THE GLOBE. TUESDAY. SEPTEMBER 13, 1881. NEW ZEALAND FORESTS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2322, 13 September 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. TUESDAY. SEPTEMBER 13, 1881. NEW ZEALAND FORESTS.

The question of the preservation of the New Zealand forests is one that affects the community in a variety of ways. As population increases timber will become more and more valuable; then some of our woods should find a ready market in foreign countries; and, lastly, it is necessary that for climatic reasons care should be taken that enough timber should be left over the country to ensure a sufficient rainfall.

To take the last question first; it may be remarked that there are numbers o£ people who think that, owing to the peculiar geographical conformation of the country, we can afford to dispense with forests. These people argue that in any case the westerly winds will deposit their moisture on the mountains which they first strike, and that, insularly situated as ia New Zealand, it would be next to impossible for it to be afflicted with extensive droughts. Nothing can be more erroneous than such an idea. The " New Zealand Herald," in treating on this subject, draws out a list of islands that have become almost barren through their forests being destroyed. St. Helena, for instance, when discovered in 1502 was an island covered with woods and verdure. The settlers, however, cut down the woods, and in the 18th century there were " periodical visitations of very severe drought, occasioning ruinous losses of cattle and crops. By the commencement of the present century St. Helena was little more than a burnt-up rock." But the East Indian Company soon took the matter in hand, and planted extensively, and by 1847 the rainfall had become double what it was when Napoleon was there. All this happened on a small island, a mere speck in the middle of the ocean, where moisture-bearing winds might have been expected to deposit their burden in any case. The Cape Yerde Islands too, once green and pleasant, have been for more than a century desolated by terrible droughts occasioned by the same cause. And so with other islands, it has in all cases been found that, when the timber is destroyed, the country becomes dry and barren. And not only this.Jbnt in the case of mountainous countries, it often becomes impossible to plant the hills again, for the rain washes the soil off the slopes when once they are deprived of their leafy shelter. Those then that fancy that New Zealand is under a specially favorably dispensation with regard to its rainfall, and is quite independent of the climatic influence of its forests, are very much mistaken. Luckily Mr. Rolleston is not one of these gentlemen, and he has, he informs us, done his best towards preserving the native bush. More than half a million acres have lately been reserved on the watersheds for the public service. But unfortunately the mere reserving of a tract of bush land does not insure the preservation of the trees. Unless active means are taken to superintend the State forests, they will either melt away utterly from raids by individuals, or, even if operated on by persons holding licenses under restrictions, they will'become spoilt by injudicious cutting. Our State forests should, like

those in India and elsewhere, he placed under supervision, and penalties should he attached to cutting in opposition to the instructions of the State forest officers. If a Department of Science and ludustries is formed, absorbing the Geological Department, as snggestod by the Select Committee of the House, it would do ■well to take this matter in hand. Its hearing on the agricultural and manufacturing interests of the colony would bring it well within its jurisdiction. With respect to the value of forests in view of an increasing population nothing need be said, as the advantages of an abundant supply for general purposes and for ship-building is very obvious. But as regards our timber trade with foreign countries, it may ho remarked that no doubt a very considerable development might be brought about by judicious management. Correspondence relative to a trade with France in New Zealand timber has just been laid before the General Assembly. Among them is a manifesto by certain proprietors of timber lands, saw-millers, and others calling attention to the following facts, which we summarise:—(1) That the timber trade is at present much depressed, because the home market is so limited; (2) that experiments have proved that very many of the New Zealand timbers are stronger and more durable than European and American oaks, which are taken as the standard woods in the European timber markets; (3) that the supply of oak and hard woods in Europe has become very limited of late, the price having nearly doubled in the last twenty-five years ; (4) that many of our woods would consequently be eagerly sought after; (5) that great difficulty exists in getting our woods into the European market, which can be only obviated by the Government taking active steps; (6) that the best plan is to bring the matter prominently forward by having a series of experiments on New Zealand and European woods made at the " Conservatoire des Arts et Metiers" under the supervision of eminent foresters; (7) that such experiments should, considering their importance, be arranged with the greatest care, the Government being represented by the most efficient expert available. Mr. Rolleston, in communicating with the gentlemen who had drawn up the memorial—though not in direct answer to it—takes occasion to refer to a conversation between himself and the memorialists, and recapitulates the heads of what he understood to be their suggestions. They were—(l) The establishment of a depot (presumably in Europe), with a sufficient quantity of New Zealand timber to enable its quality to be tested by manufacturers and builders, but principally in the furnishing business; (2) the forming of an exhibition of timber (also presumably in Europe); (3) the obtaining through the Forest Department in Paris a report founded on experiments giving an analysis of the quality of the timber required in the European market. Mr. .Rolleston states that, if he had understood the memorialists rightly, he would be prepared to put £SOO on the estimates to be expended in sending an agent to Europe with the objects alluded to above. The correspondence closes with a letter from the memorialists accepting the offer made by Mr. Rolleston, and saying that they will furnish a sufficient assortment of samples of timber for the purpose of ; experiments and tests, and for a small exhibition of New Zealand timbers to be held in Paris, and further engaging to send to France a few cargoes for sale. And here the matter rests at present, but it may be trusted that the efforts of those interested in the matter may eventuate successfully, it being of an importance second only to the judicious preservation of our forests that a good market for our more valuable timbers should be opened up.

