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Hokitika Guardian, 5 September 1917, Page 2

An interesting report on tho native forest of the Dominion has been written by Air. E. Phillips Turner, who states that without a survey it is impossible to give the area of land carrying commercial forest, nor, except in the ease of kauri can more than a guess | K > made of the amount of tho various milling, timbers that our lorosts tain. Kauri is our most valuable milling timber, but if tho present annual rate (53,000,000 ft) of cutting is continued' pur supply will not last more than seven years. The largest output of timber is from the Auckland land district, but it is estimated that at tbo past rate of conversion the present stand of all timbers in that district will not last 20 years. In the Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay districts there are only a few small areas of milling forest left, whilst in the Well'iigton land district the milling forest, which is confined to the AYaimarino, will last little more than a decade. In the South Island there is no milling forest left in the Canterbury land district. In Nelson and Marlborough the area is very small and in tho Otago district tlm milling forest produces scarcely enough tim her for tho present local consumption. In Southland there is still a fair area of milling forest, but tho Commissioner of Crown Lands estimates that the red pine will be exhausted in about 28 years, and the white pine in about 16 years. This estimate does not, however, allow for the largely increased demands on Southland forests, that aro not plentiful, but occur sixirauioally. In the forests birch is plentiful, but being what is technically tornu'd a hard wood, it cannot fully take the place of soft woods. The largest forest of commercial timber is now in Westland, hut the Commissioner for that districts estimates that tho milling timbers (rimu and white pine) will at. tho present rate of cutting, last only nliout 20 years. The great expansion that, has occurred in recent years in the dairy and fruit industries, together with tho great demand that there has been in Australia for our white pine has caused henvy cuttings to he made of this timber. 1 Tho time is at hand when tho whitepine scattered in our mixed timber forests will be insufficient to supply the demand. Puriri and silver pine both so valuable for railway sleepors have almost gone and their place is now being taken by imported Australian hardwood or ferro-eoncrote. Except in the ease f hardwoods tho exhaustion of tho supply of one kind of timber usually results in an increased uso of other supplies of an inferior timber or in. tho importation of foreign timber technically as useful but generally more expensive.

'The annual report of the Pensions Department gives the following information regarding the number and annual value of tho pensions in force on March 31, 1917:

Number Value

'Totals 28,360 £832,052 Tho cost per head of population for 1916-17 was 13/8, as against 10/6 for 1915-16. A summary relating to war pensions shows that pensions, (permanent and upwards of 12 months) were granted to 1003 soldiers and 2075 dependants; temporary pensions were granted to 3194 soldiers soldiers and 258 dependants; 687 claims were deolinod, and 237 remained on hand on March 31. The gross annual value of the 0530 pensions granted is £3-12,195, giving an average [pension of £52. Including the 1018 children, the average of the grand total of 7548 pensions granted to March 31, 1917, is £45 per annum. The total number of old age pensions claims lodged to date is 60,631; total claims established, 47,392; total deaths, 21,732; total cancellations I 5963; grand total paid since 1898, £5,- i 809,580; total credit from Nationnl En- | dowmont, £172,973. During the year i tho Staff of tho Pensions Department increased in numbor from 40 to 60 Hnrf tho cost of administration increased , from £9883 in 1915-16 to £15,300 m , 1916-17.

Up to tho 31st Maroh last 1,606,158 acres of land has been purchased by the Government at a cost of £7,989,220, ns land for settlement for discharged soldiers. The supply of land is said to be well ahead of the demand.

Tho Military Medical Board will com-j mcnco its next sittings on the "West Coast at Hokitika on the 17th inst. and will continue examinations at Ho-; kitika for throe days. They commence a live days’ sitting at Greymouth on the 20th; visit Roofton on the 26th and 27th ; Westport 28th, 29th, and October Ist; and at Murchison on October 2nd.

