THE RIMUTAKAS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10077, 26 August 1910, Page 6

THE RIMUTAKAS.

THEIR BARREN CONDITION. A strong plea for tlie afforestation of the Ilimutakas was made by Mr Buchanan, M.F. for Wairarapa, in the House of .Representatives on j "Wednesday. He declared that the original forests were a very pleasingsight, but now the locality bore'the appearance of ugly barrenness. A good deal of the loss of the forests was, lie contended, due to fires which originated along the railway line. Wandering stock had also been responsible for the destruction of native plants. He felt quite sure that it would be possible to re-clothe the

llimutakas. Touching upon this question later, the Hon T. Mackenzie, (Minister for Agriculture), said that to re-clothe the llimutakas would be a work of extreme difficulty, as much of the land was barren rock. Mr Buchanan: Oil, 110, Mr Mackenzie declared that the soil in the locality had been destroyed as the result of the forest fires. It would be a long time before a sufficient quantity of humus would be restored to enable plant life to flourish. He would like to remind Mr Buchanan of the difficulty which settlers 011 the right-hand side of the Hutt Valley found in growing plants, etc., even with manures. Mr Buchanan: Mr Dutliie's homestead is an instance to the contrary. Mr Mackenzie : No, it substantiates what I say. In conclusion, Mr Mackenzie stated that there could be no doubt but that the surfacemen in New Zealand took the utmost care to prevent damage being clone by the spreading of fire. Subsequently, Mr Buchanan pointed out that pinus insignis planted 15 years ago had grown to 21in. in diameter on Mr Duthie's property without an ounce of manure. Mr Mackenzie: His property is not on the Rimutakas, and his property cohld not be called poor. (Laughter.)