NORTHERN ADVOCATE DAILY With which is incorporated the NORTHERN MAIL DAILY SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 1920. THE PUKENUI FOREST.

Northern Advocate, 5 June 1920, Page 2

NORTHERN ADVOCATE DAILY With which is incorporated the NORTHERN MAIL DAILY

SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 1920. THE PUKENUI FOREST.

Registered for transmission through the post as a newspaper.

The purchase of the timber in the Pukenui State Reserve hns been ad-

vanced another stage, the deposit hay- j ing been paid by the Whangarei Bor- i ough Council. A good deal of opposition has been raised by one and another against the borough's acquirement of this timber but for what reason it is not altogether easy to understand. It now transpires that since it became common knewledge that the i>orough was likely to succeed in its proposals to purchase this timber that other applications have been received for a share of it. This fact leads one to believe that tie opposition against the purchase by the borough was not al- ,- iogother genuine except &o far as the preservation of the forest for scenic purposes is concerned and even here we would remind those who are so anxious on this point that in the borough's own reserves at Hora Hora there are a number of beautiful specimens of kauri which if preserved against fire will remain to show what a magnificent tree the kauri was. Mr G-reville, the Crown Lands Commissioner, was more than considerate with the borough representatives who arranged the preliminaries for this deal and apart from the actual business transaction entered wholeheartedly into the cutting and distributing proposals. He strongly recommended milling the timber at the bush as by so doing wastage in hauling would be obviated and steam power would be provided from slabs and off-cuts. Others again, and included among them is Mr Afander, member for the district, advise the Council against this course as in his opinion the most economical method will be to haul the logs to an already established mill. He is very pleased that the borough has been so successful and has expressed his willingness to give that body the benefit of his lengthy experience. The point, however, which we wish to emphasise is that the timber has been secured; the pros and cons of working are now a matter for the further consideration of the Council. In this connection it is to be hoped that they will get advice from expert disinterested parties as to the wisest course to pursue. The expenditure of a little money for this purpose will probably save a large amount and will ensure public confidence in the scheme. Possibly the proper course to pursue when advice has been obtained will be to call* tenders for the Avork of cutting handling and milling either as a I whole or in sections. The Council was wise in asking for a period of two and a-half years in which to complete the cutting as this will give them two summers for the work. Now that this necessary and most important step has been taken it might pay the Council well to go further and consider a large loan proposal for the building of say fifty dwellings. We can conceive of no better advertisement for this town than to publish abroad the fact that a largo number of homes were in course of erection by the local body hero and that the same would be available for occupation within a stated time. Having all the necessary conveniences for com.fort in living, namely, good water, good drainage, electric light, ami power and reasonably good streets why should not the Council, which has been at great expense to provide these conveniences, now endeavour to create a demand for what they have to spare by taking up such a building programme and inviting settlement. Few individuals are in a position to build for themselves and fewer capitalists still will undertake the work. We submit that this idea is no wild cat scheme. It is a business proposition the Council being a seller of the commodities mentioned and a rate collector. Under capable and export management the borough couldn't possibly go wrong in undertaking such a. scheme and we have sufficient confidence in the ratepayers to believe that their hearty support would be forthcoming.