The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 1878.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5317, 11 April 1878, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PU BLISHED DAILY.) THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 1878.

The establishment of a State Forest Department in New Zealand may not be a pressing necessity, but the soomer some action is taken to save the forests of the colony from destruction the better. The longer the subject is delayed the more difficult it will be to deal with it. The colon}' is rapidly increasing in population, and as settlement progresses large areas of forests will be cleared without any regard to the value of the timber. No one would dream of introducing a Forest Act which would retard the settlement of the country. All that is wanted is that our forests should be put under systematic management before the wholesale process of denudation now going on has assumed such proportions that it would take centuries to remedy the mischief. The report of Captain Campbell- Walker on state forest conservation did not create the amount of interest which the importance of the subject, and the able manner in which it was dealt with, deserved. In a previous issue we noticed another valuable addition to our knowledge on the subject. We allude to a work by a gentleman lately of the French Forest Department. The writer states that although it is obvious that a new fundamental and permanent forest legislation should be of considerable interest here, at the same time it did not appear to him that the question had attained a sufficient maturity to be tabled in Parliament, there being no immediate danger. With the exception of Captain Camp-bell-Walker’s report there is really very little information on the forests of the colony at the disposal of Parliament. Very little is known as to their extent and value. The individual opinions of Superintendents, and a few reports on limited areas from professional men, were almost the only sources of information available. The existence of the provinces stood in the way of the establishment of a general system of dealing with forest lands. This was exemplified in 1874 when Sir Julius Vogel introduced a Bill on the subject. That measure met with fierce opposition from the Provincial party. However, the provinces have been abolished, and what is, of more importance, the Land Fund has been coloiiialized; hence the main obstacles to dealing with the forests of the colony in a comprehensive manner have been removed. Mr. Lecoy gives a short history of the French Forest Department, and the cause which led to its establishment. As far back as 1827,, the French Legislature was compelled by circumstances, and for the public good and security found it ‘‘necessary, to infringe oh the secular principles and receipts, of: private property. Not only the ; clearing of forests belonging'to the State was prohibited, - but likewise private property of the same na-, turo was included in the prohibition; - and further, was made subject to certain rules of conservancy, underthe control of the State Forest Department.” Fortunately, in this colony the greater portion of the timbered lands has not been: alienated, otherwise it Would be found difficult to enact anything which would infringe on the rights of property.' Even in dealing with forests in the hands of the Crown, it will Jbe necessary to:frame the law in a liberal spirit. This aspect of the question was fully noted by Captain Campbell-Walker, who in his report expresses an opinion that it would not be desirable to introduce a system unsuited to the thoughts and action of colonists. There are between eleven and twelve million acres of forest lands in New Zealand in the hands of the Crown, - and according to the calculations of Mr. Lecoy they represent aii'enormous value. Of course, the data are very conflicting. In some parts of the colony the out-turn of timber per acre would be more than double that in others, and the information available is not extensive enough to enable one to strike an average with any degree of accuracy. Still an approximate estimate may be made. From the treatise under notice we learn that according to those engaged in : the saw-' ‘mill industry the yield‘of indigenous New Zealand forests does not exceed 15,000 superficial feet of timber" .peracre. Captain Campbell-Walker and Mr. Kirk have estimated the proper outturn of timber in a portion of the Southland bush at 31,000 ft. per acre. Mr. Lecoy is of opinion that the latter estimate, being limited to one locality, cannot be taken as a rule for the general out-turn of the forests of the colony. “ The average between the two estimates might be taken, and it would give an out-turn of 23,000 feet per acre. , Still, through fear of exaggeration in the present computation, the lower estimates may be adopted,-'so in the following calculations the average ■out-turn of timber is to be reckoned at ’15,000 superficial feet per acre. Now, the average price of timber, for all, - New Zealand markets, and for all species of wood, cannot be calculated under 13s. for 100 superficial feet. From inquiries, it is found that 100 superficial feet having to be obtained from the growing timber, represent a value equal to one-half of the selling price of the timber at the market. Thus the value of the growing timber to produce the same quantity should bo Gs. Cd. Let the latter estimate be reduced to 45., and such considered as the actual value of the growing timber,, thereby leaving a margin sufficient for the cost of felling, sawing, transportation, and other expenses, as well as affording a net profit of say 20 per cent. Therefore, by quoting the out-turn in timber at 15,000 superficial feet per acre, and the value of the growing timber at 4a. per 100 feet, the value of the forest for the timber alone would be £3O per aero, and £30,000,000 would be the present value for 1,000,000 acres.” According to the above, the value of our State forests is £330,000,000. Compared with this sum, the amount of our indebtedness is a mere bagatelle. However, the difficulty of realising somewhat damps one’s satisfaction at the colony possessing such wealth. Mr. Lecoy advocates the leasing of the forest lands, subject to State control, for a period of ninety-nine years.’ During that period he calculates that the lessee of a million acres would receive £140,000,000. , We have not space to follow the writer in his calculations and suggestions, but we must say that, the , pamphlet is well worth the perusal of alb who take'an interest inlhe conservation of New Zealand forests and in the 1 best manner of turning them to profitable account.