Forestry Work.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 May 1921, Page 1

Forestry Work.

CHIEF FORESTRY INSPECTOR ON VALUE OF CONSERVATION. (N.Z. Times). Mr A. Hansson (chief inspector of the Forestry Department) has just completed a tour of the South Island, and is now carrying out his inspection of the North Island. Tho first work of importance undertaken will'"be the demarcation of tho Waipu kauri forest. Mr Hiyisson leaves Wellington this week for the North, after which he goes to Wanganui to inspect the tipper reaches of tho river. Rangers aro to be appointed in all districts of the Dominion and district offices established. PLANTING SAND DUNES.

In the course of an interesting interview, Mr Hansson stated that although ho had had experience in planting sand •dunes in other countries he had not vet had an opportunity of inspecting the dunes on the West Coast of this island. The department had commenced planting on tho coast near the Mannwntu river. Pinos insignis were the trees selected, and the venture was in tho nature of an experiment, and to provide employment for unemployed men. Tt was necessary to experiment in small lots before embarking upon a comprehensive policy of planting sand dunes. Finns insignis was an easy tree to grow—it would grow almost anywhere ; but it was not considered of high quality as a timber. He had heard of it. being used in house construction, but it did not last very long. The pin us insignis was a quck-growing tree, and tho slower a tree grew the better it was for producing building timber. CONTROL OF BUSH.

Referrng to the busli on the upper reaches of tho Wanganui river,, Mr Hansson said that it was desirable that some kind of protection should he established over it, also the hush on the watershed area. He considered that all hush on the land over, say 1000 ft abovo sea level in the area should lie. conserved, and regulations issued and supervision exorcised hv some body having control of the river, such as tho Wanganui River Trust. A body in the district would he in a much better position than the department to adminis(er and control such an area, and it would always have the assistance and technical advice of the department. If the department bad to investigate and eontrol every little matter, its work would be greatly increased, ;nd it would have no time to deal with more important matters. PUBLIC SUPPORT.

The importance of educating the people and getting them to realise tho value of afforestation was stressed by Afr Hansson. When people realised tho value of forestry work and the impotence of it to tho country, the problem of afforestation would be solved. He mentioned that something would have to bo done to conserve the water supply for the Wonganui river, or else the river would in ttme dry up. He bad seen river beds which in dry weather were absolutely dry, yet after a few hours’ rain the water would begin to rise. PROTECTION FROM EIRE. There was another important matter, and one in which the landowners required education. Bush fires, by getting out of control, did a great deal of irreparable damage. Many hundreds of acres of bill country, which wore not suitable for farming purposes, bad been denuded of busli by fire. Tt would be of much more value to the countrytry if such areas wore protected from fire. If the undergrowth were preserved, thus securing the continuation of that cool, moist condition that was a feature of native bush, there was every chance of the bush growing again, even though the big timber trees bad boon cut out. He mentioned that in ten or lifteen years trees which were not row used for milling purposes would be sawn up. He bad seen in the South Island some fine examples of the recovery of the native busli. The department proposed conducting experiments, with the view to seeing whether it was possible to replant such areas with such trees as rimu, white pine, etc. He was strongly of opinion that the first work should be the preservation of existing |>ush. Farmers should also be induce.! to plant small areas of their land in trees. In Nolson, they were enthusiastic in this matter, and bad planted between them a large number of acres, the timber from which would be used for fruit and packing boxes. o •znn.'i-, Refuse substitutes. Insist on “NAZOL,” the scientific remedy and preventative of coughs and colds. 60 doses Is 6d. An ideal spirit for both sexes.— WOLFE'S SCHNAPPS.