"UGLY BARRENNESS."

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 904, 25 August 1910, Page 7

"UGLY BARRENNESS."

COTJLD THE RIMUTAKAS BE ,- REGLOTHED?: . '/ . A strong plea for the afforestation, of the Rimutakas" was made by. Mr. Buchanan, M.P. for Wairarapa, iri.tho House of Representatives yesterday. • Ho declared that the original . forests were a very pleasing sight, but now the locality bore tho appearance of ugly 1 barrenness. A good deal of tho loss of tho forests was, he contended, due to fires which originated along the railway lino. Wandering stock had also been responsible for tho destruction of native plants. Ho felt quite sure that it would bo possiblo to reclotho the Rimutakas. Touching upon this question later, the Hon. T. Mackenzie (Minister for Agriculture) said that to reclotho tho Rimytakas would bo a work of extreme difficulty, as much of tho land was barren rock. Mr. Buchanan: Oh, no. ■ Mr. Mackenzie declared that tho soil in tho locality had' boon destroyed as the result of 'the forost fires. It would,bo a long time before, a-sufficient' quantity of humus would bo restored to enable plant lifei. to flourish. . Ho would liko to remind Mr. Buchanan of the difficult}'" whioh settlors on tho right-hand sido of tho Hutt"• Valley found in growing plants, etc., even with manures. . Mr. Buchanan: Mr. Dnthio's homestead is an instance to tho contrary. Mr. Mackenzie: No, it substantiates what I say. . ■ ■ _ t In conclusion, Mr. Mackenzie stated 'that there c.oulcl bo no doubt but that tho surfacemen in Now Zealand took ' tho utmost care to prevent damage be-.| ing dono by tho spreading of fire. Subsequently Sir. Buclianan pointed out that pinus insignia planted 15 yoars ago had grown to 21in. in diameter on Mr. Dutbio's property without an ounce of manure. ' Mr. Mackenzie: His property is not on tho Rimutakas, and his property could not bo called poor. (Laughter.)