The Waikato Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8. 1877.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 858, 8 December 1877, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8. 1877.

Equal and exact justice to all men. *>> wiuiuver suite or persuasion, religi uu. ,r p nitua- « * • » dere shall the Presi the Pkoplh's right maintain, Unaweil bv iuflutmce and unbribed l>\ xnin

While we write, a soft but steady rain is falling, which will be received with thankfulness in all parts of the country. It is true that, as yet, this north portion of the islands has not suffered from the excessive drought, when, as our telegram*, published elsewhere, inform us, is destroying all hopes of a crop iu the grain growing districts of the Middle Island. Still, the rain will be welcome to our formers, for, a good down pour now will pmh us with safety over the first and worst half of the ordinary dry season. Aud the difference between the condition of the two islauds of New Zealand at the present time iu this matter is worthy of something more than a passing thought. How comes it that while the Middle Island is Buffering from a loug aud

continued drought, which in blasting ail vegetation and threatening entire destruction to the crops; the rain, though welcome, is not anxiously looked for in the North, for it is •scarce ten days ago that we had just such another downpour as we are now expei'iencing? The cause, we nelieve, is nDt far to go for. While

the Isorth Island is, as a whole, well wooded, the South has comparatively iittle or no natural timber laud, at iny rate there are large stretches of country almost destitute of timber. The influence of trees upon the climate is a too well known and established faot to be disregarded.

In Spain, Italy and other Continental o>untries, the great enemy of the husbandman is ihe drought, and as the denudation of the forest lands proceeds, the droughts become more general and .of longer duration j on the other haud, wht-re tree planting on a large scale has been introduce t, the climate has experienced a change for the better. Egypt affords a-re-markable instance of this, It is noted for its dry climate, and had formerly an average of ouly six wet days in the year. The last and present Viooroy, however, have cariied out a regular system of tree panting. Many millions ot trees have been planted, an-J the con-e-

quence is, that the average of wet diya has beeti raised from six to twenty-four in the \ ear. The late Emperor NapoLou caußed trees by mi'lions to be planted in the pro. vince of Algiers, many of them of the Australian species, and with the most favorable effect upon the climate. We might travel, indeed, the old word round, and everywhere find facts one way or the other to show the improved climate porduoed by tree planting, and the deterioration of climite which foil <ws the destruction of the native forests. Sir Julius Vogel recognised this fact, though be took perhaps a wrong method to utilise the knowledge when he institute! a state forest department m New Zealand.

What was wan'ed was not an imp >rted forres r er, like Captain Walker, with an extravagant saary, employed in taking a trip here and a ■ rip there to telt as what fine timber we bad, an i give botanical names to die various specie*, but. Odtvful survey of the existing forests of the North still in the hands of the. Government, and a plan setting forth what areas of lorest land should be reset ved in various parts of the North Island from -ale and destruction Large reserves—properly situated, so as to catch passing rains which are otherwise drawn to the mountains,

leaving the open plains dry and parched would be of immense benefit to future generations, and indeed many of us may live, if this be not done, to regret the folly and short-sightedness of our rulers. In the Middle Island and in districts such as this, bat iuadeqna ely supplied with natural timber, where there are no forests to conserve, the want must be wrtifioially supplied, and this the Fore-t Planting Encouragement Act of last session is intended to facilitate. And here we think the Government might extend the operation of the Act beneficially for the country at larire. As it is a settler mast plant a cer. tain area with trees. Why mo* m ke tne Act apply to trees pi n -d singly and in small clamps and corners or in heige rows—so long as they are protocol or gown beyond"reac i oi cattle—coumiiijf so umny singly planted trees as representing an acre of plmta ion. Wuerti one man wi 1 plane a g ven area of his hn*, soms would be found who wodd plant at intervals on a farm as many tress as would represent the planting of an aore in one area. Ihe aggravate of singly plauted trees would amount torn ny aero & a district, »sd be eauaU/

beucficial in a climatic point of view, and more so in an »*thetic one than would the same number of tries, massed in plantations. An attempt was made in the House this session to increase the encouragement offered in the existing Aot for the plauting of forest trees, but, like many other useful measures, it has fallen a victim to the party conflicts which have swept through Parliament like a hot wind, blasting all before it.