TREE-PLANTING AT NASEBY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2929, 4 May 1910, Page 10

TREE-PLANTING AT NASEBY.

RESOLUTIONS BY PUBLIC MEETING. (Fkom Ouk Own Ookbesponde.nt.) NASEBY, April 27. A large public meeting was held on Tuesday evening in the Town Hall, Naseby, to further consider the question of tree-plant-ing. His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. R. Smith) presided, and there were present with him on the platform Messrs E. H. Wilmot (Commissioner of Crown Lands, Dunedin), R. G. Robinson (Superintendent of Nurseries, Taoanui), and Robert Scott (M.P. for Tuapeka). The Chairman explained' the object of the meeting. An area of 125 acres had been fenced alongside the Naseby plantation, and some 35,U00 trees had been planted therein. The Mines Department were in conflict with the Lands Department over this area, and Messrs Wilmot and Robinson had been asked to visit the locality and report to the Government. The chairman urged the meeting to fully consider the great importance of a vigorous policy of tree-planting in the district—not for the value of the timber alone and the labour it would employ, but also on account of the beneficial effect it would have in connection with the rainfall. Mr Wilmot explained that the Lands Department was so pleased with the success of the Naseby plantation that it had decided to fence in the area in question, and had freed it from rabbits and commenced treeplanting, when it had been met with the opposition from the Mines Department. The meeting had been called to discuss the matter, and to assist him in arriving at the true feeling of the community. Mr M'Neil moved—" That in order to overcome the difficulty that has arisen between the Mimes Department and' the Forestry Department with respect to treeplanting on the area of 125 acres, part of the Naseby commonage already fenced and partly planted, this meeting suggests that the piece of land in question be withdrawn from the commonage, that the land be still subject to ihe Mining Act, and that this community agree to assist the Forestry Department by respecting the work done of tree-planting and fencing." Mr R. F. Inder, in seconding the motion, impressed on miners the necessity for having more water for the successful carrying on of mining operations, and stated "that this end would be best achieved by a vigorous policy of tree-planting. No crop would pay like timber. Mr T. J. Francis moved, and Mr Brown seconded —" That the department move the fence, so as to take in another area at the baok of the plantation, and leave this 125 acres for mining."

After considerable discussion Mr Wilmot, in answer to a question, said he did not think the motion went far enough. It would not, in his opinion, be oracticabJe to use lands for tree-plantinig and at the sarae time have the lands subject to the provisions of the Mining Act. There would ba no objection to races being cut, through the planted ground, but there would, of course, be every objection to the grotimd beinsr sluiced away, when, say, the trees had' 10 or 15 years' growth. The Chairman commented on the fact that this ground had been commanded by water for the last 35 years, that about 50 prospecting holes had been bored, that it was within half-a-mile of the Government ■race, and it wa3 not worked yet. The inference was obvious. On the amendment being put to the meeting it was lost, and the motion carried by a majority of about two to one. Mr John Law, jumr., moved—" That this meeting enters a strong protest against the closim? down of the nurseries, and urges the Government to vigorously prosecute tree-p'lantima' in Maniototo." Mr H. W. Davis seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to Messrs l Wilmot and' Robinson and the usual vote of thanks to the chair terminated the meeting.

At a meeting of tli& committee of the Dunedin Horticultural Society on April 27 very discouraging reports were received regarding the growing of chrysanthemums for show purposes in this district. It appeared that there were no local growers this year, and little likelihood of any local blooms being available for the show intended to be held next month. The season has been unfavourable for the growing of chrysanthemums, and also for vegetables. In view of the facts placed before it, the committee, after lengthy deliberation, decided not to hold a chrysanthemum show

this year. A sub-committee was appointed to arrange for a series of lectures during the winter..