WAIPOUA FOREST.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1807, 21 July 1913, Page 4

WAIPOUA FOREST.

BIG AREA FOR SETTLEMENT.

The throwing open* of the Waipoua State kauri forest in tho north of Auckland district, which is recommended by tho Forestry Commission in their report, will, if given effect to, have an important bearing upon the progress of settlement in that part of the Dominion. Tho commission rccomniends tho lifting of tho reservation on the whole of the area, with the exception of a park of 200 acres. llr. J. G. Ooates, member for ICaipara, in conversation with a reporter on Saturday, pointed out that tho result of the removal of the reservation would be that approximately 21,000 acres of Stato forest, and from 16,000 to 20,000 acres of ordinary Crown lands adjacent to the forest, would be available for settlement as soon as the timber was removed. The quantity of timber in the State forest is estimated at not less than three hundred million superficial feet. Tho question as to whether tho proposed State sawmill should be established in the Waipoua forest or on tho Northern Wairoa River, is one which, it is stated, remains to bo decided. Whether millers shall bo permitted to purchase tlio timber on tho Crown lands adjoining the Waipoua forest, with a view of its early removal, thus preparing tho way for rapid settlement, is another question which will probably como up for tho Governments consideration. ' Tlio putting into effect of the recommendation, said Mr. Coates will probably result in the extension of tnc railway from Waima—a distance of some sixmiles—to Donnelly's Crossing. I his railway, it is considered, would altord an outlet to a large area of settled country round alxnit Katui Orana and Mangatu, all on tho .outskirts of the forest, l.lic extension of the lino would also givo access to millions of feet of milling timber on private lands, which arc.at present inaccessible. The opening up of tins largo area of country will be ot great lnuioill- - to Dargaville, and tho whole of tho Northern Wairoa district. _ _ The report of the commission will bo discussed by the House at an early date.