SELWYN PLANTATIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12067, 24 July 1917, Page 7

SELWYN PLANTATIONS.

MEETING OF BOARD. The Selwyn Plantation Board met yeete* day; present—Messrs "W. H. Skinner (in the chair), G. Witty, M.P., G. Scott, S. A. Staples, J. Stony, R. Aoirn, I. Andrew, G-. Bedford and W. T. Popple. Mr Nairn reported that 57,000 tress Lad been plaarted near Hororata. There had biert no frosts to injure the trees since the planting, and they should strike well. Tbiß season h:-d been a moat successful planting one for the boardOn behalf of the committee which visited 1b.3 plantations, Mr Witty reported that there was much firewood there that wanted cleaning up. If a fire should occur it would ruin, the whole plantation. He said that a number of trees had been cut down which Bhould have been allowed to stand. Mr Staples remarked that good tree* had been cut down and half-formed trees had been left Mr Bedford expressed the opinion that it would be better to spend money on further planting than on cleaning out the plantaMt Nairn said that, unfortunately, mixed plantations had been 6et down. That was * great mistake. In consequence there wera numbers of trees whicu did not develop be* cause of the struggle with other trees fight-. ins? for food and light. Th? board 6hould adopt a scheme of thoroughly thinninsr out the worthless trees. There was no doubt that tho mixing of plantations had been a great blunder. In the iuture the board would havo to follow a vigorous planting policy. It was decided to request the overseer t« endeavour to cut up the firewood and sell it. Messrs N. Cook and J. H. Manson'e appli* cation for an extension of time for theiJ wood-cutting contract was granted. Mr R. G. Robinson, superintending: nur* seryman for the South Island, reported that the amount recoverable in respect to fire a in Dun£B.ndel and Bankside should be £227. It was decided to petition Parliament to endeavour to recover the 6tun. Mr K. "Wilson wrote, resigning his eeat on the board. It was decided to ask Mr "Wilson to reconsider his resignation. A letter was received from Mr D. Bates, flskintr that tie board should bear a proportion of the cost of erecting a new_ fence in place of a gorse fence. It was decided that, conditional on Mt Bates getting a lease of the pection concerned, the board would 1 sup« ply the timber for the stakes.