FOREST CONSERVATION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1424, 15 June 1899, Page 17

FOREST CONSERVATION.

REPORT OF THE LAND BOARD. EE COMMENDATIONS BY ME MARCHANT. AN INTERESTNG DOCUMENT. In accordance with a recent promise to the Land Board, Mr J. W. A. Marchant, Commissioner for the Wellington district, has prepared an exhaustive report on the subject of Eorest Conservation, which has been circulated among members of the Board. The following are the principal portions of the report: I have the honour to submit for consideration the following particulars and proposals relating to Eorest Conservation: The remaining Crown lands in the Wellington Land District are as follows: Lying open for selecton under the Land Act, 116,847 acres; not yet classified or opened for sale, 765,079 acres; total, 881,926 acres.

. The reservations of forest and mountain lands which have been gazetted in terms of the New Zealand State Forests Act, 1885, aggregate 111,718 a 3r 30p. In addition there are the ungazetted l*locks;-173JJ82a 2r. Total, 285,731 alr 30p. S The great bulk of this area of 285,731 aferes comprises the summits and the higher slopes of the Rimutaka and Tararua ranges, ah cl may be said to extend from near the sea at Cape Turakirae to the Manawatu Gjorge, with a varying width of from two to ten miles, which was excepted from the Wellington and Manawatu Railway allocation. Some years ago this reservation w?as encroached upon at the northern end by tlie settlements. The absorption by the Welington and Manawatu Railway Company, under their contract with the Government, of the whole of the Crown lands on the western slopes of the Tararua and Rimutaka ranges, unfortunately curtailed ray proposals on this subject dated 21st April, 1881, without, in my opinion, conferring on the company any commensurate advantage. Tim Crown was thereby deprived of the power to conserve a large area of mountainous and high hilly foi'est and scrub-clacl country embracing the upper portions of the watersheds of the numerous rivers and streams debouching westward from the ranges inland of the West Coast and Hutt districts. Before handing over the allocated lands to the company, another reserve of 13,300 acres round Mount Wainui inland of Paikakariki was made. There is also a block of 1000. on the Pohangina. river, and 3900 acres embracing the upper Kaiwkatn basin. In addition several smaller block- ,x>re conserved in various localities throughout the Wellington Land District. INSUFFICENCY OF EXISTING RESERVATION.

The above area of gazetted and ungazctted Forest Reserves might be considered as considerable and sufficient, but when it is borne in Blind that the area of the Wellington Land District amounts to 6,811,000 aci’es, it will be'admitted that further conservation is urgently necessary: A glance will demonstrate that in numerous localities no provision lips, so far, been made to set aside areas of forest lands. It is impossible, at this comparatively late period, when nearly all the most suitable and accessible forest country has been alienated from the Crown, to give effect to a general forest conservation scheme, applicable to tlii3 land district, and, I may say, essential to the well-being and prosperity of the whole community. OBJECTS OF CONSERVATION. The objects sought to be attained by the aforesaid Forest Conservation proposals of 1831, included the following; 1. The conservation of springs at the sources of the principal rivers and streams to ensure the maintenance of the water supply of the country. 2. The prevention of the degradation of the surface of the mountains and the deposit of detritus in the valleys. 3. To ensure the gradual distribution of the rainfall, avoidance of the rapid descent of storm-waters and consequent sudden high floods more disastrous than those heretofore experienced. 4. To maintain the climatic equilibrium, and to protect the native flora and fauna. 5. In the low country to conserve scenic effect and shelter, and by preserving, the forest and scrub along the rivers and streams also to maintain the banks of th e latter. G. To meet the economic and domestic requirements of the ’people. 7. It was also proposed to reserve low coasts and tracts of country where . protective planting might be necessary to fix sand dunes. • 8. Lapse oh time and inroads upon the available midding timber appears to ' point to the necessity for the acquisition of areas of country suitable for reforesting.

