WASTE OF TIMBER.

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 140, 23 May 1892, Page 2

WASTE OF TIMBER.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR. Sir— The great waste of timber that is yearly taking place in New Zealand can ' only 6nd in one thing, viz. : That in a very short time — say 25 to 50 years — there will not be timber to be had for building purposes, and very little for fuel. Then the public and the authorities, I suppose, will wake up and realise their position, and bewail the system that has devastated their land. We are now entering into the season for bushfelling, and looking over the local papers you can read the various advertisements for felling hundreds of thousands of acres. Some of the lands contain splendid trees fit for convertion into building timber; not a single foot of this will be saved, but all devoured by fire. A few trees will be sawn and split up for fencing purposes, and that is about all that will be done with this valuable property. Only think of the waste of money. First, the price paid for falling, then the value of the timber destroyed, all lo3fc except a mass of black logs. I know the land is wanted for pasturage, and that stock cannot be put on land unless the trees are down ; but is there not some way in which the valuable timber can be saved ? Where are the sawmill proprietors ? Even " pit" sawyers could save some of these fine logs, instead of them rotting away on the ground. Some will say thai; the timber cannot begot out of the bush, but " where there's the will there's the way " out of the difficulty. In America, Norway, Sweden, South Australia, and New South Wales the authorities are on the alert, and are planting millions of forest trees to take the place of those cut down, as the number of large trees is so small they know if they do not reserve their stock the revenue and the people will suffer. k man takes up land here from the Government, and the most stringent orders are served upon him that he must fell a certain number of acres each year. Every other object is lost sight of; fcbe trees cuust come down, be burnt, cleared away, and grass sown. Why is it so imperative ? Why cannot a person save his trees? I think the subject is not thought about enough ; it is time now, surely, it should be thoroughly gone into. lam told that ' it is impossible to grow the native trees. Why, I cannot understand. If they will not grow, why not grow the oak, beecb, ash, and baltic pine, and so have a reserve of trees for future use? I throw out these hints in the hopes that some more able person may take up the question, and

so direct the attention of the Minister^ of Agriculture and members of local bodies to this most pressing matter. I am, &c, H.T. Kiwitea Road Board « The ordinary tnonthlv meeting of the aboye Board was held at the Board's i office on Saturday last. Present — Messrs Taylor (chairman), Morton, Shannon, Eeid. Homer, Burton, Lucas, Jones, and Williamson. The minutes of the previous general and special meeting were read and confirmed. The following correspondence was read : From Colonial Secretary's office, returmng petition re proposed Pohangina Road District for the necesssry declarations required by the Act. From E. Hopkins, calling attentiou to the state of the side ditch on the Pohangina road near his property. From Taylor and Kevern applying for payment for felling bush on road line fronting sections 4 and 5, Ongo. From T. Smith applying for payment for felling bush on road line fronting sections 15. block VI, Apiti. From J. Powell, re payment for felling bußh on road hne fronting sections 82, block VII, Ongo. From T. Barrett, requesting the Board to form a portion of the Managoira road. From T. Bredin, re transfer of name on rate roll. From D. McXenzie requesting the Board to place Mr F. L. Jackson's name on the rate book fer sections one and m'no block VII and XI, Pohau»ina. From H. Dickin, requesting that his name be placed on the rate book for section 49, Pohangina ; and also asking the Board to take steps to have the road made to allow him access to the property. From A. Fergusson, re fence along Kimbolton road. From G-. E. Richards, asking the Board to have a bridle track made on Tapuae road. From Mrs S. J. Pitts, applying for charitable aid as her husband has beeu ill for sometime. From A. Homer, forwarding copy of letter received from Government re met tailing Kimbolton and Oroua Valloy road. From H. Whishaw, calling attention to the state of Edward's street and asking the Board to have the creeks culyerted. From Secretary to Treasury, stating that the Board's application for loau of £9470 for expenditure during the present and three successive years