RE-AFFORESTATION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1779, 18 June 1913, Page 3

RE-AFFORESTATION.

KING COUNTRY TIMBER LANDS. Tho following is a summary of a further report prepared by Mr. F. T. Moore m support of • proposals ho lias laid beforo the Prime Minister for reafforesting Iviug Country lands:— "The most fertile area of timber-bear-ing land in the King Country is situate in the vicinity of tho Punpapunga V alloy, at Tauniarumii. Tho are;i of this valley is 30,000 acres. The land is Native owned, with tho exception of tho ivomakariki Block, containing 3000 acres, which is Crown land. Three sawuiilling firms, JJessrs. Hlis and Burnand. Ltd., the Pukuweka Sawmills, Ltd., and tho TaTotara Co.. Ltd., are the present holders of the rights to cut tho whole of tho timber growing in this valley, and its vicinity. One-half of tho area is held by these firms dircct from tho Nativo owners, and tho other half from tho Crown and Messrs. Moore Bro3. # | "Tho above three firms are iiotr cutting . 100,000 ft. of sawn timber daily, which operation gives regular employment to 500 j men. Tho market value of the timber . daily produced by these millers is <£500 sterling. "Upwards of .£200,000 have been. ! invested by these three companies in steel tramways, rolling stock, milling plant, and general establishments. In 20 years hence this costly plant will have to bo scrappcd, 500 men will lose employment, and tho daily production of c£soo worth of merchandise will cease, unless these lands are Teafforested. "It is quite practicablo to reaflorest and maintain in perpetuity the present daily output of .£SOO worth of timber. Owing to the deposits of pumice covering the papa formation of this country, it 19 physically impossible to make this 30,000 acres'of laud produce anything liko .£SOO worth of wool, meat, butler, or other products per day. Common-senss, therefore, suggests that tho land should bo used for tho purposo to which it is best adapted. As a timber plantation, it will employ more labour and give the invested and tho owners of tho land a better return than can be obtained ».by utilising the soil in any other way. The high ranges of scrub-clad hills wlncn surround, this valley afford natural shelter . troin winds, making ideal conditions for tho 'quick growth! of milling trees. "Tho State should use the royalty now being paid for the Native timber crowin? on the block, of Crown land in the Pungapunga Valley in replanting, and make this area a model timber ijlnntation for private enterprise to copy. The government should also enable, the holders of Native milling rights to renew these rights in perpetuity, provided tho holders o£ tho rights reafforest in a thorough niaiiner Immediato consideration should also be given to replanting the largo area of Crown timber laud at kakaln, m the Waimarino Block, which timtwT is now being cut out for tho use of the Public Works Department. This Department should at least pay sufficient royalty for tho Native timbers cut on the block to cover the cost of replanting. "A special Forestry Department should be promptlv established, to collect the whole of the royalties receivabie lor tim-hor-Kroiving 011 Crown lands, and expend these moneys in rcaiToresting, instead of allowing* this revenue to be absorb?d by the consolidated fund. Tho time has now arrived when every shilling received for timber 011 Crown land should bo earmarked for replanting suitable localities, where shelter, soil, and climate are favourable. To attempt to plant barren, wind-swept lands, which cannot produce other than stunted, valueless trees, iiould be rank folly. . , .. "In order to produce m perpetuity a dnilv yield of 100,000 feet; ot timber. .which"is the present output of the Pinigapunga Valley, it would be nsces=arv to replant this valley at iho rate of 300 acres per year. hach acre of land can bo sateiy relied upon to produce within a genera mil at least 100 000 feet of timber in this fayoiued locality. Fifty trees per acre, each containing 2000 feet of timber, is a praeticab.o growth to expcct. A tree 60 feet 111 and 30 inches in diameter, will Jield this quantity of timber."