FORESTRY EFFORT

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 42, 13 November 1920, Page 10

FORESTRY EFFORT

ADMINISTRATIVE WORK

PROCEEDING

THE ORGANISATION OF DISTRICTS

A complete system of organisation for the Dominion in forestry work has just I boon completed and approved'. It inyolves the division of the whole country into seven forest regions, each in charge of a conservator of forests, to bo the executivo olliecr for liis territory. Tho regions are Auckland, Kotonia, Wellington (including Tarnnaki and Hawke's liny, and corresponding roughly with tho Wellington military district), Kelson (including Nelson and Marlborough), iyestliind, Canterbury, and Otniro combined in 0110, and Southland. The regions are further subdivided into forest districts, each in charge of a ranger, 't'hat i 8 Uie territorial organisation. In addition n civil engineer is being retained by the Bepartment. His work will be tho investigation of forest product# and their utilisation, now uses for wood, the oliminntion of waste, and tho utilisation of wasto products, in tho way of distilling wood alcohol and producing tannin. Beinarcation work is to bo in the hands of surveyors. Thero is ftlso to an increase of activity in tho way of forest planting. An officer will lecture to farmers' unions, and assist by giving advice on methods of planting and costs. This is all pari and. parcol of tho schomo encouraging planting by farmers and local bodies.

An increase in the activities of>tlie Bo- I pnrtmejjt lias alrea'dy taken place. Be- i niarcation is to begin in the Oinahutu and Waipoua kauri forests in the far | north, ns soon as the personnel of the Auckland region stall lias been secured bv the Public Works Commissioner. Mi, M'Gregor, of the Auckland University College, is engaged 011 forest investigation work in the life history of the kauri and tho application of tho facta secured to economic conditions. Mr. Fowerakei is doing tho saino thing with regard to tho trees indigenous to the West Coast of tho South Island. Officers of tho Department have just completed a general reconnaissance of tho country from the Tlrewera to Hicks Bay. This nas been found to be very valuable t from tho stream regulation point of view, and for VUe protection of 'forests. Their report should be available very soon. The last season's work at tho Rotorua Stnto Nurseries has included among other things the-.jreparation of 1300 I ocrcfl for planting, ftnd the planting of one and n half million trees. Hero, also, eight and a half million seedlings were raised this spring, and are being brought to a suitable size for planting out next winter. A feature of the Bepartment's work which lias gamed great popularity, among 'irmors 1 » *he distribution of troca and seed? at cost price and the advice and instruction given to intending planters. Under this scheme 315,001) trees have been distributed to farmers in tho North Islhnd during the past winter. Soldier settlers have received even more consideration. The Bcpnrl nient has, during the proscnt season, distributed to bona-flde applicants iree of charge 03,000 trees. _ -