7

H.—sa,

Pact 11,

The revenue derived during the same period would be, — £ For the first five years .. .. .. .. .. — Sixth year .. .. .. .. .. .. 35,000 Seventh year .. .. .. .. .. .. 35,000 Eighth year .. .. .. .. .. .. 35,000 Ninth year .. .. .. .. .. .. 35,000 Tenth year .. .. .. .. .. .. 70,000 Eleventh year .. .. .. .. .. .. 70,000 Twelfth year .. .. .. .. .. .. 70,000 Total .. .. .. .. £350,000 j§70,000 would continue to be the revenue until the end of the seventeenth year, when it would again decrease to £35,000, that is, to the end of the twenty-first year, when the country would be in possession of 300 square miles of matured forests. Of course, the above calculations do not take into account failure here and there in the growth of trees, but they are sufficient to show the value of the work, and that there is every probability of its being self-supporting in addition to its vast importance. As this scheme in no way interferes with Mr. Krichauff's Bill, it is not alluded to in the present report. I have, &c, G. W. Goyder, The Secretary, Crown Lands and Immigration. Surveyor-General.

South Australia,

CEYLON. Correspondence on the subject of the Conservation of Crown Forests. The Earl of Kimberley to Governor the Right Hon. W. H. Gregory. (Ceylon, No. 134.) Sir, — Downing-street, 13th June, 1873. I have the honor to transmit to you copy of a letter addressed to me by the Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew, on the subject of the destruction of the forests in Ceylon. The efforts which you have already made in this direction, as referred to by Dr. Hooker, have not escaped my notice, and I read with satisfaction the remarks upon the preservation of the forests, contained in your speech at the opening of the Council in September last. I was glad to find provision in the Estimates of the year for the expenditure required to give effect to your proposals. 2. As, however, I observe that you dwell rather upon the loss of valuable timber, than upon the injury to climate caused by extensive clearings, I take the opportunity afforded to me by Dr. Hooker's letter, of directing your particular attention to the very serious consequences to the climate of the Island which may result from the further destruction of the forests, and of strongly impressing upon you the importance of effective steps being at once taken to preserve the timber, as far practicable, on lands over which the Crown has control. 3. I am aware of the difficulties which you and your Council may meet with, especially at the present moment, when the prosperity of the coffee trade encourages the planters to extend their operations; but the experience of Mauritius and other countries has so clearly shown the evil effect upon climate resulting from the destruction of forests, and the uselessness of half measures, that I desire to impress forcibly upon your Government the necessity of taking thoroughly effectual action. 4. It is of course unnecessary that I should observe upon the high authority with which Dr. Hooker speaks on a question of this nature, and I shall await with interest your reply to this Despatch. It will be a question for your consideration whether a Commission should be appointed to report upon the whole question. I have, &c, Kimberley.

Ceylon,

Enclosure. Dr. Hooker to the Earl of Kimberley. My Lord, — Royal Gardens, Kew, 27th May, 1873. In the annual report recently made by the Director of the Royal Botanic Garden, Preradeniya, Ceylon, Dr. Thwaites alludes to the extensive felling of the forests in Ceylon for coffee and other planting. This is a subject which Mr. Thwaites has already brought under my notice in previous correspondence, and I am aware that His Excellency Mr. Gregory is taking active steps in the matter ; nevertheless, the mischief done in other colonies is especially to be guarded against in this case. The planting of tea and coffee has suddenly become an object of active, and, to some extent, almost of speculative enterprise. The soil and climate are equally