SELWYN PLANTATIONS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 147, 28 July 1914, Page 3

SELWYN PLANTATIONS.

MEETING OF BOARD.

At the annual meeting of the Selwyn Plantation Board, held yesterday, Mr C. R. Pollen presiding, the following report was presented:— '' Twenty new leases were granted during the year over areas previously unlet or areas of leases falling in during the year, the new annual rent realised being £309 15/5, as against £309 13/8 previously payable. The total rent received during the year amounted to £2194 16/5. The whole of the amounts outstanding at March 31, 1913—viz., £398 13/1 —have been paid, with the exception of £6 2/6; and the only rents due at March 31 and outstanding at date total £32 2/6, owing by four tenants. Planting operations during the year were confined to reserve 1579, Waimakariri, and reserve 1757. On the former the marram grass planted has become well established, and the superintending nurseryman reported that generally the results had quite reached expectations; preparations for the planting of about 10,000 pinus radiata at 6ft apart over the area affected with gorse and broom were well in hand on March 15. The total number of trees handled during the year was 97,465, made up of 85,000 p. laricie, 12,000 p. ponderosa, and 465 p. radiata. These were three-year-old trees, the cost being £l9B 17/3, this amount including cost of transit. The superintending nurseryman reports that a fair measure of success has resulted from the year's planting. For the coming season 100,000 trees are being obtained, partly from private nurseries, as the Government nurseries will be unable to supply the full quantity. Contracts were let during the year for cutting down trees on reserves 1743 and 1752, and R.S. 33873, and converting the same into stakes and firewood. The action was in part rendered necessary through the Public Works Department requiring trees to be cut back from the road leading to the Lake Coleridge works, as reported last year. The stakes, etc., resulting are being sold fairly readily, and the proceeds from these will more than cover the cost of the cutting. The action against a lessee for over-cropping, reported last year as in progress, is still pending." The report and balance sheet were adopted. The Selwyn County Council applied for permission to open a gravel pit on reserve 1765.—Approved, subject to council fencing the area and obtaining consent of the lessee. !

Reserves 1764 and 1765, a transfer from D. W. Westenra to Messrs Ragg and Searle, was approved. The overseer reported the sale of firewood and stakes to the value of £lO 6/3, and also reported that the whole of the available firewood from trees cut down had been disposed of -fco Messrs R. Johnston and Co.

Two lessees were penalised for cutting and removing timber from reserves without authority, and the board determined that any unauthorised cutting or removal of timber or firewood should be summarily dealt with. A report by the overseer on planting in high country about the Kowai was

received, ancMt was resolved to transmit it to the superintending nurseryman of the South Island for favourable consideration. Planting on the sand dunes near the mouth of the Waimakariri. is to be carried out as recommended by the superintending nurseryman.