The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 1881.

Kumara Times, Issue 1415, 14 April 1881, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 1881.

A most arbitrary arrangement to deal with the waste lands of Westland, has recently been made in Wellington. Under the Lands Act of 1877, power was given to the Governor to put in force certain provisions which related to the forests of the colony ; but it was obviously intended that such provisions should not apply to a densely-timbered country like that of the West Coast. In places like Canterbury, it may be necessary to take steps to prevent the destruction of the occasional patches of timber which are to be found ; but in Westland, where the main obstruction to settlement is the timber itself, it is simply preposterous to attempt to carry into effect such parts of the law as are entirely unsuited to it. In February last, a proclamation was issued under the hand of the Governor, declaring that Part Y. of the Lands Act shall apply to all the forests belonging to the Crown in the Land District of Westland. To do this with regard to a district which is completely covered with dense forest is an absurdity. To illustrate what may happen to West Coasters at any moment, we quote the 97th section of the Lands Act, which is as follows;—“Any person found within such forest, or on any road in its vicinity, and having in his possession any tree, or part of a tree, who, on being thereunto required by any Conservator of Forests, or other officer under this Act, or by any person having a right of property, or the right to cut wood on any such land, or part thereof, whether leased or not, or by any one acting on behalf of such person, refuses to give a satisfactory account of the manner in which he became possessed of any such tree, or part of a tree, may be brought by the party interrogating him, before any Justice of the Peace, and if such person does not satisfy the Justice that he came lawfully by the said tree, or part of a tree, he shall, on conviction by such Justice, forfeit and pay over and above the value of such tree or part of a tree so found, any sum not exceeding five pounds,” This outrages law is now in operation in Westland, and regulations have been issued defining what charges are to be imposed upon Westlanders. Cattle are not to be allowed to trespass on the “ forest,” while any person cutting down, destroying or damaging a tree, is liable to a penalty of £2O. Persona desirous of obtaining firewood must pay a license of £5 for one year, or 10s for one month. Further, any person whether holding a timber license or not, who shall commit any wilful or wanton waste or destruction of timber shall be liable to a penalty of £2O, The e, and a variety of equally monstrous provisions, are contained in the gazetted regulations, and we have deemed it necessary that the public should be acquainted with the position in which they are placed.