RESUMPTION OF FOREST LANDS. . The question as to whether the State would be justified in acquiring extensive blocks of the remaining waste forests, whether in the hands of Europeans or Natives, and isolated clumps of bush which beautify and make the colony attractive, is submitted as worthy of consideration. The preservation of forest and scrub alongside rivers in the upper reaches, and in canons and mountain gorges, demands attention, especially where the Crown has alienated the lands. For unique beauty this latter class of scenery is unsurpassed, and its preservation is an essential factor in the determination of the tourist traffic of the future, the importance of which is already realised. The proposal of resumption is beset by serious but not insurmountable difficulties, particularly as it may be demonstrated that it •is fraught with issues vital to the welfare of the nation. Viewed in this light, individual interests might be expected to give way to the common interests. * PROPOSALS. To supplement the aforesaid Forest Reserves of 285,731 acres, it is recommended that the following be added: —Surveyed lands, 41,786 acres; unsurveyed lands, 323,899 acres. Total, 651,416 acres. In addition it is recommended that the iollowing.lands be rr held back from sale:--Surveyed sections, 26,942 acres; unsurveyed lands, 170)345” acres. Total area, 848,/03 acres.

The principal blocks and localities are as follows:—The National Park on Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu, being inadequate in area, it is proposed to extend the limits of the same so as to embrace the whole of the Crown lands on the western and southern slopes and plains to the westward of these mountains in order to conserve the whole of the country down to the proposed North Island Main Trunk line of railway for come distance northward and southward of the Waimarino Plains; and also to include some of the forest lands westward of the said railway line. This addition, roughly speaking, comprises about 100,000 acres. On the eastern side of these mountains the Crown has acquired blocks of land amounting in area to 13,730 acres, which are included in my proposals for the extension of the National Park. I have come to the conclusion that the National Park should ultimately include the whole of the country from Lake Taupo southwards to the Murimotu Plains, being bounded, roughly speaking, on the western and eastern sides by the two great railway and road routes from Waioru to Taumaranui on the one side, and to Tokaanu on the other. Though a large proportion of the country thus indicated is still iu the hands of the aboriginal owners, it would be as well to take a broad view of such an important subject. It may be necessary by means of special legislation to give effect to proposals which would adequately meet the requirements of the colony. The proposals include the conservation of 45,116 acres on the Kaimanawas at the head of the Rangitikei river, being the whole of available Crown lands in that locality. It is also proposed to conserve the remaining Crown lands on the western slopes of the Ruahine Ranges from the head of the Knwatau river southward to Manawatu Gorge. This will involve the conservation of about 70,090 acres of country lying at the back of the various settlements, and should be supplemented by the acquisition of the intervening Maori lands.

Th? next important proposal may be described as the extension of the existing reservations on the Tararua and Rimutaka Ranges, from the Manawatu Gorge to the sea at Palliser Bay. About 80,000 acres of Crown lauds would thus be absorbed into the existing reservations; rare being taken in the first instance to excise small portions adjacent to the existing settlements, which may be found suitable for occupation and improvement. Out of the remaining Crown lands in the Puketoi country, I have included in the schedules about 20,000 acres of the summits and higher slopes of the ranges. I am of opinion that the 1807 acres block cut out of the Wellington Fruit Growers’ Settlement at Waikanae should be conserved. Another considerable proposal includes about 39,000 acres of the high isolated mountains called Haurangi, situated at the southern end of the Wairarapa district, ea3t of Palliser Bay. As regards the unsurveyed Crown lands proposed to be held back from sale, it will be noticed by the schedules, that large areas are situated in the Waimarino country, and north of the Kawhatau between the Rangitikei river and the summit of the Ruahine range. There are in addition sevei'al smaller blocks in various parts of the back country. GENERAL OBJECTS IN VIEW.