It was stateu at a sitting of tho Military Service Board on Friday (says tho Wanganui Chronicle) that owing to the high cost of living. tho cost of a child’s upkeep in Wanganui at the present time was fully 15s a week. Tho Chairman of the board, M. D. G. A. Cooper, S. M., said that in Wellington the cost was reckoned at about- 10s a week.

At the Magistrate’s Court Greymouth on Monday and Tuesday J. Yip Bor and Ah John, laundrymon in Mackay street Greymouth charged with (1) keeping a gaming house and (2]f with selling pakapoo tickets. After hearing evidence -Mr. Hutchison. S.M. convicted both Yip Bor was .fined £SO and Ah John £6O (second offenco) in default, three months’ imprisonment. Pritchard’s Pictures at the Opera House last evening presented another excellent programme which was largely assisted by the orchestral accompaniment. The Travelogue was a fine series that is eagerly looked forward to. The serial was a well-represented one in five acts “Tho Heart of Tara” showing a clover plot in interesting Hindoo surroundings. The death of Private Owen Rogers from consumption occurred last week in the hospital on Cashmere hills. Deceased served throughout tho Boer War with an Imperial' Regiment. In the present war he joined the 4th. Reinforcements from Reefton. He received a bullet in the lungs on Gallipoli returned to New Zealand at the end of 1915, and had been in the hospital ever since. His relatives reside at MvrQiyr Tydvil, Wales. Air. Alieliael Finlay of Brunner, a returned Anzac was manned yesterday to Miss A. Finnossy of Dunedin. The ceremony was performed at St. Patrick’s Chruch by tho Very Rev. Dean Carow, the happy couple leaving later by tho Otira Express being seen off at tho railway station and left with the good wishes of their many friends for their future happiness and prosperity.

Lance-Corporal Smith of Sale Street returned this week' to Featherston camp to rejoin the mountods with winch ho expects to sail in due course for ono of the active' service fronts. Smith belongs to a lighting family. Ho himself saw service in the Boer War, and in the present war six brothers and ono sister voluntarily enlisted for service, and all went to the front, one brother paying the supreme penalty. The departing soldier is a good horseman, and was responsible for the preparation of “Gasoline” when Air. AV. Olderog’s favourite horso did so well in Canterbury. Under the heading “No Red Tape” the Napier Daily Telegraph prints the following from its AVairon correspondent; —“A returned invalided soldier appeared before the AVairoa Court, and was lined for wearing a portion of tho King’s uniform contrary to regulations. His defence was that he was feeling the cold weather acutely, and, owinrr to his state of health and boing n married man, he was too poor to buy an overcoat, and he thus wore Ids military coat, which was very warm one. The ease has caused a feeling of pain and indignation in the community, and the very small fine inflicted suggested tho opinion that the S.Af. did not consider it in any way a serious offonce.”

Saturday at tho Lady Liverpool depot promises to be the attraction- of the season. The ladies of the Literary Club are specialising dn “Children’s Day,” when everything that is calculated to make glad the heart of a child will be for sack The young people of this town have done much Tor the soldiers, and on Saturday they will have a further opportunity of helping as well as of gaining valuable gifts and prizes for themselves. Tho grown up will find that Mesdames AV. Williams, J. B. Ward, de Berry and Holloway and Aliss Aracandrew have an exquisite stock of dainties, utilities and novelties, all of exceptional value and modest price. Let all help to give the soldiers some Christmas cheer. The men who returned by a recent hospital ship from Blighty spoak very highly indeed of the reception accorded them at a port of call in the happy possession, of one of our latest Allies, '['ho people vied with each other in doing honour to the returning men, and gave them a most cordial reception. .Motor cars were provided, theatres opened, and bands played in their honour, while a thousand pounds worth of comforts were put aboard tho ship for tho use of tho men over tho remainder of tho voyage. The men that th© flag which wavofl over that country is “some” flag. Tho treatment received in New Zealand as sharply contrasted with that received elsewhere—ono officer remarking that evidently the Dominion has not much uso for its wounded | men!

