CORRESPONDENCE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume III, Issue 359, 1 December 1882, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

OUR TIMBER SUPPLY. To the Editor of the Star. Sir, This is a subject in which I take a good deal of interest, and I think the time has now arrived when steps should be taken to replace the timber which is being so rapidly destroyed ; and when speaking of timber, I refer to rimu, white pine, and matai, which are the only sorts in the Hawera aud Patea Counties that have any value for building purposes. If there were any natural means in process for re-placing the timber removed, the question would be a comparatively simple one, but there is no such meaus hi existence oa this coast. On the contrary, I believe I can safely affirm that the timber is rapidly dying out of its own accord. 'During the last ten years I have had acquaintance, more or less intimate, with 30,000 acres of bush land in these two counties, and I do not remember to have seen a score of young timber trees (indeed, a sapling is a very rase thing to come across) ; and it is therefore evident that a future natural supply is out of the question. Nor is there any probability of the mature trees lasting very long, for they have a deadly enemy in the rata. The rata is a parasite that starts into existence either in the ground or in the fork of a tree ; it is not particular, and very quickly climbs right up the tree, throwing out arms right and left, all the way up. These arms quickly extend right round the trunk, and then join, growing into one another, and soon crushing the life out of the tree they fasten on. The presence of this parasite is most noticeable on all timber growing on fairly dry ground, and the tree it fastens on is doomed. Nor do I think that any means short of artificial planting will meet the case, for several reasons. Firstly, no timber reserve has yet been set aside, with the exception of the six mile belt round the mountain, which has been reserved to prevent the drying up of the country, and which is moreover useless for milling purposes. Secondly, there is but a poor prospect of the bush settlers reserving a supply, for they are essontially fire-raisers, and there is always a large quantity of sage and kie-kie in the top. of timber trees, and a spark lodging in this stuff in summer time will set it on fire, and with a good breeze, will fire the trees for a long distance, killing them at once, of course. And even the trees that escape fire do not live long when the under growth is cut down around them, and they are exposed to conditions that they have not been accustomed to. Cattle travel over the roots that are above ground knocking the bark of them, and thus helping the hot sun and the' rough weather in their task of destruction. Thirdly, the timber trees are usually so scattered that a very large area would have to be reserved to ensure only a few years's supply with the enormous demand that will certainly exist in twenty years' time, and complaints would be loud and deep about the drawback to settlement caused by such a reserve. I certainly think, however, that where there is a very thickly timbered piece of land, surveyors should have instructions to report the fact, so that it might be withheld from sale. For instance, on the Bird road in this district, there is a piece of land marked White Pine Swamp ou the map, which has been sold on deferred payment. The seleotor has felled all but the pines, and you can scarcely see between them now. Such a piece of bush land cannot be of much service for grazing, but would be very valuable some day for timber. In conclusion, it does not appear to me that it is at all to soon to make a start at artificial planting. The Ngaire Road Board has two little properties on the Bird and Finnerty roads that could be utilised. The Hawera Boad Board has one on the Clifford road. The Hawera County Council could not do better than get the purpose 6f the 50-acre-reserve on the Mokoia flat changed from a racecourse to a plantation, and a few acres at all events planted with blue gum fora commencement. No one supposes that we shall ruu short for the next fifteen years perhaps, but after that I believe that a scarcity will' be felt, not in these districts alone, but in many others throughout the colony. A small beginning would cost us but little now, and would probably, lead up to a large systematic planting.— l am, &o;', Or. A. Marchant. Stratford, November : 29tiu T . ''.' ' ' '