Having thus indicated in a general way the- position of the various blocks proposed to be reserved or held back from sale, I may say that the proposals as a whole are made principally with the object of preserving the magnificent scenery of the interior, and especially that on the high mountain ranges; to control the distribution of the rain-waters so as to mantain springs and streams and prevent more disastrous Hoods in the low country than at present experienced; and also to preserve as far as possible the unique fauna and flora of New Zealand. As regards ordinary forest lands at a lower elevation, the proposals have for their chief object the conservation of timber valuable for constructive and other economic purposes. A large factor taken into account in framing these proposals is the necessity that exists for the preservation of blocks or patches of timber throughout the whole of the settlements for the use and convenience of the people. Care has also been taken to recognise the importance of maintaining, wherever opportunity offers, strips and patches of bush so as to preserve some remnants of the beautiful forest scenery of the districts. AtX > uIbXTION AND RESUMPTION OF FOREST LANDS. In order that the best possible conservation for the Wellington district may be fully considered, it is necessary to revert to the suggestion that the Crown might acquire by purchase the control of waste Maori lands, and in some instances, freehold land in the possession of Europeans. Should this view be accepted, attention should be given to the enlargement of the National Park, as already indicated, by the acquisition of the bush lands owned by natives iu the distret about Eotoaira and on the great Ruapehu Tougariro range. The fine beech forest on the Kaimaiiawv ranges east of the Waikato river, might also be acquired. The block oi land between the Rangitikei river and the summit of the Ruahine range, on which stands Aorangi mountain, appears to be desirable of acquisition. The native lands now lying waste and useless to the owners on the western slopes of’ the Ruahine range might also be acquired. There are large tracts of native lands between the Waitotara and Wanganui rivers, and eastward from the latter river to Murimotu, and as far northward as the Whirinaki Survey District, which should be dealt with under Government control so as to ensure the conservation of forest and scrub on the higher and poorer class of lands, ‘and the milling of all suitable and accessible heavy timbered lands. On enquiry I find that the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company have not yet disposed of the area of about 100,000 acres of land allocated to them under their contract with the Government. These endowment lands are situated generally adjacent to the existing Forest Reserves on the ranges inland of Tokomaru, Shannon, Kereru, Manukau, Otaki, Te Horo and Waikanae. In addition the company still holds two large tracts of country east and west of the Akararawa Valley, which are also contiguous to existing Government Forest Reserves. I am not aware whether the'Com-

pany would be disposed to treat with the Grown in regard to the resumption of this high country, but I submit that the question is well worthy of consideration. FINANCIAL AND GENERAL.

The establishment of extensive conservations will entail upon the Crown additional responsibilities in safeguarding and protecting the reserves, and may bring also additional expense in years to come in the rabbiting of portions of the country. It follows as a matter of course that sooner or later rangers and other officers must be maintained to effectually ensure tlie conservation and proper working of the forests; but here again tlie revenue derivable from the produce of tlie forests should more than recoup the cost of administration. Estimates have been made as to the quantity of timber per acre of New Zealand forests. Some years ago it was estimated at from 15,000 to 30,000 superficial feet. A well-known miller recently assured me that the labour and value of utilising and working the timber on an acre of ordinary heavy bush land in the Raigitikei 'district amounts to Ji 18. Whatever may be seid to these estimates, it cannot he gainsaid that there is no more advantageous and profitable labouremploying 1 industry in the colony, than that presented by the utilisation of the forests. This affords one of the strongest arguments in favour of the conservation, where possible, of milling timber. It has been suggested as a novel idea that the State might undertake the cutting and distributing of the timber from the forests. As this has already been done in other countries, there is no reason why it should not be applied in New Zealand under proper conditions at an opportune time. Judging by what has occurred in past ages in older countries of the world, or even already in 1 liis new colony, it seems safe to assume, unless precautions are taken, that within a comparatively short period the whole of the forest in the Wellington Land District will have disappeared as the ordinary result of settlement and disastrous fires which periodically sweep over the face of the country. Our indigenous forests are so extremely sensitive and subject to destruction that I am led to the conclusion that it will be difficult, even under the most stringent regulations and safeguards, to preserve thejn except in specially favourable localities; nevertheless no one can doubt that it is the duty of the Crown and the colonists to do all in there power to postpone, or prevent altogether, such a deplorable result. Likewise, arguing from analogy and altered conditions, in other countries, it seems inevitable that should there be widespread and general destruction of the forest, scrub, and coarse vegetation, throughout the several districts. the loss to the colony and community would be incalculable;for the whole face of (he country would be affected by the constant exposure to the rain and the sun; the better portions of the soil being wo.3hed off the higher lands, the surfaces would become hardened and less fertile, and consequently the productive capabilities of the land would materially deteriorate.

The exposed watersheds would tend to the drying up of the springs and watercourses, bringing disaster in the form of drought. On the other hand, the rapid distribution of rain waters and their accumulation in rivulet.s and rivers would lend to the washing down and removal of the soil from the mountains and hills, the scouring of channels, the flooding of lowlving lands, and tlie deposit of detritus thereon. It is unnecessary to revert again to all the important considerations which should spur the community by every means in its power to avoid such disastrous consequences as are indicated. It is sufficient here to sav that, under fuch conditions, the country would be afflicted and impoverished, and ceriainlv would no longer lie the beautiful and attractive region it now is.