New Zealand Times. THURSDAY, JULY l6, 1874.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4156, 16 July 1874, Page 2

New Zealand Times. THURSDAY, JULY 16, 1874.

The vast extent of the forest land existing in this Colony has produced a widespread belief that the supply of timber is practically’inexhaustible ; and, acting in accordance with this yiew, wherever settlement has taken place in wooded districts, the destruction of property by cutting down and burning almost every tree has been commonly regarded as a highly meritorious act. No attention has been paid to the experience of other countries, either as to deterioration of climate or the increased price of timber from the scarcity produced by reckless waste. When some months since the Premier made known in part his opinions on the need of measures for tho conservation and utilisation of our Native timber, however the thoughtful and judicious might agree with him, the careless were as usual disposed to continue the policy of drifting, and wait till the forests were virtually destroyed before they would assist in providing for their preservation. Fortunately for the country Mr, Vogel, with his wonted thoroughness, has accumulated such a mass of indisputable testimony from all parts of the world as to sweep away every plea for delay. It is proved that wherever forests have been destroyed the average rainfall has been lessened, and arid wastes exist in lands once supporting a large and thriving population. What has taken place in Spain and Palestine is beginning in New Zealand. Forests have in some of the older settled districts been almost annihilated by intentional clearing or by wanton or accidental fires along the whole course of some of our smaller rivers. The channels which for ages had remained the same have been rapidly widened, and destructive floods have occurred where previously no danger existed. Though the total rain is less, whenever it does fall, the rapid rush down the bare hill sides carries away masses of earth and stones, which soon choke the streams and force them over the adjacent low ground. From every part of the Colony evidence can be obtained of the increasing damage by floods, and in every case it can be shown that it is caused by taking away forests at the source and along the banks of the rivers. In districts subject to drought, the frequent showers formerly known are now wanting for months, during which grass is burnt up, and cereals are not sufficiently nourished to yield a remunerative crop. Indeed, painful experience forces the conviction that an increased area of land in pasture or tillage does not always mean an increased return to the farmer, who 'could formerly feed more stock and grow more grain on a less quantity of ground, while the natural shelter from parching winds was suffered to remain. The construction of a great length of colonizing railways renders imperative measures calculated to arrest the progress of so great an evil. Running through the very heart of the country, railways will settle the districts near the sources of our larger rivers, and, if tho old Colonial custom of burning and hewing down is suffered to be continued, the injury to climate and the depreciation of the Colonial wealth will more than counterbalance the benefits of cheap transport and increased population. This is eminently a question of Colonial interest, and must be dealt with whatever conflict there may be with Provincial jealousies and local prejudices. Whenever propositions are made'which display foresight and broad views, the effect on each petty district is the first to be considered, and men who profess to be influenced by a regard for the Colony as a whole, seem frequently incapable of travelling outside the small part they represent. When the question has been discussed in former years,- some member for a district heavily timbered has started up, protesting against his particular fragment of the country being touched. So it may happen when the debate on Mr. "Vogel's Bill is resumed, that the authorities of Provinces possessing a large proportion of forest, will again speak and act as though it were their own private estate. The progress of railways forbids longer delay. Either the frightful waste of the public estate must be stopped, or railways that would expose further and larger portions to devastation must be delayed till wiser counsels prevail. Presuming that some measure for the conservation of forests will meet with general approval, there then remains the important question how the timber can be turned to the best account. Cheap carriage by railway will render it profitable to saw timber in districts at present inaccessible, and a large amount of employment will thus be furnished in remote parts of the Colony. To continue the wasteful system of timber licenses would be offering a premium to further waste, for it is obviously the interest of the licensee to run over a bush and pick out the best trees, leaving the ground covered with refuse, which only waits for a match to be thrown into it, to burn up every tree left standing. Neither would it be advisable to cut up tho forests into small freeholds, a course advocated by some persons who might bo expected to display sounder judgment. Permanence would not be an object with such purchasers. By them the young trees and saplings would be considered cumberers of the ground, and when tho mature timber was removed, the growing trees would be cut down to fit the land for cultivation. A system such as exists at Home among the private owners of woods might well, with certain modifications, be adopted in the management of the State forests of the Colony. Under the direction of experienced rangers, such trees as it was considered proper to fell could bo _ marked and sold to those engaged in sawing, care being taken to insist on the removal also of everything capable of feeding a fire. The leading principles of Mr. Vogel’s scheme for forest settlements furnish an ample text from which a complete code of regulations can be prepared, and those who wore disposed at first to sneor at his earnestness —they called it enthusiasm must now admit tho vast importance to the Colony of effectual measures being promptly adopted to turn to the best account so largo a portion of our assets. Mr. Vogel justly anticipates that considerable time and thought will bo readily given to his Bill, which, if not carried this year, must in some form become law if Colonial interests are to be protected. Should it bo that small jealousies, Provincial or other, are allowed to impede necessary legislation,

then we can only say so much the worse for those who cannot in due time appreciate the duties entrusted to them. Without loss to any section of the community, a valuable and permanent estate can be preserved which with every year of delay will become reduced in value. Who are they who will ignore the importance of securing for the future taxpayer a source of revenue that will materially aid in abating the burden of oar debt ?