NOT FAVOURED

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 60, Issue 4308, 24 July 1950, Page 10

NOT FAVOURED

SEED PLANTING BY AIR TREES ON THE RANGES ADVICE TO PLAINS COUNTY Advice that he could not recommend any attempt to sow the east water supply reservoir of the Hauraki Plains 1 County Council in the Colville range near Puriri by seed from an aeroplane was received from Mr F. J. Perham, conservator of Forests, New Zealand Forest Service, Auckland, to the July meeting of the council.

Mr Perham wrote as follows:—

“In reply to your letter of March 29 last the watershed area has now been inspected by the district ranger at Thames who reports as follows:— “ ‘The land in question is on the western side of the Apakura stream and this area in the State forest 72 or the eastern side constitutes the main catchment area for what is known as* the Hauraki Plains County Council eastern water supply.

“ ‘The land on the western side was purchased by the catchment board from Mr Kelly whose property practically surrounds the area. It is steep bracken country, showing signs of erosion and covered in fern, on the average from four to six feet high. “ ‘There is evidence that many fires have burned over the area, the last within two years, and the area is infested with goats. The above also applies to the iriarginal forest on ttye eastern side.

“ ‘lt is, therefore, imperative that the prevention of fires and the exclusion of goats should be recommended and my candid opinion is that if these recommendations were carried out the process of natural regeneration would rapidly become established and inhere would not be any necessity to sow wattle seed or plant up the area for protection. “ ‘ln any case, as long as fireis and goats aire allowed to denude the land and vegetation there is no possibility of the successful establishment by either seed sowing or tree planting.’ ” “I agree entirely with the ranger’s report that the first essential is to keep out fires and to reduce the goat population. Tf that is done, the planting of Acacia species is likely to succeed, but it is also extremely probable that should the area be protected jand closed up, it would revert to an indigenous forest cover which would be just as satisfactory for your purposes. “I could not, in any case, reconsider any attempt to sow this area by seed from an aeroplane,” concluded the letter. “That makes peculiar reading,” commented Ci* D. G. McMillan, who pointed out that Mr Perham, who was a member of the Hauraki Catchment Board, knew the true position at Purirj.

“I do not agree that an area burnt several times will not afforest .itself,” added Cr McMillan.

It was agreed to refer the letter to the’ Hauraki Catchment Board. The chairman, Mr C. W. Parfitt, suggested planting areas in tall fern with wattle seed and the trees could grow up with the fern which would protect the trees from the goats. Mr Parfitt suggested that if a man was permanently employed on thje reserve keeping goats off the area and eradicating’ the ragwort which could be done to keep down the goat nuisance.

It was decided to ask the Hauraki Catchment Board to press for legislation permitting the destruction of tame and wild goats which were causing trouble in the bush right throughout New Zealand.