ALLEGED ILLEGAL CUTTING OF KAURI TREES.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume I, Issue 42, 1 October 1892, Page 9

ALLEGED ILLEGAL CUTTING OF KAURI TREES.

CONFERENCE OF LOCAL BODIES. A conference of the representatives of 'the Ohinemuri, Thames, and Coromaul^el Cpauty Goancils was held at the ■Thames County Chambers on Tuesday, at '11.30, in regard to the •alleged wholesale illegal cuiting of 'kauri -trees and 'forest conservation .^generally. '.. Crs Coatts, -Deeble, and •Dunlop represented the Thames, Ors jEdwin Edwards and John Phillips, the Ohinemuri, and Crs King aud Colebru.ok, vrith Mr Harrison, County (.^lerk, the Counties respectively, Mr -E. W. Hollis being in attendauoe also. An apology was received for the unavoidable absence of Ua.pt. Ciwiudley, the "Chairman of the Coiomabdel Couuiy. On the motion of Cr Ooutts, Cr iidwin ■Edwards was appointed Chairman of the meeting. Mr E..--W;. Hollis was also appointed to the Conference. Cr Edwards addressed the Conference "■on the vexed question of the wholesale ■illegal cutting of kauri within the' Thames and Ohinemuri Counties and 5 forest conseryau9n, generally; Crs Cou'tts, Colebrook,- King, Phillips, >'and Dunlop, and Mr Harrison ?poke :npon the matter, and after a long discussion the following resolutions were "carried unanimously :— .

(1) a! memorial signed by the ■■ members of this Conference, on behalf * of their respective Councils, be forwarded 'to. jthe: Government, praying that a *'Committee of the House of Representatives be appointed to inquire into, and ' take evidence upon, the question of the - alleged misappropriation of kauri tim- ■ ber trees in ; the* Ohinemuri, Thame?, -and Coromandel Counties, and after a "^ full investigation to take such action as^

" m its -wisdom, it may deem .necessary to ' obtain,payment- for the timber (improved Ito be illegally taken) and ivprevenl, - similar acts of depredation. ;{2) That'this 'Conference strongly <nrge upon -Government the- desirability «-<jfj placing the ><kaari timber /on -all -lands on -goldfields under the ■sole administration of the Minister ofj ■ Mines, in conjunction with the respective j "'County Councils,: and the revenue deprived from the :date thereof to became " bounty-revenue. ; ■ .■■ «_ru;(3) That the "Gonference is of opinion | !i-at:WouldVbe:advisiblefor the better coq"tservktion of the kauri tree, that the ""''Government should order all the trees rStanding- in the-forest, on' blocks,' in the imnaediate'vibinity of the Hauraki-gold- * fields, to be numbered, and their numKbers registered in the Warden's Ofißce. ■ •-•(4^;vThat the penalties now inflicted ~';for'illegally cutting down and appro';i;priatingikauri: trees-should 'be-increased 3tto ; a^mimtauhoif^ue/ of ■£ 10, for each 6afiende:; .. ..'. . : . > .; (5) That i he' Clerk be instructed to r';"'fofward^a copy of tbese repdutioßS to :;ithe ! 'Hon. Mr ;oadman, M.H.8., and - "Colonel-Fraser, M.HiR. '