NEWS OF THE DAY

Pubb bbbd Stock. —Oa the occasion of the recent departure of the e.g. St. Hilda for the Horth two fine young roan bulls were shipped to the order of Mr Hammond, of Wanganui. Their sire is Mr John Boag's celebrated bull Albion. Escapes and Captubb.—An inmate of Sunny Bide named Austin Kirk, who made his escape from that institution on Sunday afternoon last, was arrested at Kaiapoi this morning, and will be taken back to his former quarters this afternoon. Masonic.—A very large and representative gathering of Masons, embracing all constitutions, took place last night on the occasion of the regular meeting of the Lincoln Lodge, No. 1918, E.G., when the principal business was tbe presentation of a jewel to P.M. Bro. A. R. Kirk, who, at considerable trouble to himself, fulfilled the ofiice of the first W.M. of the Lodge. Tbe lodge-rocro. was orowded to overflowing, the Lodges rep-csented being the Canterbury, St. Augustine, Concord, Robert Burns, Corinthian, Conyers, Lodge of Progress, lonic, St. Clair, and Kilwinning, and there were also present a number of sojourning brethren. After the work of the Lodge was completed, the W. M., Bro. Revel!, in a few well-chosen word?, presented the jewel, and Bro. P.M. Kirk made a very eloquent response. The jewel, whioh was manufactured by Mr M. Sandstein, is exceedingly handsome. It is suspended from a ribbon bearing bars with the number and name of the Lodge thoreon. The jewel proper is circular in form, being the 47th problem of Euclid displayed on a ground of blue enamel, tbe name and number of the lodge being given in raised letters on a dead gold surface. The ornaments, top and bottom, are the rose, shamrock, and thistle, excellently worked out in relief. On the baok is the following inscription :—" Presented to P.M. Bra.* A. R. Kirk by the brethren of the Lincoln Lodge, 1918, 8.C., as a token of the high esteem in whioh he is held by them, and in remembranc9 of his first mastership of the lodge." After the close of the lodge, the visitors were entertained by the brethren of the Linooln Lodge in truly regal style, and a very pleasant and enjoyable evecing was spent by all present. Qt/abtbrliY Licensing Meeting.—At the meeting of the Commissioners held this day day at Ohristchurch, all the applications for new licenses, of whioh there were seven, were refused in a most expeditious manner. The whole business of the meeting was concludod in twenty minutes. Committed for Tbial.—This morning at the Roaident Magistrates' Court, Ohas. Erjatt, alias John David Lkdley, was committed for trial at the next sessions of the Supreme Court to be held at Christchurch. He is charged with forgery and uttering oheques in four separate cases.

Thbatbb Rotai,.— The "Pirates of Penzance " was repeated last Gvemng to a capital house, the audience being liberal and warm in their applause WATBBING Hatb. —The Oity Council last evening struck tke usual rate of I\A in the £ for watering a certain area of the city during the summer months. LeOTT/BB. —Mr T. S. Mannering lectured to an appreciative audience in the Ashley schoolroom, on Friday evening last; subjeot— •*' The Tabernacle and its synibolicol teachings." The proceeds were in aid of the Sunday Sohool connected with the Church of St. Simon and St. Jude. Thb Town Clerk Embboglio. The Mayor laid before the City Council last evening an opinion from Mr Georgo Harper as _ to the removal of tho town clork. That opinion entirely differs from the advice of the oity solicitors, and goes the length of saying that the City Council have the power to dismiss the town olerk at any time, " with or without notice." Tho mutter now stands deferred till next meeting.

