THE DUSKY PLANTATION FIRE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13786, 27 December 1906, Page 10

THE DUSKY PLANTATION FIRE.

TO THE EDITOB.

Slit,—Two letters tinder l!ie ahive heading have appeared in your pstpe:-one on the 15th inst.. and the other in the issue of the 21st, the former above the signature "Onlooker No. I,'' the latter above the signature "Onlooker No. 2." As both writers are evidently under a misapprehension, let nie sa.v that Iho Acclimatisation Society has no intention, by petition or otherwise, of asking the Government to close atyr portion of the Pomahaka or any other river. The facts are that at last meeting of council one of the members stated that, 111 view of I'm; extensive planting of trees by the Slate. Forest Department at Conical Hill and Dusky and the loss sustained by the late fire, there was a probability of Government legislating in the direction of closing I hose sections of the river alongside the plantations against anglers. After a brief discussion, and to obviate the necessity of such a course, a resolution was carried to ask the solicitor as to whether or not regulations could Ire made under rlie "Fisheries Conscrvat ion Act, 1884," and its amendments to prevent anglers from fishing from the bank adjoining the plantation. (This would still leave the river clear to be lished from the opposite bank.) The solicitor's opinion, very pertinently, X think, points our- that " the object aimed at is already in a measure dealt with by the very stringent regulations now in force under The New Zealand State Forests Act. 1835.' It such regulations prove in practice to bo ineffectual, we think the desired result could be brought about; by the Government, officials in charge of the forests removing all inflammable vegetation or other material to a safe distance back from the. banks of any stream bordering on the forest, or forests in question." With the .solicitor's opinion I feel sure the council of the Acclimatisation Society will agree. If the department had taken the ordinary precaution to have a proper lire brake alongsido of the. river the accident could never have happened. The Tapamii Angling Society and all other anglers may rest satisfied That, as in the pest so in the future, the Acclimatisation Socieiy will safe, guard their interests to the best of its ability, althouijli perhaps on different lines than that suggested by anonymous correspondents.—l am. etc., R. Chisholm. Acting-chairman Otago Acelimatisation Society.