SOUTHLAND WASTE LAND BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 3722, 27 January 1875, Page 3

SOUTHLAND WASTE LAND BOARD.

At the meeting of the Southland Waste Land Board, on Thursday last, Mr O. M‘Arthur, Inspector of Forests, read the following report, dated Invercargill, January 21, 1875 : “ I have the honor to forward my report for the month of December last, showing the quantity of timber cut by the sawmills, viz , 764,354 ft, and the lordship 195 10s lOd Although less than the previous month, it is in reality more, in proportion to the time the mills were at work. There were three under repair during the whole month, and the others were idle during the holidays —or a fourth of the time. “I have also the honor to show, as annexed, the results of the year’s operations, as a whole, and the quantities cut by each mill respectively. Instead, however, of giving the names of the licensees, which might be undesirable, and is not necessary, 1 have given consecutive numbers, whereby each will recognise his own,, but not his neighbor's work. ‘ ‘ It will be seen, also; that three mills only were in operation for the whole year, while the other fourteen averaged about' eight months each. It may. therefore, be reasonably presumed that the result of the work for the year now entered upon may probably amount to doable that of the past, more especially as there are two additional mills neariy ready for work - one at Croydon, and the other at Woody Knoll. “Now that the Survey Department has resumed the original system, I would again I strongly recommend that steps be taken to cut the back lines of bush sections, as formerly suggested; also that blocks of bu hj be laid off in suitable localities for settlers and splitters; and that the Seaward Bush be surveyed in blocks of three or four hundred acres, as at present it is impossible to ascertain whether settlers or licensees are catting on their own ground. “ All licensees are entitled toa renewal of their licenses for the year 1875.” FOREST RETURNS.

Work done by each mill No. Feet. 1—Working 11 months. .. 963,535...£130 8 6 2— Do 7 do ... 463,154... 57 17 11 3- Do 8 do ... 258,641... 32 15 2 4— Do 10 do ... 450,577... 56 6 0 6- Do 11 do ... 926,356... 115 16 0 6- Do 11 do ... 327,081... 40 17 11 7— Do 9 do ... 581,730... 72 14 5 8— Do 12 do ... 816,956... 102 2 3 9— Do 7 do ... 525,348... 65 14 0 10- Do 12 do ... 956,770... 119 11 11 11— Do 7 do ... 437,856 .. 54 2 3 12- Do 11 do ... 411,915... 51 9 3 13— Do 12 do ... 691,589... 87 12 10 14- Do 6 db , ... 440,845... 55 2 2 15- Do 6 do ... 225,060.;. 28 5 0 16— Do 6 do ... 261,660... 32 13 11 17- Do 4 do ... 238,847... 22 17 0 8,977,921 1,123 8 10 Squared logs not in ordinary returns 32 17 6 Settlers and splitters licenses, year ending 31st December, 1374 141 1 10 Total ... . £1,297 8 2