GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 2764, 2 August 1883, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(Pbess Association Telegram.) Wellington, Aug. 1. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council mot at 3 p.m. SBCOND KBADIKO3. The Hokilika High School Bill was read a second time. IN COMMITTBK. The Timaru Racecourse Reserve Bill was passed through Committee with amendments. TOKEST3. Mr Chamberlin moved that, in the opinion of the Council, haying regard to the future welfare of the colony, it is desirable that the Government should take immediate steps to ' largely increase the area of forest lands, and to Bet apart permanent reserves. In a long speech he argued that the present rapid denudation of the forests was lessening tbo rainfall very materially, and that if the forests were not more carefully conserved wo should bo obliged in the near future to import timber. The Hon. Mr Whitakcr Baid the Government were fully awaro of tho importance of the subject, and tho Minister of Lands had made and would continue to make reserves for forest conservation, and efforts would be made to prevent tho destruction of the forests by fire. Beyond that ho did not eee what the Government could do. Mr Holmes thought there should bo a heavy royalty on sawn timber. A desultory discussion was taken part in by Mr Scotland, Mr G. R. Johnston, Mr ■Williamson, Mr Nurse, Mr Henderson, and Mr Richmond, and the debate was adjourned. The Council rose at 4.30 p.m.