RE-AFFORESTATION.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 144, 20 June 1913, Page 6

RE-AFFORESTATION.

I KING COUNTRY TIMBER LANDS

I Tile following is a. summary of a i further report prepared by Mr F. T. ' Moore in support of proposals he has \ laid before the Prime Minister for re- ! afforesting King Country lands:— | "The most fertile area of timberi bearing land in the- King Country is j situate in the vicinity of the Punga- ! punga Valley, at Taumarunui. The ! area of this valley is 30,000 acres. The land is Native owned, with the exception of the Komakariki Block, containing 3000 acres, which, is Crown land. "Three sawmilling firms, Messrs j Elli-s and Burnand, Ltd., the Pukuweka Sawmills. Ltd., and the Taringamutu To tarn Co., Ltd., nro the present holders of tho rights to cut the whole- of the timber growing in this

valley, and its vicinity. One-half of the area is held by these firms direct from the Native owners, and the other half from'the Crown and Messrs Moore Bros. < "The above three firms are now cutting 100,000 ft. of sawn timber daily, which operation gives regular employment to 500 men. The market value of the timber daily produced by these millers is £500 sterling. Upwards ot £200,000 have been inveatedj by these three companies in steel tramways, rolling stock, milling plant, and general establishments. In 20 years hence this costly plant will have to be scrapped, 500 men will lose employment, and the daily production ot £500 worth of merchandise will cease, I unless these lands are reafforested. "It is quite possible to reafitorest and maintain in perpetuity the present daily output of £500 worth of timber. Owing to the deposits of pumice covering the papa formation of this country, it is physically impossible to make this 30,000 acres of land produce anything like £500 worth of wool, meat, butter, or other products par day. Common-sense, therefore, suggests that the land should be used for the purpose to which it is best adapted. As a timber plantation, it will employ more labor and give the invested capital and the owners of the land a better return than can be obtained by utilising the soil in any other way. The high ranges of scrubclad hills which surround this valley afford natural shelter from winds, making ideal conditions for the quick growth of milling trees. "The State should use the, royalty now being paid for the Native timber growing on the block of Crown land in the Pungapunga Valley in replanting, and make this area a model timber plantation for private enterprise to copy. The- Government should also enable the holders of Native milling rights to renew these rights in perpetI uity, provided the holders of the rights reafforest in a thorough manner. Immediate consideration should also be given to replanting the large area of Crown timber land at Kakahi, in the Waimai'ino Block, which timber is now being cut out for the use of the Public Works Department.. T!his Department should at least pay sufficient royalty for the Native timbers cut on the block to cover the cost of replanting. "A special Forestry Department should be promptly established, to collect the whole of the royalties receivable for timber-growing on Crown lands, and expend these moneys in toafforesting, instead of allowing this [revenue to be absorbed by the consolidated fund. The time has now arrived when every shilling received for timber on Crown land should be earmarked for replanting suitable localities, where shelter, soil, and climate are favorable. To attempt to plant 'barren, wind-swept lands, which cannot produce other than stunted, valueless; trees, would be rank folly.

"In order to produce in perpetuity .a daily yield of 100,000 feet of timber, which is the present output of the Pungapunga Valley, it would be necessary to replant this valley at the rate of 300 acres per year. Each.acre of land can be safely relied upon to produce within a, generation at least 100,----000 feet of timber in this favored locality. Fifty trees per acre, each containing 200 feet of timber, is a practicable growth to expect. A tree 60 feet in height and 30 inches in diameter will yield this quantity of timber."

Watch the,; advertising columns for the programme of the Captain Cook memorial concert at His Majesty's Theatre on July 22nd.—Advt.

A marvellous recovery from serious injury was told to a Dunedin Star reporter" last week by ah elderly man now resident in Timaru, and formerly of Dunedin. He fell from the top of one of the poles 25t. high while working for electrical engineers in Timaru in February last. The injuries sus■tained in this fall were: Pelvis broken in three parts, five ribs broken, one bone gone dean through one of his kidneys, breastbone broken, left arm smashed in three places, and skull fractured badly through striking the edge of the kerbing. The patient was for five days lying unconscious in the Timaru Hospital, and was tlien told that he would be unable to leave the institution for six months, if lh© could [ possibly live. Four local doctors atI tended him, and very little hope was j held out for his recovery. ; He rej mained 11 .weeks in the hosprtal, and was then able to walk, although all that was practically done was to bandage him all over. He was 12st. 91b when he was taken into the hospital, and his weight went down to 9st. when he left. In two months foe has regained over 2st. weight. Un- ■ doubtedly the case is one of the most I remarkable of its kind, and the subject has, no wonder, somewhat , baffled his medical attendants and ! friends.

Some excitement was caused in Stafford Street, Dunedin, on Saturday night when a motor car travelling up the hill took fire. It is surmised that the jolting caused the petrol to come into contact with fire'in some way, but exactly how the mishap occurred is not clear. Fortunately the car was clear of buildings. Little could be done to save the car, which was very extensively damaged. It was the property of Dr Fitzgerald, of Dunedin.