OUR TIMBER RESOURCES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2147, 1 August 1907, Page 2

OUR TIMBER RESOURCES.

(Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, last nightOn to-day’s Order Paper there was a question by Mr. Ell asking -the Minister of Lands whether lie is aware that forest lands containing large quantities of valuable timber have been thrown open for settlement in the Gisborne district which the settlers are required under the improvement clauses of the Act 'to clear, and whether lie is aware that Mr. Kensington estimated that thue was 110,000 ft of timber to the acre on some of this land, and will 1 1 1 Minister take the necessary slops to prevent the land which contains the milling timber being thrown open fo< settlement until the timorr lias been milled, thus putting a stop to the present wasteful practice under which so much valuable timber needed by the people is being destroyed? Mr. McNab’s reply was as follows: The report by Mr. Clias. Kensington, Crown Ranger, on the milling timber in Motu district is dated the 28tli December, 1901, and no Crown lands in the Gisborne district containing any milling timber have been disposed of since that date. It is a standing instruction to all Commissioners of Crown lands that no Crown land is to be opened for selection which has growing upon it any' timber suitable for milling. Possibly the honorable member is confusing the land that is being opened for 'election on the 12tli August in the Poverty Bay district. This land is. however, situated in the Bay of Plenty district and- the Commissioner of Crown lands has .certified that it does not contain timber in sufficient quantities to be of any value for milling purposes.