The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1877.

Dunstan Times, Issue 768, 5 January 1877, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1877.

Beneath the rule of men entirely just the pen is mightier than the sword.

The paper I’ead before a late meeting of the Otago Institute by Captain Campbell Walker of the Indian Forest Department, and the same gentleman who is now engaged reporting upon the forests of New Zealand is highly interesting, not so much that, it affords us very many practical suggestions as to how we are to set to work to preserve our own forests; but as giving us some considerable insight into what other people are doing in the same question. It would be impossible to deal with the same elaborateness as is the case we are told in Germany or France, while we doubt whether we could even emulate the svstem of State Forestry introduced of late years so successfully into India. We have always considered Sir Julius Yogel’s State Forest Scheme as a very far fetched idea, nevertheless, a very good one, could only it be given effect to, but, circumstances are against it, and it will not be during this or the next generation, when thefforests of New Zealand will prove any considerable means of revenue, much less paying off the indebtedness of this Colony. It must be borne in mind that at the present rime, and it is to be hoped for very many years to come we shall continue to be exporters of ■timber to the other parts of the world; this, of itself, necessitates'that the article must be produced at a very cheap rate, or many of our markets will be closed against ns, and no person having a knowledge of the subject can conclude otherwise than that, were our wood cutters and saw millers'to be seriously trammelled with State Forest Regulations, a large por tion of their business would speedily come to an end. No timber supply, as Captain'Campbell Walker truly remarks is inexhaustible, and while not adopting the elaborate means now pursued in Europe and India for preserving in accordance with the means at our disposal should not be done to prevent waste, and a very great deal might be accomplished by making it a punishable offence to cut down any trees of a given description, under one foot in diameter, while, a’so, it should be compulsory upon wood cutters to remove, or carefully burn all useless material they may have fallen. This latter is a very important point, and is the cause of the majority of the conflagrations which destroy our forests and bushes. Any person who has visited the sources from which our supplies of timber are derived, must have readily perceived that were the old trees cut down, and room made for growing young ones, the forests would be much improved. As to planting, there is scarcely any necessity for such a thing, as in the places where indigenous growing timber Is found, the natural shedding of the seed will accomplish all this, it only being a question of room for the young plants to grow. This foot is readily discernible by visiting the small bushes in this and the Wakatip when it wid bo found that where the timber has been entirely removed by miners and others the ground is being rapidly covered by a new and vigorous growth, which, if left alone, would become a forest once more. To prevent, therefore, the destruction of these young saplings would prove a public benefit, almost immediately appreciable. Captain Campbell Walker appears to conclude rather unfavorably of planting timber in the treeless wastes of the interior, and only points to a few localities about Waitaimna and Tuapoka as where trees

ara likely to grow. Perhaps Captain "Walker lias not extended his investigations further inland, or he never would have come to such a oonclnsinn. So far as Tuapeka and Waitahuna are concerned, it appears to us, judging from the luxurious growth of the many gardens and small plantations of trees and shrubs in these districts, that it is almost a question of setting them out to grow to almost entirely cover the land, and any traveller between Dunstan and Tokomairiro must readily perceive this. Taking the country further inland, extending by the valleys of the Molyneux and thoManuherikia as fur as Naseby on the one hand, and outlie other by the Upper Olutha and Kawarau Rivers to Wanaka and Wakatip, there is precisely the same result, as, wherever trees have been planted, they all appear to grow with more or less luxuriance, and even in stony and gravelly places so condemned by Captain Campbell Walker. It may be true that some of the finer and most useful class of trees may not find suitable situations in all cases where they are planted, but there is always some sort of a tree which will flourish —figurativoly.speakin^—if planted on a rock or gravel bed. What we require to ameliorate the acidity of the climate of the interior districts of Otago, are trees of some sort or another, even the comparatively costless and uncientilic operation of setting out a few thousand poplar and willow cuttings would accomplish much in this direction. A most derirable and workable plan to increase the growth of forests, we should imagine, would be the insertion of a clause in every lease of Crown lands, making it compulsory upon the lessee that a certain number of trees annually per acre of the whole leased area should be planted and preserved in a suitable locality, and to be approved by a forest officer. Were something of this sort done the benefits to the community at large would be immeasurable, while even the aspect of nature would be greatly improved. When Captain Campbell Wa'ker makes his official report to the Government thex-e is little to'doubt but that some of the many suggestions contained therein will be anted upon, and some practical scheme arrived at to preserve Tor the use of future generations one of nature’s choicest gifts, aiid of which we should be the trustees and not the destroyers.

