SELWYN PLANTATION BOARD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12175, 26 November 1917, Page 6

SELWYN PLANTATION BOARD.

TO-DAY'S MEETING. The Solwyn Plantation Board met to-day; present —Messrs W. H. Skinner (chairman), 8. A. Staples, J. Storry R. M. Morten. R, Nairn, 1. ' Andrews G. Scott, W. T. Topple, and G. Wittv, M.P. The sub-committee sot up to consider the best means of disposing ot the firewood belonging to the board, reported that the proposals to dispose Of the wood to wholesale dealers, or the opening of a retail depot by the board, had been considered, but rejected. Tbe committee recommended that the tender of a Christchurch firm should be accepted. The report, was considered in committee, and on resuming in open board, it was stated ■that the report had been adopted. Mr D. Bates wrote, asking if the board would grant- permission to take down the trees within, say, twelve feet of the fence around his reserve. Mr Nairn said thai, tbe board should consider the whole question of thinning out the trees near fences, as fences Could not live where the trees were. It was decided to withhold permission meanwhile. The overseer's report stated that

; pitting had been in full swing, to -j'j . :in readiness for next season'* planting. Results from this year's planting had, so far. been very gratifying. The : seedlings recently procured and transI planted wert} doing well, with the exception of tbe p ; nus radiata. in wlftcli the. mortality was about 2~> per c<tnt. Other districts bad similar experiences : with the pinus radiata. In several of '. the gum plantations, an insect, pest, :ivhich affected the reserve's some years ' ago. had reappeared, noticeably at j Bankside. The btyk of the trees • turned black, as if it bad been smoked. i A supply of ladybirds bad exterminated tbe pc-;h in previous years. ! Work at "the Horornta sawmill was progressing favourably, ever 100,000 . feet- having her-:! sn \vn in the last two months. The re-port, was adopted. Accounts v,'pro passed for payment amounting to £10f) Its -td.