Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1895. WATERSHED RESERVES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5196, 2 December 1895, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1895. WATERSHED RESERVES.

Tim question of forest reserves, ns a watershed for Jlastorton, mooted at the Late Mayoral election, was not one of much practical importance, first, because the hill tops are already reserved as a deer park, and secondly, because Mastertou can be more economically supplied with water from tho Ruaniahunga Itiver, J3ut wo notice that tho subject has recently been considered by tho Wairarapa Soutli County Council, on the motion of Cr Phillips, who proposed the following resolution " T|)at in order, lirstly to prevent injury by drilting shingle to the Valley townships, river lands,' and secondly to provide tor future high pressure' water supplies for tlw different townships, it is 'advisable tor tiio Government to make similar forest reserves on the Tararuj llijnges on tjje banks pi the Tauhcrenikaii, Maungatocre, ffjjngawa, and Waipoua Hivors to that already granUd to Greytown on the Waioliiue, and that the North Wairarapa County Council be requested to act with tliis Council in the matter. Such reserves to be vested in the various townships directly interested." There can be, of course, no objection lo sucli iosiji'Vej yn jthe part of any town if the fiovWpiKirjjhiMsc to give them. Tbey may SQipe day become useful, and either directly or indirectly proyo asmii'opof nnnijr cipal income, but for many years to come they aro unlikely to bo needed as watersheds : for high pressure water supply to .towns. The general intorests of thc;Wairarapa would bo best served by laying theso mountain tops and their approaches untouched. j.t once tho -Jrash in the ravines is cut aiyay oj;d JJie bill 1 sloped tjeniiddd. of their coverings'y.e sli&ll'jjrpbably got: a, finiallcf annua) rainfall 'jjj ijiq district ami ths rivei'S will come down with greater violence- in l|p(j[| time and bo a source of disaster to both town and country settlers. It is of course extremely probable that if tjis puntain country came into tho hands ojf muniojraJities a good deal pi if w.Quld'jjeleaselj for pettlcjnpiit 9id herein jtliere is a great 'daiigojf. On the wllpl? if j,i ,extrenjely doubtful whether any attempt ff) set,t).e or clear tho ranges should not 1)0 resisted on the ground that in flip interests of climate, iu the interests of valley lands exposed to floods and of towns liko Alnstei'ton that might be half swept away by a dolllgo from the hills, tho ranges should not ,bo tampered with. Wo do not bow wliftt'Extent of them' is already rajse^tidifoV |e.^'mia£ishtion ! phimoses, m Wfi siinji jjij gjaij Jo ffjj&t my littlo is loft pii experiments can bo tIM