL PARKS OF NEW ZEALAND (ANNUAL REPORT ON).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Department of Lands and Survey, Sib, — Wellington, Ist August, 1942. I have the honour to submit a report on the public domains and national parks of the Dominion for the year ended 31st March, 1942. I have, &c., R. G. Macmokban, The Hon. the Minister of Lands. Under-Secretary for Lands.

REPORT. PART I.—PUBLIC DOMAINS. At the 31st March, 1942, the total number of public domains administered under the provisions of Part II of the Public Reserves, Domains, and National Parks Act, 1928, was 808, covering a total area of some 79,018 acres. Fifty-five of these domains are controlled by the various Commissioners of Crown Lands, 280 are controlled by local authorities acting as Domain Boards, and the remaining 473 are controlled by local Boards appointed from time to time. During the year fourteen new domains with a total area of 1,043 acres were reserved and brought under Part II of the Act and arrangements made for their control. Additions totalling 596 acres were also made to twenty-five existing domains. Brief mention may be made of some of the interesting areas constituted as public domains : An area of approximately 66 acres of Mr. G. F. Pulley's property at Karori, Wellington, was acquired and designated the Johnston's Hill Domain. The purchase-price was £2,500,' of which £1,250 was contributed by the Wellington City Council, and £500 by the Department,' the remaining £750 having been raised by public subscription as a result of efforts made by a joint committee representing the Wellington Beautifying Society and the Karori Progressive Association. The domain contains some 20 acres of bush and commands a magnificent view of the surrounding country. The control of the area has been placed in the hands of the Wellington City Council, acting in the capacity of a domain board. The reservation was completed over an area of 250 acres situated adjacent to the beach settlements known as Kairaki and the Pines near Kaiapoi, Canterbury. This reserve, comprising mostly sand-dunes, has been constituted as the Kairaki Domain. Planting operations are to be carried out on part of the domain which is suitable for development as a recreation and picnic ground. A property of 655 acres situated at Orokawa Bay, near Waihi, in the Auckland District, acquired by the Crown in 1940 from the Shaw Estate, was constituted as a public domain and placed under the control of the Waihi Borough Council. The domain contains an extensive area of good pohutukawa bush and has a long and attractive sea-frontage. When circumstances permit the completion of a proposed exchange between the Crown and the owner of an adjacent freehold property it is intended to add to the domain some 550 acres of Crown land, the greater part of which is in bush. An area of approximately 17 acres on Kaiti Hill, Gisborne, acquired by the local returned soldiers' association and transferred to the Crown, was constituted as the Titirangi Domain. This land faces the spot where Captain Cook first landed in New Zealand and possesses considerable historical interest. It commands a general view of Gisborne and the sea-coast. The Piha Beach Domain, which has been placed under the control of a Board of local residents, comprises an area of 7£ acres which became vested in the Crown for recreation purposes on the subdivision of private land adjoining the beach. The domain, which is situated near Auckland City, is eminently suitable for use as a picnicking and camping ground.