AFTER BUSH FIRES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 143, 11 March 1908, Page 7

AFTER BUSH FIRES.

•, SOWING CRASS ON,CROWN LANDS. v. •, : . i. , BlepheiwfMarck 10. . Thoquestion' ,of'.rehabilitating • '.Crown lands ■ denuded; j by ; bush-fire's' -caused * ; much discussion at tho ( meeting of [the-Marlborough Land;Bonrd to-day. An.offer-from a settlor ... to sow.,grass;.on part, of" the' State forest cut out, and on which thero had been -a ■ good burn,': on condition granted' grazing 'rights ' until tho 'whole I 'block- was cut. ; out, -was declined, and' members of:.the" Board ; .urged', -that«; Crtwn -landsudeiiuded 'by - fire . .•^d,.to-,be;sqTO'-^lßs ruined , or-.-reduced:-in -value ;by. ferns arid ! noxious/growth; butr-thes,Comriijssion&r»de-murred to .the Department undertaking tho ■. ;f ho.;feared;vthat 'the* demand ; for • seed .-.would;, raise .' th'o* priQe;, : on»the ,s6ttlers. It :'wds:pqinted; out,.'however,>that a.irisex'of' ' halfpenny,',.or:-penny-;-per,' pound; in : price rwas"' a; .small imatter.."compared;;.with *the amount • saved;i to ;'the State,'i byj'-k'eepiiig :tho 'land. .'iri■'goodcondition; v' It-Ywas;.; suggested '.that Strong- representations.-bp./maclei'-.,tb. ; ister on the- subject/ and'it. wis resolved-that. ! the sMiriiSterj.be/ recommehded--;to authorise : the sowing of land out-out'm. forests and all .■ other burnt Crown!.lands as <soon as pos ■'! Bible,'.-and',to lt t.was also resolved : that liii all/cases where . sawmiilihg timber;; has - boon ■ cut,' out; of State " forests,' '.the land ;be 'opened.!.for'i settlement asvispeedily.-; as', possible, '■; % ttaS-':^6j^to6j«and / - , /-'would. befrfequired 'to" sow lands ..burnt in Marlborough * ' REBATE OF RENT ASK£D FOR. > ' (UV TEhEGIIAPH—I'UESS"ASSOCIATiOXi ' . Auckland,; March. 10 An application, was received: by the Auckland', Crown .'Lands Board from •: a ICawhia sottler for a of a year's rent on.account of -losses;through'bush fires. The ' Commissioner (Mr. 'Mackenzie)j. in reply to a - remark . from; a member, -expressed ; tho opinion, that there would! be-many such requests, ;!-and, he considered; many of, a ; de-' , : serving nature. • Thevletter was referred to the ranger for report-. : : '■ 'VIEWS OF THE PREMIER. The opinion of tho Premier regarding .the Msult of- bush fires in tho Auckland district - is that l what at first-appeared to be an extremely bad outlook . will probably be found fto have been somewhat exaggerated! ■ From information'bo received before leaving Auck- '. jsnd from the Commissioner of Crown Lands; ~6he , total amount of ; seed that, would be required for the whole of tho Auckland district' would, not exceed twenty or thirty thousand pounds' worth. It' was possible, howevory/tliat #11, the settlors included in this woujd not need to apply for assistance.. Considering tho area; and tho extent of the fires, this was by no means a largo sum. • \