MOVEMENTS OF THE HON. J BALLANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 25, 31 January 1887, Page 3

MOVEMENTS OF THE HON. J BALLANCE.

Reception of Deputations.

TUB Minister of Lnmls, the lion. J. Ballance, returned to Auckland on Saturday evening after a brief sojourn at Wniweru, where he has been consulting with his colleague, Sir Julius Vogol. As usual, Mr liallance sojourned at Cairns' Star Hotel, Albert-street, and during his stay ho has been interviewed by a number of people on private or public business. New Land Settlement Scheino.

On Saturday overling Messrs Brothers and Cook wailed upon the hon. gentleman us ft deputation representing intending settlers, and la'.fl before him thenew scheme or special settlement lately propounded in public by Mr Cook. This plan has been somewhat modified since originally stated, and now its to the effect that sections of 150 acres and under granted on 30 years' lenso with right of purchase; the animal rental to be 5 per cont. of the capital value of the land, and a per cent, interest to co charged on such terms as may be advanced by Government under the Village Homestead Special Settlement Association Kcliemo which it is proposed so far to adopt. The deputu- ' tion requested Mi- linlltincc to open a block of 1,600 acres of Crown lands in the Thames Valley forsettlement undei-this scheme The Ministor, who expressed himself very favourably' willi regard to the proposal nro-misi-d to lay the matter before the Cabinet and to do all in his power to further the views of the deputation. Native Lands Caso. Mr Mackay interviewed Mr Ballancc abo\it 11 o'clock to-day. Ho presented a petition from the members of the Njjatilmua tribe, praying for a rehearing of their claims to the itohcpctni blocks. A number of Woikato natives were also in attendance. Mr Ballancc promised to Kive Hie matter his considerat ion. Conservation of Forests. At a Quarter to 12 o'clock tho Minister of Lands received by appointment, a deputation consisting of Mr Monk, M.H.1;., Mr Oliver Mays, Chairman of the Waitcmata County Council aud conservator of Crown forests for the county, and Mr Albert Beetham engineer to the county. Mr Mays said that (he deputation had called in order to draw the attention of thu (iovcrnment to the enormous destruction of forests that was KOiiiK on in consequence principally of the action of Hie gumdiggers. It had now increased to such great proportions that it was absolutely necessary that sonic steps should be taken to put a stop to it. Jlr Ballancc said that tho destruction was to bo deplored, aud asked tho deputation if they had any valuable suggestions lo make. Mr Monk said that ho thought Mr Mays was the one to bring forward the mutter, he' bcins the conservator of the forests for the county Mr Hallmice said that the (iovcrnment had recognised the necessity of Inking greater cure of the forests, and with that object in view the chairmen of the various County Councils had been appointed conservators. They would sec that, tho Government had already had the matter under ciMii.ider.-ilion.

Mr Monk said that the Maungakahia forest had been almost destroyed by tiro during the present season.

Jlr Beet ham said tlmt the gum diggers were v, .H.nsible for the groatur part of the tires. The evil had grown to such a great extent that now it was almost impossible to obtain oven fascines for road making. The gum diggers wandered up and down the country andlired the scrub in every direction. Only a few (lays ago one of these men tired sonic scrub near his own pmco and hud it not been for the exertions of himself and some oC his men a valuable little patch of 1 acres of bush must have been destroyed. Meanwhile the irumrtiggersat upon the top o£ tho hill and refused to assist in staying the progress of the tire. The nian simply said that ho had not lit it and therefore was not supposed to put it out. It was of course to tho interest of the guniuissgors to have these fires raging over the country and clearing the way for them to dig, and settlers had complained to him that things were getting so bad that cither the gumdipgers' ravages must be put a stop to or the settlors must go. These men not only fired the country, hut many of them robbed orchards and hen roosts, and were generally a nuisance to the settlers. He would suggest that the gumdigger should be bound down to a certain area, say of 100 acres each, and let each patch be thoroughly worked out before the men moved away. Another trouble was that maDy of the gumdiggers were half mad. Men who had escaped from tho asylums often found refuge in the camp 3of tho gnmdiggers. Mr Ballance said that a difficulty occurred to him. It was that if they confined men to a certain area it must imply that, there was gum within that area, and that would require a knowledge of the district that would bo diflloult to obtain. Still, ho thought that they might issue licenses to gum diggers with certain stipulations as to firing and that they must assist to chock the spread of any lire (hat did get started. That would make them practically responsible, and, in a measure, officers of the Crown. Of course they could not chargo them for tho licenses. They might also issue liconsea for certain districts only.

Mr Bcctlmm said that under his system tlio land would be thoroughly worked, and not merely run over by prospectors. He believed that 100 acres would be ample for a man, for tho swamps could be worked in the summer, a 6 they were being done at the present time. Mr Monk said that the matters of detail need scarcely be gone into at the present time. Such a system would mean that a survey would have to bo made. Then certain districts could be proclaimed open to the gumdiggers. What thoy wanted was to prevent the wholesale destruction of the forests. At Jfuungakalua alone great loss hndoccurrcd.land lie believed that £30.1X10 worth of limber on Crown lands had been destroyed in thoprovinco of Auckland, during tho last two mouths, bcsklcs private prop rty. Mr lieelliam said that the trouble wa"> increasing, as, owing to the bad limes and the advance in the price of gum, very many more, men- wcro digging gum tbis .season ihan hitherto.