was informal, and should be amended to coraplj- -with the Act. From Clerk Eangitikei County Council calling attention for the necessity for combined action being taken by the settlers on both sides of the Kangitikei river for the eradication of the small bird nuisance, and that it was thought if clubs were formed in the various local districts much more execution might be done. From Colouial Secretary's Office, asking the clerk to inform the settlors in the Feilding Small Farm Block signing the petition praying that their lands may not be included in the proposed new road district of Pohangina, that there appears to be no provision for dealing with such counter petition. From Commissioner of Crown Lands, asking for some reason why the Board had applied for section 20 of tne Waituna Village* Settlement as a gravel reserve. From Town Cleik, Feilding, forwarding a resolution paesed by the Council stating the necessity of the evening tram from Wellington right through and asking the Baard to co-operate in securing the concession required. From J. Shapleski, asking the Board to take over a portion of the Kimbolton road metalling contract when it was in passing order. With reference to the above application the Engineer reported that Mr Shapleski had slummed hid contract and that he had ordered him (Mr Shapleski) to put 4 loads to the chain on the road when he would recommend the Board to take it over. GENERAL. Proposed by Mr Lucas, seconded by Mr Burton, That (he offer of the (iovernment to find £480 for the purpose of mettalling the Oroua Valley road provided the Board will supplement the amount £ for£, be accepted.— Carried. Proposed by Mr Homer, seconded by Mr Burton, That the Secretary write to the Government stating that tenders have been called for the metalling north of Peep o' Bay and that the lowest; tender is £733 18s or £4 2s per chain, which the Engineer thinks reasonable, and further ask if the Government will contnbute the balance to complete the work.—Carried. Proposed by Mr Morton, seconded by Mr Jones, That Mrs Pitt receive 10a per week for another month. Proposed by Mr Homer, seconded by Mr Reid, That the Engineer remove Mr Fergusson's fence as suggested by him.— Carried. Proposed by Mr Shaunon, seconded by Mr Beid, That at a special meeting to be held on Saturday, the 18th day of June, a special rate of one penuy and seveneights of a penny in the pound to be struck on the rateable value of the rateable property in the Ongo Ward to pay interest on £5000 loan under Loan to Local Bodies Act, 1886.— Carried. Proposed by Mr Homer, seconded by Mr Burtou, That the name of Alex. Munro be placed on the rate roll for sections 49 and 50, block XIII. Apiti, in place of H. S. Munro, and that permission be given to fell the road line applied for, also that the name of Joseph Greaves be placed on the roll in place of J. D. Tripe.— Carried. Proposed by Mr Lucas, seconded by Mr Taylor, That G. E. Harrison's name be placed on roll instead of Henry Cornfoot, section 1 block VI. Pohangina, and that of William Cornfoot in place of Henry Cornfoot for sections 2 and 3, block VI. Pohangina, and H. Dickin, in place of Rogers and Parker, for section 49 block XIV. Pohangina Survey District, and that of F. L. Jackson in place of D. Mackenzie, for sections 1 and 9, blocks VII. and XL, Pohangina Survey District. — Carried. j Proposed by Mr Burton, seconded by Mr Lucas, That notice be given to owners of trees overhanging roads in the Feilding Special Settlement, to fall the same within one month from date or the Board will take steps to fall them at the expense of the owners. — Carried. Proposed by Mr Reid, seconded by Mr Shannon, That a special meeting be held on Saturday 18fch June, for the purpose of striking a special rate for the purpose of paying interest on loan in Sandon Small Farm Block. — Carried. Proposed by Mr Homer, seconded by Mr Burton, That another application be made for all thirds due on the Tapp Road Pemberton, and that the road be felled and cleared as far as the money will permit, also that an application be made for the thirds due to Edwards street, and spent according to the request of H. Wishaw.— Carried. Proposed by Mr Reid seconded by Mr Williamson, That the Board while agreeing with the proposals of the Feilding Borough Council, re matter of a second train from Wellington would recommend that the first train to Wellington should depart from Feilding instead of Palmerston as at present. — Carried. Proposed by Mr Morton, seconded by Mr Burton, That teuders be called for 600 yards of metal to be delivered on the Kimbolcon road between Bryce's road and Birmingham.— Carried. Proposed by Mr Lucas, seconded by Mr Jones, That tenders be called for forming a mile of Finnis' road. — Carried. Proposed by Mr Homer, seconded by Mr Taylor, That a few bushels of cocksfoot seed be procured and sown along the

