PRESERVING A FOREST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19806, 29 November 1927, Page 12

PRESERVING A FOREST.

TROUNSON KAURI PARK. THE DANGER OF FIRE. PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES. STEADY PROGRESS OF WORK. Since (lie Trounson Kauri Park in tho Northern Wairoa was opened in 1921, the State has taken active steps to preserve it from destruction. The ever-present danger of fire has been fully recognised and much has been done to minimise fire-risk and to allow speedy ~-control of an outbreak. A rare and valuable asset, the forest will eventually be worth millions to the people of New Zealand. It is claimed that when all operations are concluded, tho forest will he practically free from all danger of destruction. It is not a small proposition to guard u forest of about 1000 acres. Four years have already been spent on the programme of protection-work, and the actual groundwork is not yet completed. When the forest was taken over it contained several dead trees, which were a distinct menaco in case of fire. The work of felling these trees was immediately put in hand, and about 800,000 superficial feet of kauri was logged. The logs were milled at the State mill at Donnelly's Crossing. Not all tho dead trees were removed, as some wore in such positions that to fell them would bo to kill several live trees in tho vicinity. Special attention was paid to the fringe of tho bush. Besides making sure of the kauris near the edge, the bushmen employed on the work cut out aL dead trees, such as rata, for a depth of two chains round the circumference of tho forest. Formation of Fire-break. The preparation of a fire-break was the next step. An area three chains wide outside tho forest was mapped out lor grassing. The strip round the northern and eastern boundaries was concentrated upon and at tho present time a strip of green sward follows the eastern boundary up the whole length of the ridge. A gang of seven men was employed in denuding and ploughing tho area, £4OOO being spent on that work alone. A mass of fern and tea-tree, interspersed with numerous stumps, the area was indeed difficult to bring into cultivation. The small stumps were all grubbed, the larger kauri stumps being left in the ground. The ploughing had to be carried out in order to get rid of the fern, which had grown to a good height. The grass sown was a mixture of paspalum, cocksfoot, crested dogstail, meadow foxtail and red clover, bo tar the giowth is but m its initial stages, and the paspalutn has not yet asserted itself. However, it is hoped it will later take charge of the pasture, providing a thick matting of turf which will bo green during the whole year. Use of Area for Grazing. The area already in grass has been put to profitable use, as the grazing has been leased for a term and sheep and calves are running on the strip. Ihe whole has been ring-fenced with a stout sevenwire structure—an additional protection to the boundary fence. A total of 113 acres is included in the grassing scliemo. An area of 65 acres which was ploughed this year will be grassed next March. The rabbit and the blackberry, both pests well known to the New Zealand farmer have not been allowed to multiply and spread unchecked. The former is being kitted off with poison while the latter has been grubbed over the whole area of the bush and surrounding open space, 1.200 acres in all. Drainage work has been completed round tho forest, and tea-tree, drains and culverts take away the unnecessary moisture.

Several signs scattered through the forest warn visitors of the dangers of lighting fires in the bush. I" or those who wish to boil water during their visit brick fireplaces have been built at cither end of the forest, The track which runs through the heart of the forest would be useful in case of fire, as a quick means of getting to the point, of the outbreak. It is kept in good order and, at a fast walk the whole length of the forest can be negotiated in a little over 15 minutes. Further than all these precautions, the forest is guarded at both ends. The caretaker, Mr. R. Donaldson, occupies a cottage at the northern end of the track while an honorary guard lives in a houso at the Aranga end. The houses have prjvate telephonic communication, so that little time would elapse before men couW be rushed to an outbreak of fire in any part of the park.