TIMBERED LANDS OF CALIFORNIA.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 681, 23 October 1852, Page 4

TIMBERED LANDS OF CALIFORNIA.

(Fiom tlic "San l<*i.itici&co Whig," June 15.) One of the most peculiar f'euluies of this country is the singular manner in wlikh Dame Natuie has scatteied tlie splendid tr.icts of timbei ed land tbroughout this section ol tbo State. Instead of the universal giowth of pine found throughout some of the Atlantic State*, the valuable woodlands appear in groups and many miles apart, presenting Borne of the most splendid forests of timbei to lie found in any country. On the Contra Cosla side tlni is pariiculaily the case. By some uncountable fre.ik oi natuie, the only timber available for building and fencing purposes is situated partely on the summit of the mountains directly opposite San Francisco, or extended down into a succession of datk and silent ravines, whose tangled undergrowth is ever shaded by the giant growth of cedar, and watered by never-ftuling mountain, streams. Loveis of the romantic need not travel in search of it into the mining districts. No part of California piesent such a luxuriant mass of foliage ; m some instance*, climbing the steep sides of the canons, and almost excluding the light of day, or enveloping in its gieen und tiuigeled embrace the trunks of these huge and stately ticca. On the '■ Pulgos Ranclio," and almost entirely included within its limits, are situated nearly all tho pine forests on tho western side of the Jiay of San Friincisco. These tioes are being lapidly thinned foi building purposes and for piles, for winch last purpose many hundred of tho finest and most thiiving young trees are cut down. The timbered land above Saucelito, known as the " Widow Reed's Wood," are al&o rapidly disappearing before tbo woodman's axe. The valuo of these spots of amber to the next geneiation bas excited the attention of speculators and squat ters' titles* have been purchased in a number of instances, saw-mills erected, and every arrangement made for supplying the great demand which tbe unexampled growth of our State seems to warrant. Whether these wo ds will be retained as government reservations remains yet to be deemed. Several disputes have occurred between farmers desirious of cutting trees for fencing und building, and those who have taken possession by preemption claim to some of the finest tiacts of timbei. Setting aside the possibility of tho United States leservc, it seems but fair that those who have settled upon the " redwood lands" should bo entitled to the benefit of the timber, with the privilege of selling it. There are no agncnltuial facilities among these woods, and the only lemuneration received by the woodman n that from the sale of limber clapboards, shingles, &.c. On tbo oilier hand, farmers in want of fencing material, should not be denied the use ot it. It is to be hoped, however, that those holding posession of the lands will consider the importance of the timber to the future welfare and convenience of the people, aud prevent any unnecessary destruction of the trees.

The Minisiliiial Wim uiiaii Dinner. — On Wednesday, her Majesty's ministers had their usual whitebait dinner, at thn Crown and Sceptre, Greenwich. The Attor/iey-Genenil, Sir I/ 1 . Thpsiger, presided. On the right of tho chair were the Lord Chancellor, his Grace the Duke of Northumberland, Enrl of Ilnrdwickr the Right lion J. C. /lernes, the Right lion, S. H. Walpole, tlie Marquis of Exeter, Lord John Manner*-, Mr. W. Forbes Mackenzie, Earl Desnit, Lord C. Hamilton, Lord Colville, Mr. A. Slafloid, Loid Newport, tho Jttg-lit lion. I\. A. Christopher, Right lion. \\. Derosford, the lion. J. VV. Henley, the Duke of Montroso, nnd Lord Talbot. On the left of the chair weie JCail Derby, Loid Alulmesbuiy. Sir John Palnngton, Karl Lonsdale, the Marquis Salisbury, of the Right lion, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Loid Henry Lennox, Captain the Hon. A. Uuncomhe, Sir J. Trollope, Loid Crofton, Sir fj. Tennent, Loid Mandbvillc, Sir Fitzroy Kelly, Lord Stanley, Mr. G. A. Hamilton, Colonel Forrest, nnd Mr. Stewart Knox. Thp Morning Cloomcle havmgpredictedth.it the whitebmt dinner would be a melancholy affair, we have the satisfaction of informing our contempoiary that, under the üble presidence of Sir F. Thesiger, tho utmost conviviality prevailed, and, to use the words of a talented member of the administration, who was present at the, a Jess apparently moribund fehtival had never taken place. — Mmmng Herald, July 1.

Supply or Colnial Wool. — The next series of coloni.il wool ynles hns been fixed to commence on the 8i li July. Tlie amvals up to this period amount to 40,21.) bales, computing 14,(514 bales from Port Phillip, 1-1, '2(31 from Sydney, 6J69 from V<in -Diemen'a Land, 3771 fiom Adelaide, ',ldV from Swnn Rivet, and 59.5 Jrom the Cnpe. Although all the anivals up to tho day of sale may bo included, it is not expected that tlio total quantity ofleied will exceed 50,000 bale*. — Times

The Goid Quistion CoNsiDtnrn. — We cannot shut our eyew to the cert.iinty of a senous amount of influence being: exercised upon monetary and financiil uffms by a long continuance of the increased supplies of gold. We concede all that can fairly be demnnded n the way of incrpasecl supply to meet thewnnts of the new commeice spnnging up in the Pacific and adjacent seas to allow of the increased coinage which the New States in North America and the growing population of o r own colonies requiie — to make up for the extending use of gold and silver in articles of luxury winch mci easing wealth and improving arts mubt occasion — to restore the losses from hoarding, from shipwreck, from wear and tear of coin, and fiom the thousand other causes of waste— and to admit of the large yearly storing of com for the pur poses of emigration : all that can fairly be demanded to meet these and other exigencies we admit ; and yet there will still, at the present rate of yield, be a large annual surplus which must gradually cheapen gold m the market. Mr. M'Culloch disposes of the annual supply of the metals — estimated at nine millions before thefecent ducovpries — in the following manner :— Consumption in the arts in lt-urope and Ameiica £4,840,000 Expoitation to Australia and India .. 2,000,000 Waste of coin (at 1 per cent.) 1,600,000 Making together £9,040,000 which was very nearly the supposed yield of all known mines when Mr. M'Lulloch's estimate was made. If we add a half to all these items a very liberal allowance— we shall have a round sum of thirteen and a half millions sterling of gold and silvei together, as sufficient to produce all the wants of increasing use in the arts, waste in coinage, extending commerce, colonial settle, munt, State extension, and Eastern exportation, But the actual produce for 1851 is estimated at £30,000,000 and if we deduct 13,000,000 there remains a balance of £10,500,000 — iiipspective of all increase which is likely to be caused by the extension of the Australian gold field. It is clear that the conclusion is permature, that no alteration is to be looked for in the relative maiket value cf the two precious metals. Only a greatly increased activity and produce in the silver mines can prevent it. — Fiom Blackwood, Tun Female Franchise. — Tn the House of Commons, speaking, on Mr. Hume's Reform motion, Mr. Napier is reported to have said — *' It was proposed that the franchise should be given to all persons of twenty-one years ot age, who laboured under no mental or legal disability. Why, then, as had been asked before, should ladies be excluded 1 }" 1. Because there is no evidence that any lady is twenty-one years of age; inasmuch as no lady will ever tell what her age is. — 2. liecause, as a poet says of the softer sex, " Angels are painted fair to look like them :" so they nre already represented fairly enough in all conscience. — Punch,