Mr Ballaucc pointed out that the Government liuil already conlined gumdiggi»K in certain districts to the special settlors under tho ViUaso their interest to tike caro that tho adjacent country whs not devastated:

Mr Monk said that the trouble was that Mr Mays had not the power to stop men from tiring tho scrub. He considered that if n man destroyed £20,000 worth of bush he should be pun;sh;ihl<..

Mrßallance: And so they are, according to the existing law. Mr Monk : Yes; but. a tine i 3 no good. Such cases should be dealt with as arson.

Mr Ballance thought that if such were the case tho men would excuse themselves by saying that tbo fire w«3 an accident. He felt sure that tho Government would hesitate a long while before they would create new penal offences.

Mr Monk said that only lately n beautiful little ferest had been destroyed at Waipipi. Although the Crown forests were being conserved, and etlbrls were made to plant forests, still up North other forests wore bring continually destroyed. It wiisaloss to the community at large, for every million feet of timber that was got out meant iCi.OOO spentin labour. Mr Bectham said that another evil was that the gumdigger tired large tracts of country nnd then cleared out to another district, returning ufterwards to reap the profit, of his notion, so that it was almost impossible to reach the offender.

Mr Ballanee said that r.s a means of preserving the Crown forests the Chief Conservator had suggested that rings of Cape Broom should be planted around each forest. This was absolutely proof against fire and should therefore prove a good preventive. The only fear waa that it might spread rapidly into the forests, and thus become a nuisance.

Mr Monk thought that settlers should be compelled to apply to the conservator of forests for permission to light fires, then if they spread that olHcer could find tlio olTcndur.

Mr Ballance reminded tho deputation that the Chairman of tho County Council was only conservator of Crown forests, lie thought that as tho damage appeared lo como from the gumdigger, he could bo made responsible under his license.

Mr Beetham said that they ako wanted power to prevent gumdtggcr3 from breaking up tns raids. They often dust large holes in theiosds, while searching for gum. Mr Rallauce eaid that he shortly ixprcttd to reccivo rotosts from tho Conservators of Crown Lands Forests, and ho should then receive full information oa these matters. He would of course represent too msttbr to his colleagues. Mr Mnja remarked lhat under tho o dPrcvin ; clal Act thetc mon oouM not have wandered at largo doing such eerioao damage. lie would like to oec it brought into operation luuln. Sir Monk aakod Mr Balhinoo to obtain rcpsrts upon tho MtuiitdknhU ani Wuirn* buflhes. Ho also said ho voula bo happy to afford any Infuriiiatlon that Ilia Government might require. Mr Ballanuj said the Government would look into tho matter, and if legislation shmld bo neoeseary tho whole (luottion would bo carefully gone iato. Whan Crook Bridge. Before the doputatioa withdrew, Mr Beetham drovv attention to the trouble nrising out o£ Hie Whan Bridge. He explained to Mr Bullunca that tho crock Demoded tUe County o* Wal'omata aud Kdun. nnd that each w^a liable to contribute halt tlio coat of tho bridge. Tho County of Hklen Dot being In ojioration, the result waa that the cent •would require to ha divided bstwoon tha HOVentoon road boai da tbat fit present exUted in KdoE. Ho stated that tho matter hs,a already been laid before tho uovernmcnr, and taat ti rop)y had boon received to the oifect that ihc Government would interrogate the lload hoards upon the ma tar. Nothing had. however, boon ilooo, and tho bridge would not last inuca Mr Ballanco said that it was a mistako to allow Eden to be outside tho Counties Act. Tho proper thing to do would be to bring the Counties Act into operation by compulsion. Mr Mays said what they really wanted was the control of the bridge. Mr Ballance said that what was wanted was for tho Public Works Department to take the responsibility. , , Mr Mays pointed out that tho Governor had now tho control of the bridge. Ho could, it necessary, authorise the erection or another. Mr Ballance said that all that was really required was for tho Government to act. He promised to represent tho matter to the Government, and the deputation then withdrew. Mr Ballance left tho Manukau Harbour by tho Oreli thia afternoon at three o'clock, it being Ins intention to visit some of the Special Settlements in tho North, including Motukaraka, Puniku'ere, and tho 'l'aheke, going on to Kawakawa, leaving Kussell for Auckland on Friday morning. All being well, Mr BaUanco will go by the s.s. (jairloch to Waitura, and thence to Wellington, when a Cabinet Council will bo held on Monday to arrange a programme of proceedings for the ensuing session. Mr Ballance is prepared to return to Auckland prior to tho meeting of 1 armament if by so doing ho can promote tho working of the Special Settlements.