The Waikouaiti Herald newspaper has ceased to exist. Mr Donald .Reid, M. H. R., has joined the Ministry as Minister of Lands. The account of the Church of England Picnic, and the Bad in the Town Hall on Wednesday last, and other local matter we are compidled to hold over till next issue ; as also, the second day’s events of the Dry bread' Races. Wo have received a pamphlet entitled “ A few words about the model ship, Samuel P.imsoll, and the opinions of the press on its merits.” The intention of the owner, we believe, is to dispose of it by private sale or by art union. Australian telegrams anent the cricket match between the All England Eleven and the Melbnurnefiften say :--The first innings Melbourne team closed for 190, while the Englishmen scored 135. In the second innings the Australians had five of their best wickets down for three runs, and when the stumps were drawn on the 29th of December, the date of the last intelligence, eight of the Victorian wickets were down for 27. The batting of the Victorians is said to be good,'and the howling and ficldiug of the Englishmen magnificent. Throat Affections and Hoarseness. All suffering from irritation of the throat and hoarseness will he agreeably surprised at the almost immediate relief afforded by the use of “Brown’s Bronchial Troches.’ These famous “lozenges” are now sold by most respectable chemists in this country at Is 1-Jd perhox. People troubled with a ‘ hacking cough,” a “slight cold,” or bronchial affections, cannot try 'them too soon, as similar troubles, if allowed to progress, result in serious Pulmonary and Asthmatic affections. See that the words “ Brown’s Bronchial Troches” are on the Government Stamp around each box. —Manufactured by John I. Brown & Sons, Boston, United States. Depot, 493 Oxford-street, London. Our Auckland evening contemporary possesses a dramatic critic who can push splendidly. This is how he describes Mrs Lingard in “ Our Boys The splendid contour of her flowing figure, the turn of her queenly head, and the graceful elegance attending all'hcr movements, are enough to turn the heads of all the youth of our city. She enhances these natural charms by exquisite taste in her dressing, and by the most delightfully natural coquettishness of manner. If a woman like this will stand upon the stage, and in all the glory of her beauty, the artful artlessness, say ‘ I do no know much about kisses, but I am ready and willing to take an awful lot of teaching,’ can she be displeased if a hundred young follows start in their seats with the scarcely suppressed exclamation, “By Jove, I’m there for one ?” The following description of a visit to Cooktown is taken from a letter received by a gentleman in Melbourne:—"A stranger unacquainted with the many miseries of Cooktown, coming suddenly from the most populated part of the diggings, would think the day of resurrection had arrived, all the men looking as ghostlike and supernatural. You cannot find a mid-dle-condition man on the diggings, all being so thin that their hones actually protrude through their skin ; in fact, although I have been in the army, and almost every country in the world, 1 neves came across such wretched looking people, nor yet lived in such a wretched country as the north of Queensland,”

Mr Dion Boucieault has promised to 1 write a drama, the subject of which will ho the escape of the Fenian convicts from tho Australian .ponal settlement. We have received several lithographic sheet calendars, also Maokay's, and Mills, Dick, and Co.’s book almanacs. These latter are really most useful compilations-of general information, and worthya place in every household and office. Tho calendars, as specimens of the lithographic art, are gems, and are'highly oreditable to tho artists and printca, tho colonial ones comparing very. favorably with those produced in England. Do not laugh at tho drunken man reeling through the street, however ludicrous tho sight may be : just stop to think. He is going homo to some tender heart that will throb with intense agony-; some doting mother, perhaps, who will grieve over the downfall of her once sinless boy ; or it may be a fond wife whose heart will almost burst with grief as she views tho destruction of her idol; or it may be a loving "later, who will shed bitter tears'over-the degradation of her brother, shorn of his manliness and self-respect. Rather drop a tear in silent sympathy with those hearts so keenly sensitive and tender, yet so proud and loyal that they cannot accept sympathy tendered them either mword, look, or act, although it might fall upon their crushed and wounded hearts as refreshingly as the summer dew upon the withering plant. Floriline ! For. the Teeth and Breath,—A few drops of the liquid “ Floriine ” sprinkled on a wet tooth-brush produces a pleasant la'hcr, which thoroughly cleanses the teeth from all parasites or impurities, 'hardens tho gums, prevents tartar, stops decay, gives to tho teeth a peculiar pearly-whiteness, and a delightful fragrance to the breath. It'removes all unpleasant odour arising from decayed teeth or tobacco smoke. “The Fragrant Floriline,” being composed in part of Honey and sweet herbs, is delicious to the taste, and the greatest toilet discovery of the age. Price 2s 6d, of all Chemists and Perfumers. Prepared by Henry C. Gallup, 493 Oxford Street, London. Holloway’s Pills.—To Nervous sufferers—Nervousness, so called has been said to arise from foul blood or a guilty conscience. When the first is the origin, the afflicted may be cheered by the knowledge that a course of Holloway’s Pills will dissipate both cause and effect. Many nervous invalids of long duration have afforded the most remarkable recoveries under these purifying Pills, which have assuaged sufferings of the severest character, and steadily restored the afflicted to com. fort, confidence, and health, after change of climate and every other means had signally failed. Holloway’s Pills renew the lost appetite, and regulate digestion, without permitting those feelings of fullness, flatulency, distension, faintness, and palpitation, which seem to threaten instant death to tho timid and enfeebled.