New Zealand Native Bush

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 63, 18 March 1904, Page 4

New Zealand Native Bush

P-'riS BAPID DESTRUCTION, i The h»Bt report from the Commis- . i "■toner of Growa Lands, Auckland, • I' tfvea «» approximate estimate of - * stUB kauri timber on Crown lands at ; i 715,000,000 Superficial feet; on na- *' -tive lands, 540,000,000 superficial ' i^'feet; on privato lands, 124,776,000 fee*; total > 1.379,760,000 *> superficial feet. The average annual |>, output is given at 70,000,000 feet *llW annum, so that in less than years these forests will be Qisxhausted. The possibility of enorJvrooua destruction by fire, however, r*. is not taken into account, and judg- • teg by losses during previous years Iron) this cause the probable shrink- £ ■' age may be set down at 10,000,000 L feet per annum. ; There are comparatively large "> Areas of mixed bushes practically ' > untouched in both islands, but with - the advance of settlement comes the «xe of the bushfeller, the destruction , jrrought by stock In eating and (trampling the under-scrub, und I ithe careless lighting of (ires *~ Adjoining settlers in clearing their land, all of which causes are contributing largely to the rapid destruction of native bush in New Zealand. The protection of these virgin for- ' esta for future use seems to be one J- of the most urgent matters reojuir- | teg the attention of the Government. "Mie total area of forest land re- - •erred at the 81st March, 1901, was ~_ . 3,552,067 acres. A very small pro- > portion of this area, however, comes f. under the heading of "State for- ' ests," the major portion being re- ; - aerved for the purpose of preservt. tog vegetation at the sources of I- rivers and crests of ranges. k- It is hardly necessary to refer to ithe destructive influence consequent on the indiscriminate clearing of bush lands, especially at the sources of rivers. Spain,-at one time noted for its salubrious climate and the richness of its soil, is now one of the poorest and droughtiest countries in Europe, with a rainfall of only nine Inches per annum, owing entirely to ■the - denudation of her forests. Other Instances of the disastrous results caused by the reckless destruction of 'forests may be found in the island of Cyprus, St. Helena, Mauritius, 'Egypt, India, and many other countries, IMfli a view to employing the best measures for the protection of natural forests in New Zealand, the Chief Forester <Mr H. J. Matthews) makes the following suggestions re- , trardmg the ro-organisation of the Bt*te Forest Department : 1.- That the entire control of all Crown forests, whether State forests, ordinary Crown forests, or plantations, be placed under a Board of, say, three Commissioners Consisting of the Surveyor-General Chief of the Forest Department, and e> practical sawmiller. 8.- That all scenic reserves be placed under a Board, consisting of the head of the Tourist Department, the Commissioner of Crown Lands for the district, and the Chief of the Forest Department. t* ? St dUties of the Forestry ( , Commissioners would be to have dc- £. Land forests, State, ordinorv, or U reserves by competent rangers, who would estimate r «w quality, and area of ". sSi,' General and index plans . • mould be prepared, showing the f boundaries of all reserves, scenic, clij, mafic, timber reservations and State $ wrests. Beports might be obtained rfrom Commissioners of Crown Lands regarding any desirable reservations «t present in the hands of private {.• persons< Beports should also be obi tained regarding any Crown or priirate lands suitable for afforestation. ?, Such lands should, if possible, be ;.- »esy of access either by rail, river, ""-- £f *?5»- * rith this infor mation the would be In a

HVWtion to determine whether the ~d*~ planting operations are sufj» i flefant to provide timber for future Kj jue, also il the remaining native forPf «rt» will continue to supply the pretest demand until artificial ones arc ■?■ mature.- The Commissioners would also consider whether the existing >j> timber regulations are suitable to jj the altered conditions consequent on jfe the extraordinary demands made on |" our. resources during late years. p Special reports should be made on ; all properties acquired by Governy meat under the Land for Settlements -, 'Act, with the view of reserving any r lauds that may be considered suitable for afforestration should por- , ttons of such lands be unfit either Efor pastoral or agricultural purpos-

;• legislation may be found neces- ■ «ary in order to resume lands for j~-, mflorestation, in the same manner g,r «s for other public purposes. Proby «Wy the encouragement of planting i. fcy private enterprise should receive | attention by way of the publication g;- of literature on this important suhE |ect.