FOREST RESERVES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6315, 16 September 1907, Page 7

FOREST RESERVES

HON. R. MoNAB’S POLICY. The importance of reserving bushclad mountain slopes and other areas for watershed and nlimatie purposes is urged by the Minister of Lands, the Hon.vß. MoNab, in a letter to Mr Hogg, M.H.R., on the subject of Waiuui Reserve. Tho communication reads:— “Referring to your letter of the 3rd September, enclosing a communication from Mr Sigv orison, of Paokakariki, re opening of Forest Reserve No. 17 and adjoining freeholds for dose settlement, I have obtained a report from the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Wellington, which is to tlie effect that out of a total of 13,3U0 acres in Reserve No. 17 only some 4000 acres can be made available for carrying sheep, and it is not fit, for subdivision into small areas. .The oest- of forming roads, through Ihis block would be excessive and roads would also have to be taken through freehold properties, under the Public Works Act, to give access to tho 4000 acres in question. Apart from tho area mentioned, the balance of the block is quite unsuitable for settlement purposes. In view of the fact that various County Councils and ether persons are emphatically pro'tesrting against forest-clad Crown lands and mountain tops and sides being disposed of, instead of being reserved for water-conservation and climatic purposes, it appears to me that it would be doing a public injury to lift the reservation from off this area, which is now reserved for . State Forest purposes, ond open it for selection. The same reply has to bo given in regard to the forest country at the back of tins reserve, ns the Government could not think of purchasing it for settlement purposes. If acquired by the Crown it would only have to be turned into a forest reserve, in order tc protect the ranges from denudation of soil, consequent on the cutting down of the bush.