long cutting, and other such places on the Kimbol tori road.—Carried. Proposed by Mr Taylor seconded by Mr Jones, That the Engineer lay off the Birmingham Cemetery in plots and call tenders for the completion of the fencing. -—Carried, , '# Proposed by Mr' Reid, seconded, by Mr Taylor, That this Board make the following recommendations to the Government : That on account of extensive and unsatisfactory business that is done between settlers, this, and other local bodies, and the Waste Lands Board, propose that the Waste Lands Board shonld meet or have their usual monthly meeting once a quarter each in three centres of the Wellington Land Disffigr^TPßSP* Feilding be one centre, the other two to be named by the other local bodies inv> . terested. That a copy of this be "sent to ' the local bodies interested and their assistance asked to britig- about thittpro**-posal.—-Carried. . „ /[\ ; f:; !(> Applications for the position of roadman for Waituna Ward were* opened abd Mr J. B. Boss, was appointed to the position. . -» • „ %r * s> Tenders were opened for workW ejnX i Bryce's road, Kiwitea Tapuae road and .\ Mangamako roads, and for the delivery of metal on Perry's and Mcßeth's line—the following tenders were accepted, B. Poole, £120 for Bryce^s roadl; Connßllyj 1 and Marsh, £182 2s Od for JBawltea?.} Tnpuae road; Behrent and Strawbridgei ■ ••. £15810s for No. 1 .contract ;• and Powell ,{i and Howard, £141 for N0..i2 contract. Mangamako road and J. Belfit, 2s 5d ncr '", yard for delivery of metal on PWry'fr and Meßetb's line; The usual monthly' accounts were passedl for payment and 1 the Board adjourned. .> ; ■•■•• Football ; JUNIOB CUPI ' •' Our juniors journeyed to Awahutf last' Saturday to contest the third heat fofihe •■'. 1 Junior Cup, aßd, in spite. of;having'/to: ;^ press several intending spectators (into their game, managed to score a win-r-8 to niuV Awahun kicked off and for a few minuted made things lively. A dribblingruah'-Wf the Feilding forwards ca^ed! the Wy! into Awahuri's territoryj who- were'very ; '' soon forced down. Play after this wSs •- np and down the field for sdmetime/i ft ;, stand being ultimately made in Feildingfs ? quarters. A good bit of passing, by, Pitcher a and Strachan carried, the play to the opposite end of the ground, and Awahuri had their work cut out to prevent Feilding from scoring, but the" baU teingtmuHecß Keen, by his nsnal fast ~ folio wmg"m managed to score. The kick at goal did not increase the score. Play for the rest of the spell was confined in Aw.ahuri's 25. It the second spep it lobkedli^lf Awatun would reverse matters^ 1 bVt"ihe r backß*w^re continually spoiling the good wbrlfof'tne' :; forwards. Feilding were' kept going in their own 25 for some time,-'but Slrayeijan shifted the play by a good punt. Bro«gh« r ton failed to take the ball; and' Fahttidrpef I getting possession scored the second jtry for Feilding, the kick at goal, 'being 'a l*'' poster. Awahuri were mostly;' ottj th> n ;' defensive now, 1 and.just, before timews called Fauthorpe again distinguished him- r self by potting a goaU Feilding ihuVwofa 1 by 8 points to nil. , '"'-' rT;"' The Pirates journeyed to Mftrt^n, anj 'iJ were defeated by the Marlon 1 ti %£'&'§*** 4. The match was played under' protest"? { ' The Palmerston II defeated Bu'lll afte? 1 an interesting game by 15 points' to nil. ' ? The Pirates forfeited their matcll jvitii 1-: ' Hunterville. 'V!: :"i" '"' iC^;IV: Tomorrow afternoon the WangWmif']and Feilding Clubs meet on the dvaT, j and;'; great interest is being taken 'over™&¥!'' match. The Clubs have only'twK&fiff&J A and on one occasion Feilding'was vie '; torious, the other game ending in a drtfwV'}": c The following team was chosen' bh'Satrir? - day to represent FeUcuog i-^BackifUdy, Joe Robinson,. Jaok, Robinson^ By^rjL x Parr, Baillie, and Roachei forwards I ; Matravers, B. Whisker,' Canipifell, W. Watts, Aitken, Smith, Murddch,rarid7iTr~" Whisker. Emergencies—Backs: 8.-¥airrjit Kitchen, and Keen; forwards :•>Terry, f ' Collins, and Lucre. The 1 game wift-comK>; \ mence at 2 o'clock, and the above players .:. are requested to be punctual., . ; j>'.-,-]:..,. Both the Palmerston and M&rton Clubs p have also engagements for 10-mojrroW/; : The former go to Wellington and play a' f match with the Ponekes, !aind Matton - play a match on their own grdund against 3 i the Kaieraus.,. -; ; ■ ,>-; ;;, „,:-; j;is>ii>k The Wellington-Petone match on:. Sa- •■,-,; day caused a great surprise.. The. W#\- '. lingtons won by 12 points to { 2. V, '