SELWYN PLANTATIONS

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18908, 25 January 1927, Page 11

SELWYN PLANTATIONS

MEETING OF BOARD. A NEW SCHEME. At a meeting of the. Selwyn Plantations Board yesterday, the superintendent (Mr It. G. Robinson) reported that good progress had been made with the works in hand. Mr W. Stewart presided over the meeting, and there were also present: Messrs It. Nairn, G. Hall, Langdale Hunt, C. Wolff, J. Storry, If. Scott, C. H. A. Adams, and H. A*. Miller. ' An itinerary was arranged for a tour of inspection tor Monday and Tuesday, Mareu 7th and Bth. Members will meet at itoHeston Junction, and will' inspect reserves and lire-breaks to the Rakaia river, whence they will drive to Hunter's road. A meeting will be held at the Hororata Hotel at 8 p.m. On Tuesday, the Board will proceed to Darfield, via Coalgate and Waddington roads,' and will return to llollestou Junction at 4.30 p.m.

Mr Robinson laid a .special' report oti the table wherein it was stated that after afforestating an area of approximately 400 acres annually, the Board was now faced with the necessity of acquiring. more revenue producing land if the proposed scheme of planting is to.bo carried into effect. The continued success of the general scheme could be brought about-only by having at least a proportion of secondgrade afforestable land resumed annually for expansion purposes, in addition to the "cut out" or "under-planting' areas.

Although somewhat earl.v to accurately determine the number of trees that would be sufficiently robust for permanent planting during the coming season, the following estimate would, give a reasonable idea of the position: Trees available for planting out, 1927: Pinus insignis. 2<" n DM two-year-old; Oregon.pine: 100,000 two and three-year-old; pinus laricio: 30,000 two and three- year-old;: pinus osa: 25,000 two and three-year-old: Cmacrocarpa: 10.000 in trays: eucalyptii: 5000 in trays; making a total of This number at varying spacing distances would be sufficient to plant slightly oyer 500 acres. The following areas were available for planting without seriously interfering with the Board's revenue from , rentals: Turnbull's reserve (Burnham) 80 acres; sawmill reserve (Darfield), -0 acres; Bruce Bros.' reserve (Greendale), 70 acres; Grigg's reserve (Bankside), 30 acres; Tranter's reserve (le Pirita), 70 acres: J. Plight's reserve (Hororata), 50 acres ■;,Joblin and Wei-, bum (Dariield). 50 acres; Reddiehffe s J reserve (Te Pirita), 50 acres; making a total of 420 acres. During the coming tour of inspection, opportunity might be taken ofdecidinp upon the resumption of land for planting in 1928. Near Dunsandel two reserves of second-grade value, returnin" low rentals and quite suitable for afforestating, are: Reserve 1763, lessee J. Burgess, 406 acres, rental 2s 6d an acre f£so 16s); reserve 1764, lessee D. W. Westenra, 654 acres, rental 2s 4d an acre (£76 Is 2d); and the gradual resumption of one or both'of these reserves would meet the position. The report was deferred for consideration until offer the Board's tour or inspection on March 7th and Bth.