Latb Trims.-In compliance with numerous requeiti, the Tramway Company have decided to run late trams, to Papanui on Tuesday nights, the hours of arrival and departure to be the same as on Thursday nights. Eoahb of Oonbkiivatobs.— An ordinary meeting of the Board of Conservators for the South Waimakaiiri district was hold at 2 p.m. to-day. The business transacted was of a purely formal nature. A statement as to the amount of planting done this season on the river was read and accepted. Sydbnham Municipality.—An extraordinary vaoanoy has occurred in this borough in consequence of Or. Day having tendered his resignation previous to hi* departure for England. Very general regret was expressed by the councillors, and a vote of thanks for "MrDay's action whilst, in the Oounoil" and "a speedy return to Now Zealand" woro carried by acclamation. Meeting at tub Cobn Exchange.—Tho sub-committee, which was appointed, submitted a petition on Saturday last to the members of tho Corn Exchange respecting the railway rates now ruling. Upon the motion of Mr Wm. Henderson, whioh was seconded by Mr Bailey, the petition was adopted, and will be laid before Parliament by the Premier this week. The Hons. Wm. Bolleston and E. Biohardson, Messrs Saundoro, Andrews, Stevens, Wright and Fisher have been communicated with, with respeot to supporting its prayer. The petition sets forth the reasons why in the opinion of tho petitioners the railway tariff should bo reduced, and in support of their arguments a table is given, by whioh it appears that a substantial saving is effected by owners who drivo their cattle and sheep from Ashburton, Southbridge, and Bangiora in preference to sending them by rail. Parliambntaby,—ln the House yesterday,

the Hon. J. Hall announced that the Government would for this session abandon with regret tho Hospital and Charitable Aid Bill, and also the Crown and Native Lauds Bating Bill, Boads Construction Bill, Sharebrokers Act Bepeal Bill, and the Patents Act Amendment Bill. He stated that a proposal had been made to refer the Corrupt Praotics Bill to a Seleot Committee, and to-morrow he would announce what the Government intended to do with tho measure. The Publio Works Act Amendment Bill, and Companies Act Amendment Bill were likely to give rise to much discussion, and he had very little hope of passing them. If (hero was not much opposition the Government would try to pass the Fisheries and Friendly Societies Bills, and also the Town Districts and Counties Act Amendment Bills, and if possible the other Consolidation Bills. He thought they might be passed in a morning sitting, and if members would summarise their remarks, the estimates might be got through this week, and the prorogation take place about the middle of next week.

A Novel Spectacle. Lord Denman drives a horse about the streets of London that wears spectacles. It was found to be near-sighted, and the kind hearted owner successfully tried the experiment of putting on rectifying " specs." So says the Chicago " Living Church." Thb Advance of Civilisation. —Who shall say that civilisation is not advancing with great strides ? The '' Grey Biver Argus" states that at a recent concert at Ahaura, in aid of the hospital funds, "Mr Chum Loong gave • Put me in my little bed.' " If the Caucasian is not quite played out, the Mongolian is evidently coming to the front. Thb M.P. for Nobthampton. The

"Pall Mall Budget " Bays there soomo to be little or no doubt that the legal proceedings to whioh Mr Bradlaugh is a party will culminate in his bankruptcy, and as ho cannot appeal for re-eleotion until he has obtained his discharge, be is not likely to appear next session as a member of the House, unless the legal proceedings take an unexpected turn. A Futoky Aor.—At the Half-way Bay, Lake Wakatipu, William Payne got his leg broken while blasting a log of wood. He orawled down to the Bocky Biver, but owing to the flood was unable to cross. He then crawled back to his hut. It was twenty hours before he was relieved, having crawled back to the Eocky Biver again. The skin was quite torn off his kness and ankles. His energy must have been very great. He is now in the hospital at Queenstown. Debtbtjctiok or a Cottbthotjbb.—The Court-house at St. Batbanß wbs burnt down on Tuesday last. The constable had lit a fire in the stove in preparation for the Court sitting, which was to take place that morning. Those who assembled to tranaot business were just in time to save tbe major portion of the official papers, a number of which were, however, destroyed. The accident was the result of a defective stove-pipe. Thb Sbafobts of England.—At the besinning of the thirteenth century the ports of England ranked—London, Boston," Southampton, Lincoln, Lynn, Hull. Eighty years later, Boston, London, Hull. Toward the oloso of the sixteenth century Lynn was the most important port; then came Hull, Yarmouth, Exeter, Bristol, while Boston had gone down to number ten to rank, and Newcastle was looming up. Fifty years later, Bristol was winning the race, to have her nose put out of joint in another half century by Liverpool. A Qubbr Find.—A strange affair is reported by the " Wangauui Chroniolo." Two young boys were searching for driftwood on the river bank, when they discovere a bog lying on the beach at high water mark. On opening it they found it contained the body of an infant, whioh they desoribe as being dark-skinned, like a Maori. Instead of at once giving information of their discovery the boys stupidly threw both the body and the bag into the river again, and pushed them down into deep water with a stick. Late in the evening the youngsters went to the police station and told their tale, and a oonstable was despatched to the place indicated by them. After a lengthy searoh he found a bag containing a drowned cat some distance from the place where the boys said they had seen the body of the child, but he oould not find anything else. The boys are i positive that the bag they found contained the I body of an infant very little decomposed.

