FORESTRY SCHOOL.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 221, 26 January 1928, Page 6

FORESTRY SCHOOL.

SURVEY OF ACTIVITIES. Wide Scope of Instructional Work. An interesting survey of the, scope of the work of the Canterbury College of Forestry is given in a booklet just, published. 'The foundations of the school were laid in 1919, when the late Mr. T. W. Adams, of Greendale, made the generous bequest of an estate and a legacy for the purpose of assisting ip the 3stablishment of such a school. A lecturer in forestry, Mr. C. E. Foweraker, M.A., was appointed in 1921, and a programme of lectures and research work was commenced. The School of Forestry was finally established in 1924, when the senate of the University of New Zealand decreed that Canterbury College should be a recognised professional school of forestry. At this time the Government voted an annual grant towards the senooi, thus rambling a more extensive organisation to be made, and a full staff was then organised. The work carried on by the School of Forestry lies along two distinct lines first, the giving of instruction in technical forestry, and second, the carrying on of research in laboratory and field into problems relating to forestry in New Zealand, these lines of eo—deavour are being actively prosecuted, and in regard to research a number of to scientific forestry in New Zealand have already been made.

The training of professional foresters is carried out with a view to their becoming fit to hold responsible positions in the New Zealand State Forest Service, and in private and State forestry organisations at ifome and abroad. The certificate or ranger course is a practical one, which will fit students to hold subordinate positions in forestry work such as forest guards, forest rangers, nurserymen, etc. During the spring vacation of three weeks ,a camp is conducted annually by the school for the purpose of bringing the students into closer contact with the field problems which will confront them upon entering on forestry work. At this camp a great deal of practical work is performed in connection with dendrology, silvereulture, mensuration, utilisation, logging engineering, and forest management. The present practice is to hold the camp in alternate years in Canterbury and Westland, thus gaining the full benefit of the wide range of forest types and technique presented. During the autumn vacation of three weeks, and the summer vacation of over three months, the students aTe expected to gain for themselves practical forestry experience. This is done usu ally by obtaining employment as labourers, nursery or plantation hands, guards, and field assistants with the State Forest Service or other forestry organisations. A very large proportion of the for estry course consisting of field work, for which purpose the school possesses facilities in many parts of Canterbury and Westland. The endowed estates of Canterbury College, comprising over 226,000 acres in Canterbury, possess many fine plantations, which are avail-

able for afforestation work. The vast podocarp rain forest of Westland, provides field work in all the large scale operations in forest mensuration, surveying, logging and milling, as well as m silvicultural studies of the native timber trees-

Instruction giveny by the school ij professional forestry consists of twt distinct courses of undergraduate work, in addition to the provision of facilities and instructional guidance in postgraduate study and research. These two professional courses are the degree and the associate courses, which are designed for students desirous of becoming qualified technical foresters. In addition, a third course of instruction, the certificate or ranger course, is provided to give practical and theoretical forestry instruction in various subjects. The degree course is that laid down for the degree of Bachelor of Forestry Science in the University of New Zealand, and is intended for the training of professional foresters with a high degree of technical knowledge. A four years ’ course, consisting of one year’s preliminary work in pure science, and three years’ professional forestry work, is required for the degree. The associate course is a three year course of theoretical and practical forestry leading to the Certificate of Associate of the School of Forestry, Canterbury College, a certificate issued by Canterbury College alone, and carrying with it no status in the University of New Zealand. The associate course is provided to fit the needs of matriculated students, who, with limited time at their disposal, wish to fit themselves for executive positions in forestry organisations, such as the State Forest Service, etc. The course aims to turn out men thoroughly equipped to fill positions of a responsible executive nature in an organised forestry service. The ranger course comprises a series pf lectures, laboratory, and field work in fprestry, eoyering either two or three, years. The course is intensely practical, and its aim is to turn out men fully qualified to do plane and topographical surveying as needed for forestry work; to estimate timber; to make field and reconnaissance surveys; and to handle nursery and plantation projects in an executive capacity—in other words, men capable of taking hold of field routine, taking charge of field crews, and assuming responsibility for project work.