STATE FORESTS.

Waikato Times, Volume V, Issue 279, 24 February 1874, Page 2

STATE FORESTS.

The Minister of Lands, accompanied by MivHodgkinsont assistant-commissioner of Lands and Survey, visited tbe*Bi>llarook «j»te fores*; on Saturday, with th» object inter • alia of inquiring into complaints which have, been made by the public^ that this forest is being de»troyed with more than the usual rapidity, and into disputes * which have arisen between the splitters and th« sawmill proprietoi s, and among the latter themselves. They left Ballarat at 11 o'clock am. for Dean, travelling 14 miles on a tramway constructed through the forest by Messrs Anderson* Bi others* sawmill proprietors. In many places the forest was burning, and a portion of the tramway itself bad been destroyed by fire. This tramway has been extended to where the Werribee takes its rise among the Blue Mountains. At this end of the forest, a number of personsreside who have for eight or nine years been in occupation of small pieces of land varying in extent from one to • three acres. Host of them have large families, and all of them cultivate and live upon their holdings. Owing to the fac{; that the locality was proclaimed a state forest, however, they had not been able to obtain a title to their holdings ; and at various times there has been communications between them and tne department about their un-^ satisfactory status. They are located on a ridge of very" rich land running transversely across the forest, and they aro very industrious, working for sawmill proprietors when they are nob engaged on their own holding*. Mr Casey heard the statements of these persons on Saturday, «nd determined that the claims of those who were in occupation prior to the locality being gazetted as a state forest should' be respected, and that those who took up lftnd subsequently to such Gazette notice should receive me&ly a license to o-cupy, but that/ no hope of >ttaiSfing% higher tifle should be held out to the latter. Nearly '-bW^f the. Ballarat end of the forest was found to be destitral of valuable timber except such aa can be used' for flrcwopjj _ajon*^.- Then «re no good trees in it avaiable for any other purpose, and there does not deem to be any probability 'that the young trees, of which very few are growing, will replace their ancestors which have been destroyed by splitters and sawyers. Thel party passed by a. piec 1 of ground, 'a bout 800 acres iv extent,, on the Ballarat and Creswick read, which has been recently enclosed by the department with a view to the preservation of the trees within it. They found trees growing nicely in this enclosure; but it it with the greatest difficulty that timber-getters can be lept out of it. It may here be mentioned that, in order to preserve native trees, the department hoi selected certain areas and erected fences at the spots where such areas can be entered with drays, thus not necessarily fencing along the whole boundary ; but no extensive plan of operations in this direction has been adopted. It has, however, been found almost impossible to keep" splittersand sawyers out of any preservative enclosure in the forests. Whenever these destroying anpolssee a tree they fancy, itsdoom is sealed if they can get at it! Splittere especially are| entrtled to be called demons of destruction, and the amount of stuff they send to market bears a very insignificant proportion to the quantity of timber they waste in getting the sime. Both splitters and sawmill proprietors, or their hands, leave the tops and brandies of the trees they fell upon the ground, aud these vhen dried by the nun, tend to ir crease the number of and to spread bush fires, and what young trees nra spared 'by such fires are too generally cut down for props or other purpose* On Tuesday the party passed Mount Wilson, traversing forest land which has not m yet been denuded of such timber ; and they alto went through Gttenlyon, Trentham, Tylden, and on* to Woodend. ilr Ca3ey was convinced by his visit that the timber licensing system at present in operation — if continued — it likely to result in the destruction of all the forests. It affords every facility- to the splitters and sawyers of to-d»y to get the wood they desire, and not only do those persons ne-ser attempt even partially to rehabilitate the land which t boy hare operated upon with trees, but they have never been kuown to betray the len.'t inclination to save what timber t hey do noli want. Tho licensed do not restrict vie licensees to any speratie portion of a forest, and 'as they can thus roam about wbererer they lik«, they feel no individual ititerebt iu| any particular area. If a bush fire occurs, nobody but the Crown lands bailiff cares, and he may be miies away. One of <be objects of Mr Caseys viezt wtio to see whether he ought not to put into operation in this locality a plan which lie himself suggested some time ago, nnder which the liccnieea would not be at Jibrrty to voam about, a forosfc, hut would be restricted to a specific area, for the protection of the trees of wbich from fire they would be responsible, while they would also be under an. obligation to foster and encourage the growth of timber within it to replace that removed by them. JIo had given instrucsions some days previously that all perBins in this district who were interested should be informed of his intended visit, bat those direc'fio'iis were not' fully ctrlied out, and consequently he declined iv the absence of representatives of 6ome of the parties concerned to coirio to uuj decision on- tbis matter there. Representatives of all the interests will accordingly bo invited' to meet him in Mel- I bourne, or he will pay another visit to, tlie loorlity before any alteration of the oxistring system is made. The party also visited tbe State nursery at Mount Macedon, and were delighted at its condition. This-nursery is devoted to tbe propagation of indigenions- useful forest trees, and contains many thousands of young and health y plant*, which will be available for distribution during next'iiutumn: In order to limits the unreasonable demands which have bean made on tho department fbr tliMe young 1 trees, Mr Casey has determined that tt charge shall be made for them npproximnti »% to the actual cost of production, but a small reduction on the pries will be allowed whon charitable op publio institutions are the purchasers. No attempt will be made to realise a profit. — Australasian.

A journal devoted to tbe fashions says :—": — " The practico of wearing papar urtiolei i» coming up ugain in London. Paper fraises in great variety are being worn j some of them are edged with most delicate-looking lace, and have the appearance of very cosily work Perhnps the oddest things in the way of paper articles are the jupone, which may be worn on a fine day without the slightest risk of detection, % and look like fine calico and pretty embroidery. What would our groat-grandmothers have thought of paper petticoats ? The paper bed-quilts are marvels of imitation. In appearance they exactly resemble a Mar sr lla counterpane of a handsome pattern. The table-clc^hs, which may be bought for sixpence a-piece, are not so successful; they lnek the smoothness of damask, and being rough they catch the dirt very easily. Short lace curtains for windows, made of paper cut into extremely delicate lace patterns, arc very pretty, and if not pulled about, will last clean a long time, and tho cost of them is very little more than the price of washing the heavier and uglier muslin and long ones." A little girl, probably six yearb of age, appeared at ono of the juvenile balls held recently at Long Branch in an entire dw« of lore of the most valuable description. It was made in tbo style ol the day, and worn ovtr pink silk. TV lace being while vi color, the effect was bi-antifijl. Tim dreii was valued at - £3000. The little child also t»oro diamond eamugs, neeLluce; and rings. Five-years ago, Mirs Grnndy, this same child's father \ia* a barkeeper in California.