WELLINGTON PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5718, 28 July 1879, Page 3

WELLINGTON PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

A meeting of this Society was held at the Museum on Saturday evening, Mr. Martin Chapman, vice-president, in the chair. The minutes having been confirmed, the Secretary announced the election of the following gentlemen as members Mr. H. W. Saxton, of New Plymouth, and Mr. W. H. Holmes, of Wellington, The first paper read was “On the Forest Question in New Zealand,” by Mr. A. Lecoy, DD,D., M.A. The author gave a most interests;.' account of the conservation of forests in otfier countries, and more particularly in France, with an elaborate description of the manner in which State ■ Forests Departments are managed, showing the expense of working and the profits derived therefrom. Valuable' statistics were given comparing the New Zealand timbers with those used in England and on the Continent, which, according to the author’s views, proved the New Zealand timber In many respects superior and more suitable for general use. He contended. that if the forests of this country were conserved in the manner indicated by him, a large and profitable timber trade eould be carried on. The expense of working such State Forest Departments was fully entered into, and information (respecting many important points relating to the subject given. The Hon. Mr. Warehouse thought the author too sanguine as to the success of such an undertaking in New Zealand at present, at the same time believing it to be highly important that conservation of New Zealand forests should be commenced, as no doubt in the future some such scheme as the author advanced might be carried out. He could hardly agree with the author’s estimate, especially as regards the value of our timber as compared with others, or as to the small expense of management when the present price of labor is considered. Dr. Newman agreed with Mr. Waterhouse. He did not think we could compete with other countries, especially on a large scale. The author was mistaken as to the great value of our timber; still, it was most important that New Zealand forests should be protected. Mr. Blundell, while considering the paper valuable, thought the calculations and estimates scarcely reliable. He agreed that conservation should be carried out with the view of future operations, Mr. O’Neill was of opinion that great weight should be attached to the views of the author, as coming from one who had devoted so much of his time to the question of forestry, and who could speak on the subject with so much experience. He himself agreed that some of our timbers were superior in many ways to those used elsewhere. The author deserved the thanks of the society for having brought forward such an important subject. The Eev. Mr. Ottwat agreed with the author, and considered that probably the estimate as regards our timber was even underestimated, but that the real value of the timbers could not *be ascertained until a market had been created for them. He mentioned bis own experience in districts in the North Island, where surviving trees, from those cut down by the early settlers as worthless firewood, were now valued at as much as £lO per 100 feet, and were exported for the manufacture of gun carriages. He also pointed'out that the peculiar value of the New Zealand a timber was th’e large size of the hard wood logs that could be obtained.

Dr. Hector thought it of the highest importance that this subject should be thoroughly inquired into, and the author deserved great praise for the trouble he had taken in preparing the paper. Anyone who helped to bring about the conservation of our forests conferred a public benefit, Mr. Kirk had listened with pleasure to the paper. He thought the extent to which conservation should be carried out ought to he considered, also the question as to its effect on climate. There was nothing in New Zealand to compare with the oak or spruce. The kauri was our best timber, but unfortunately it was fust disappearing. Mr. Lecoy replied at some length, and refuted many doubts cast by previous speakers on the value of his statistics. He thought that when his paper had been read carefully, it would be found that his views were supported by experience. On the motion of Mr. O’NbiLL, the further discussion of this paper was adjourned until next meeting, to afford members an opportunity of perusing it, as it deserved. Mr. Dominick Browne then read a paper on the question as to “ What should be the highest aim of the Wellington Philosophical Society," in which he pointed out that there were many other subjects other than questions purely scientific that might be encouraged among the members which would benefit not only themselves but the community at large. Owing to the lateness of the hour the discussion on this subject had to be postponed. ___