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tion for local use and exportation, all restrictions as to the area of land which sawmillers may hold should be abolished, as it can hardly be expected that they will incur a large expenditure for machinery and plant unless they are allowed to hold large areas of bush-land so as to provide the raw material on which to operate, and so enable them to recoup themselves for the large expenditure thus incurred. That this committee would recommend to the Government the absolute necessity of preserving to mill-owners all the rights they have acquired over streams and lands necessary to bring their timber to market, and that in any future legislation the interests of the sawmillers in this matter be carefully conserved. That in all sleepers for Government railways, sawn sleepers be preferred to hewn, thus preventing the enormous waste which takes place in producing the latter. Wellington, 21st July, 1896. D. Goldie, Chairman.

Wednesday, 22nd July, 1896. The Conference resumed at 10.30 a.m. The Chairman : The following is a letter received from the Premier of Victoria addressed to the Premier of New Zealand :— " Sir, — " Premier's Department, Melbourne, 13th July, 1896. " I beg to introduce to you the bearer, Mr. G. S. Perrin, Conservator of Forests of this colony, who is representing Victoria at the Timber and Forest Conference to be held in Wellington. " I shall esteem it a favour if you will afford him any facilities that you may be able for obtaining an insight into matters pertaining to the subject of the Conference. " I have, &c, " The Hon. the Premier, Wellington, N.Z." "George Turner, Premier. The Chairman : Mr. Perrin also represents Tasmania, and I now have pleasure in introducing him to you. (Applause.) Mr. Jay (Westland) : Before proceeding with the business of the day, Mr. Chairman, I would like to draw attention to the report of the Conference proceedings of yesterday in the New Zealand Times this morning. In their report this paper states that clause 1 in the " Timber for Export" report, brought up by Mr. W. M. Bell, and which reads as follows : " The committee beg to put on record its opinion that there is but little timber in this colony for export, that our forests are not so extensive as represented, and that in twenty years hence there will be little timber in the colony," was agreed to. This, Sir, is incorrect. Mr. Tanner (Hawke's Bay): I think the Neiv Zealand Times ought to correct the report in their paper of to-morrow, and say, so far from there not being sufficient timber in New Zealand for export, there is ample. The Chairman : I think it is far better for people not to report at all than to report so incorrectly. It does a great deal of harm to the Conference that such a statement as that should go forth. I suggest that they should correct the error in to-morrow morning's paper, and that we ask them to state " that, so far from it being shown that there was not sufficient timber for export, it was abundantly proved that there was any amount for the purpose." I hope, if there is a New Zealand Times reporter present, he will make a note of this. The matter was then dropped. Forestry Committee Interim Report No. 3. This report was handed in by Mr. D. Goldie (Auckland), chairman, and was read. Your committee beg to report as follows : — 1. That it is desirable to at once commence the planting of lands unfit for agricultural or pastoral purposes, especially in treeless districts, and where native timbers are becoming scarce. 2. That the varieties of trees so planted be limited to those already known to grow satisfactorily in the district, and produce suitable timbers and barks for the requirements of such districts. 3. That experimental grounds be established in such districts for the raising of various trees and for the supply of trees at nominal cost to those wishing to make plantations for timber purposes only. 4. That a qualified practical man be appointed to organize and direct forestry operations in the colony under the Lands Department, and the committee urge that great care should be taken to obtain a really good man. 5. That advice and directions be afforded by Government to assist private planting for forestry purposes. 6. That larger areas of beech or other forests be reserved for climatic purposes, especially in districts where rivers have their sources. 7. That a list of trees suitable for cultivation in New Zealand, compiled by Mr. J. Matthews, is appended. Other lists of suitable trees have been published by the State Forest Department. 8. That black wattle and other suitable trees for tanning purposes be planted on pumice and other suitable lands. 9. That returns be obtained of the present accessible and marketable forest timber in the different districts. 10. That in future appointments to the Land Boards, the committee consider it desirable that persons conversant with the timber industry should not be overlooked.