The Evening Star THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1874.

Evening Star, Issue 3676, 3 December 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1874.

The proceedings nt the sitting of the Waste Land Board yesterday were more than usually interesting, on account of Ranger Hughan’s report respecting the Popotunoa, Wairuna, and Merrie Creek Bushes. We fancy that were faithful reports received of most of the hush lands throughout the Province, pretty much the same state of things would be discovered, and where sawmill licenses have been granted, it would be found that waste, instead of economy of timber is the rule. In no department of management of the public estate of Otago is there greater necessity for reform than in that of its forests. We have frequently called attention to the sacrifices which have been made in parting with large areas of bush land to private speculators, who, taking advantage of public apathy, have been enabled to buy it at the usual price of rural lands, and have thus obtained the right to lock up from use timber of unknown value. We do not know that this has occurred lately, although even yet there is not so strict a supervision as there should be of the real worth of much of the land sold, prior to applications to purchase being granted. But when occupation of bush lands is allowed on conditions like those on which Mr Pollock holds the lease alluded to, it is of the utmost importance they should be enforced, Por our own parts we hold that sawyers, splitters, and lessees of sawmills should be required to provide at least two plants of forest trees or the value of them for every one they cut down, such plants to be placed at proper times of the year in reserves provided and prepared for the purpose. To destroy without taking means to reproduce is wicked and wanton waste; yet this has been the practice hitherto. Where the fee simple has been parted with this cannot be avoided. The system ;s to blame for that; but where the Province retains the power to compel planting, it should be strictlv and rigorously enforced. It does not appear ftom the Ranger’s report that Mr Pollock was limited to or expected to plant blue gums ; so that the excuse tendered by him concerning the difficulty of rearing them merely amounts to saying he had made a mistake as to the class of trees he had planted, and that those lie had selected were not suited to the conditions of .soil and climate ; and as for expecting the Government to assist him by providing seedlings of English trees, it seems to us that lie is asking something beyond tile terms on which he agreed to undertake the work. The theory of private enterprise in matters concerning which the profit is problematical, or at least is so far distant that the tenant is not likely to reap it, is well illustrated in the case of Mr Pollock. ' He has planted a class of trees that make a large quantity of wood in a few years, provided they live and grow ; but which in certain situations are somewhat delicate and bad to rear, and even when they have reached considerable size are liable to be cut off by frost. What other trees arc in the ground we are not told by Ranger Hugh an, but whatever they may be Mr Pollock seems to have stuck them into the soil and left them there, to grow if they will, or to die if they cannot help it. He seems to have acted as if be thinks young nurslings will thrive without attention; and that because when they grow, they increase while men are sleeping, man need do nothing to help these plants of his own rearing. Endeavoring to look at this lease of his from Mr Pollock’s view it seems to be this, “ What profit shall I reap in spending money in looking after those trees] Even if the blue gums live, it will be fifteen or twenty years before they will be useful as timber, and other trees will be even longer than that. I am, therefore, very probably laying out money for somebody who will reap the results ot my labor and capital, when I am in my grave and forgotten. The interest I have in the bush, therefore, is very trifling. I have already planted the ground once and the trees have died— I am not going to be at more expense in the matter.” This style of reasoning is not confided to Mr Pollock, but is in vogue more or less with many owners of property. Although trees afford excellent shelter for cattle and sheep, and belts of them would, therefore improve runs in various ways, for hundreds of miles to the northward scarcely a tree can be seen. Private enterprise has not proved sufficient inducement to planting. And what is the result ] Ask builders and contractors, and they will tell you that certain kinds of timber cannot be obtained. Some months ago a. report on the forests of Southland informed the people of Otago of the vast store of wealth there was in them ; yet the General Government has been compelled to go to Oregon for sleepers for railways. Only last week two contractors were conversing about matters connected with their undertakings, when one said to the other that he found it impossible to obtain a supply of black pine, suitable for bis work, excepting at a price that was almost prohibitory ; when the other replied he would engage to supply him witli red guin from Victoria considerably under

the price named, and that it would suit his purpose better. Tims, with a stock that should lead to supplying Victoria, we are directed thither for supplies. Two very important questions are raised by these facts First, what regulations interfere to prevent a full supply of timber for our own purposes, at suitable prices ! Secondly, what system shall be adopted for replacing the timber brought into consumption! We consider Mr Vogel’s Forests Bill solved the latter : the hindrances by which industry is fettered require searching and careful investigation. It is plain the Provincial Government 1 n fins J lino ,1 ~