The Latb Abohbibhop Stbinb. Dr. Steins, Primate of the Roman Catholio Church in Hew Zealand, who died in Sydney last week, wns a native of Holland, and about seventy-three years of age, and was, previous to his translation to New Zsaland, Archbishop of Calcutta. He was appointed to the Archbishopric of Auckland in 1879, and arrived in this colony in December, 1879, bringing with him a number of Benedictine monks to assist in the missionary work of the Church. The most reverend Primate speedily gained the profoundest respect and affection of the Roman Catholics in New Zealand, and proved himself to be alike able and zealous in the discharge of his duties. From the first, however, it was evident that his health had been broken down by his residence in India, and in June last he had, at his own request, to be relieved of his oharge. He then started for England, in the hope that the voyage would prove beneficial to his health, but never got further than Sydney, where ho was tbe gueßt of Archbishop Yaughan, and where, after a few weeks' suffering, he died.

The New Cot/noiixobs.—The new councillors took their seats at tho City Council board last evening, after signing the usual declaration. Councillor Hulbert, though in reality a (city) father of ancient date, was pro forma a youth again, and had to go through the same juvenile performance. Hurttnui.—On Monday a man named J. Barker, who had been loafing about the Balmoral station for about a week, and was arrested by mounted-sergeant Scott, was sentenced by J. D. Lance, Esq., to twenty-eight days' imprisonment for vagrancy. Addington Cbicket Olttb.—The annual general meeting of this olub was held on Thursday evening last in the Methodist Schoolroom, Addington. The secretary and treasurer's report for the past year were read. The report showed a small deficiency through the non-payment of a number of subscriptions. The club was fairly successful during the past season, having won the majority of the matohes played. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows : President, Mr W. White, jun., re-elected ; oaptain, Mr J. Hopper, re-elcoted ; vice-pre-sidents, Mr J. Hepworth, re-elected, and Mr R. H. Turner; secretary and treasurer, Mr W. T. Burley, re-eleoted. The annual subscription of active members for the season was fixed at £l.

Etbangh Phenomenon.—A Wanganui paper says that a strange phenomenon was witnessed at sea during the late gales in Cook Strait. Many thousands of dead birds darkened the water in great patches, as if killed in flights by some mighty rush of wind. They are commonly known as ice-birdo, being denizens of the islands within the cold southern zone. The extent of slaughter was remarkable to mariners accustomed to these waters.

Shocking Suicide.—The Launceston (Tasmania) "Examiner" of August 26th says : The oriminal sessions of the Supreme Court at Launceston, which opened yesterday, nave been marked by a tragic incident unprecedented in the history of the oolony, and one whioh will long be remembered from tho I peculiar circumstances connected with it. I A farmer named Patrick Linnnne, who resides at Tablo Cape, where ho has I a wife BDd family, was yestorday, after a long and weary trial and a lengthened deliberation on the part of tho jury, found guilty of perjury, but rocommended to mercy on account of his unfortunate wife and family, and shortly before the Court rose, at nearly 7 p.m., he was sentenced by his Honor Mr Justice Dobson to eightoen months' imprisonment with hard labor. It now transpires that during the whole of the long and weary trial, and while the prisoner was receiving bis sentence, he stood faoing the judge and jury with a loaded revolver C3ncealed on his person, with whioh ho deliberately blew his brains_ out a few minutes aftor leaving the precinots of the Courthouse. Linnano was being taken to tho gaol in a car, handcuffed by one hand to another prisoner, when ho fired the shot. Death was instantaneous. He put the revolver into his mouth.

Litbraby Institute, Cubt.—Tho second entertainment in connection with the above took plnoe on Friday evening last. Mr B. L. Higgins presided over tho meeting, tho attendauoo at which was fairly numerous. Tho programme was of a varied and irit«resting oharacter, and, judging from the applause, was ovidontly appreciated by the audienoe. Songa were giyon bv Miss Ladbrooke, Messrs A. Searell and E. Vague ; trios by Mrs Tip ping. Misses Higgins, and the chairman ; and readings by Messrs Meredith, Hassall and Higgins. It was announced that the last of the series would be held on Thursday, October 6th.