The indifferent accomodation provided for travellers at the Springfield refreshment buffet has often been commented upon. On wet or showery days, and especially cold bleak days when the winds are from tho icy mountains or across the Plains of Canterbury, there is not any comfort for travellers. It is a crush and a scramble to bo served. Now that tho traffic by the overland route is so substantial it is high time improved provisions woro made, and the necessity for doing so might well bo brought under tho notice of tho authorities. The arrangements are altogether primitive, and not at all a credit to tho railway authorities. Tho matter is of special interest to Coast travellers coming through from the North Island and their comfort should be satisfied The matter is one which should have attention before tho summer traffio sots in in earnest.

The phenomenal sale of NOU-lrt BRITISH HOT WATER BOTTLES is best proof of the satisfaction they give, moans service and satisfaction.

Look for the “Unique” Stopper. It The new season’s millinery is now on show at Misses Addison’s; Lilac and Crepe do Chine and Ninon coverings, with floral trimmings, show among tho higher class models.—Advt,

For Influenza take Woods’ Oreat f-rn-permint Cure. Never fails. 1/8, 2,'fl.

Captain A T a-t& and crew of tho illfated Jane ate leaving Okuru to-day on their homeward journey overland. They aro expected about th© end of the week.

All members of the local platoon of “A” Company a’re notified to nttond a special parade to-morrow (Thursday! evening at 7.30 o’clock, when Lieut Mackenzie will deliver a lecture.

A private letter recoived in Nelson related that in tho battle of Mossines the first wounded man to bo brought in by tho stretcher-bearers was Private lloraco Bonar of Hokitika. Ho was reported to be very badly wounded. One leg was badly shattered and tho othor also wounded. His case was considered very serious at tho time,- but prompt attention and tho best of medical skill appears to have pulled him through the worst phases of the danger, and oro this he should be quite out of the danger zone in which ho hovered for some time.

In connection with the wreck of the Opouri at Greymouth the ' deputy-Har-bourmaster, Captain Macpherson, stated that both tho bar and the river were suitable for tho ontry of the Opouri as was borne out by the fact that the Waimoa which entered ten minutes before got in without the least trouble. The Opouri came over the bar in a splendid position and was well in the river when the steering gear failed to act and the vessel drifted ashore. No instructions had been issued to utilise the Tug Westland and attempt to refloat tho Opouri. Questioned as to the chances of refloating tho vessel Captain McPherson declined to express any opinion. If the weather remained fi»e something might be done, but otherwise the vessel would probably break up.

The Fire Brigade held tho usual practice last evening, when there was a large muster under Supt. Braddon and Deputy Supt. Davidson. Tho steamengine was taken to tho Weld street and Town Hall standpipes, and was found to bo in excellent working order. On returning, to the shod, a notification was read from the Borough Inspection conveying a list of places in town where benzine was stored and the quantities thereof. The letter was received and it was decided to defer action until the Borough Council had dealt therewith.” It was further resolved to draw the attention of the Council to the necessity of preventing tho storage of carbide in large quantities. An appreciative letter was received from Mr. W. Warren, in which he congratulated the Brigade on its splendid work in connection with the outbreak of fire on his premises on Friday morning last, and enclosing a donation to -tho funds. The letter with its enclosure was received with thanks. The roll was then called and the parade was dismissed. Misses Addison are selling a special lino of Grey and Khaki Woollen Hose; Price 3/9 per pair.—Advt. E. J. Lloyd favoury “No Rubbing” Laundry Help because it has made good. It delights thrifty housewives and that’s enough for him. He is content to sell at the standard price of Is per packet and gives tho famous Thinker Note Book free with every packet.—Advt.

Old age 19,697 480,559 Widows 2,024 39,386 Military (Mnori War) 1.232 44,352 Miners 238 9,984 War 5,169 257,771