FORESTRY.

Northern Advocate, 27 January 1922, Page 3

FORESTRY.

.REPORTS FROM OFFICERS.

GOOD PROGRESS INDICATED.

1? oports on the progress of forestry in Now Zealand, made to tJhe Department by the conservators find senior rangers, show that good work has been done during the past six months. In regard to the Auckland distract the 'Conservator stated that public opinion there, us elsewhere, was undergoing a and people were beginning to realise what forestry inearit to the Dominion from a protectioinal as well as a timber supply point of view. The stall' was gradually golting touch with public 'bodies and individuals throughout the region, and took advantage of every opportunity to bring and keep the objects of their service before the public. Evidence was forthcoming in events »such as the efforts now being made by the "Whangarci Borough Council to have Pukenui forest reproclaimed, and the Kaitaia Chamber of Commerce to save the high forested lands in the Mungonui county from destruction. The process of educating the public was slow, but they had the support of the Press in practically every district, and numerous public men who had considerable induence in various localities were rendering assistance by rtheir -support. All things considered, therefore, he was not dissatisfied with results in this direction. The rangers were carrying out preliminary reconnaissances of all the State forests .and provisional State forests, and this work would be prosecuted vigorously until records of all areas under their oontrol were completed. The quest Lorn of fire prevention had been considered and steps had been taken, to safeguard the most important areas. A considerable amount of clearing and burning dangerous places around these forests was carriedout during the early spring, and danger from lire was very much reduced. The guards realised their responsibilities a'id could be depended upon to do their utmost jihould dangerous fires brof.k out to check them.

A DIFFICULT PERIOD. "'ln reviewing the progress Jiuulc in the Roto run conservation region, it appears to me," says the .conservator, "that tliA past six months has been the most difficult period which we are ever likely to experience. Many tof the duties which have been imposed upon me and my officers have .been now to ins; the multifarious aspects of the subject 'have been difficult to memorise and keep in view; the preparation of and the obtaining cf proper equipment ha,s occupied considerable time and (thought, .the forest extension, work of the service, the three-planting by farmers, and the sand dunes reclamation work have all contributed towards making this period a difficult one. The fact, .that practically the whole of the milling activities .in this region are beinp; carried on upon either private or Orown land, has naturally directed our energies upon constructional lines. Great progress (in this direction is not claimed by me, buit in viow of the many other matters which have had to be dealt with, I feel frhat disltinict progress has been made. It is (hoped to obtain much information regarding forests on Ctowti lands, and have these, if valuable, recommended for reservation :is provisional State forests. Once the information ga'ined by such a reconnaissance is classified it would be possible to decide upon the best means (to securo svlvical and. isyl\ ioultural knowledge of the native trees.' WELLINGTON" DISTRICT.

The senior ranger, in his report on the Wellington district, stated that three districts had been tentatively defined, and so far fairly satisfactory results had been obtained. Each ranger had traversed his district as well ns conditions would permit:, and by the end of the vea.r should be well acquainted with the areas. The greatest milling activity was .in No. 1 district, where 82 mill? were operating. \ All the mills had been located, visited, and their ciiperiiiitioiis checked. No. 2 district might be regarded as .nonnii'lliing. Only four fairly large and three small mills were operating and very little millaible bush was under his control. The ran-<>-cr had very bad lines of eoaniniuni>,rtion in winter, but. he had done good work amongst settlers, who, generally speaking, had to be convinced of the value of protecting forests. No. 3 district was very large, and a. great portion (the Gifborne section) had not yet been worked. The large arc-as under control functioned chiefly as upland protection forests. A little milling bush (chiefly beech) remained in the Gisborne district. There were 21 small mills operating. The main forest areas were in the ilain Tiunk midisland locality, and the best, of the forested land was under the control of the Lands Department. Of the total 82 mills operating not tone was. cutting in :i State forest. The Taranaki district (with the exception of a few thousand acres tributary to the Stratford-Oka-liakura proposed railway) could be re-

garded ns having little milling value. The Hawke's Bay district was much akin to Taranaki, having only a comparatively small area of (milling ibusih. This was in the Gisbarne locality, but hud not yet been explored by a xanger. Owing to the fact that vory few areas bad ibeen submitted (in reply to the 2919 request) by the Commissioners of Crown Lands, concentration was made on this work, and as a result much dn-formr-tion had been gained, and 200,000 acres had been sent forward for approval for proclamation f>s raid for provisional State forests. Of the 110 mills operating in the region, not one was cutting in a State forest. WORK IX NELSON.

The ranger at Nelson reported: "The wihol° of the sawmill areas and reservations have been inspected -and reported upon iby .the rangers, and montih.lv inspections are made of all operations in State forests. The licensee a.nd permits issued under the State Forests Act present little difficulty in control. Most of the millers and others holding licenses tuider this Act are working harmoniously with the officers of the st-rvice. Some, little difficulty has 'been experienced with millers holding licenses issued under the Mining Act, but it is .to be hoped that we shall ere long be on a good footing with all connected with .the timber industry. Firo prevention is another matter which is receiving our constant attention, and preparations have been made to combat the danger during .the .coining season. There is still much forest-clad Crowni land in this region which might be dedicated « provisional {State forest,' and

rangers have been instructed to report on these areas as (time permits,, so that reoojnmenidotioas may foe forwarded accordingly. The sylvical and sylvi-cult-uxal knowledge of the indigenous forests so far gained is purely elementary, and much data has yet to be obtained and considered before any authentic statements can be made on the subject. Mill studies have been carried out where possible to obtain data in connection with log scales, ajid some time has been devoted to obtaining forest mensuration data, but still imich has to be done before yield .tables •cam be compiled -which would be adaptable ito

every part of this .region. ... As time goes on a.nd the public realise f rom our endeavours and ideals that "vve are n-orking .for the good of the community as a whole, I ihave no doubt whatever but that we shall have their wholehearted support." Excellent reports ihuve also been received from Hokitika and Tapanui. MILLING PINE TIMBER. Mr E. Earle Vaile, of Wiaiotaipu, Auckland, recently made i regarding the milling <a pine plantation near Matamata station. He forwards the following report from .the timber millowner: —"I have been (milling exotic pine timber here for the past two years, and have cut 2,250,000 feet. There is still about 250.000 ft left. This lins been cut out of an orea of between 20 and 24 acres, but by far the largest, portion has come from about ton acres covered with a smooth, barked variety with a small smooth cone and a fine

leaf or spine. These .trees grew to a very great height, are straight, and remarkably free from knots. We have cut trees up to 140 ft in length, of millable timber, and cutting out well over 4000 super feet each tree. Very many trees contain over 100 feet length of unliable timber, «vnd yield over 2000 feat per tree. . The avernge of mineteen trees of (the smooth-harked variety taken at random is: Length, 94 feet; cemtrc girth, 4ft 2in; -contents, 1332 super feet. That of eighteen of the Larger trees is 2191 feet super. All these were cut at the same time. We have been getting ISs per 100 super feet on trucks at Matamiata in flitches any size. The number of age rings in the tree varies fromi 40 to 47, and this confirms the opinion of old residents as to their age; but I have mot been able to find anyone here who actually saw them planted. A variety with rough, bark, long, straight, rough cones, and, ooaise spines, has not made such good growth as the first kind, and we do not regard this timber as so valuable. The boles are not as straight, and there are many knots."