FOREST PRESERVATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 77, 1 April 1938, Page 6

FOREST PRESERVATION

GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION I URGED PUBLIC MEETING AT WANGANUI I AGITATION BY MR. W. A. IZARD j | Forest preservation in the Wanganui district and in other parts of the Ncmh fciand was discus-id at a public meeting held In Wanganui on Tuesday evening. It was unanimously decided that Government intervention was the only means whereby tracts of native forest might be saved from milling, and the following resolution was carried:— “That representations be made to the .Minister of Internal Affairs in respect to the conservation of native bush in the W alto tara County and that between Taupo and W anganui.” It was stated by Mr. R. S. Withers that the 1800 acres of bush in the Waitotara County was really a minor matter compared with forest in the hinterland of the North Island which might be felled. Much of this lay to the south-east of Lake Taupo, and comprised some of the finest native forest in the North Island. In a letter addressed to the Minister of Internal Affairs he had drawn attention to the conservation of this bush, stated Mr. W. A. Izard. He had received no reply to this missive. The

letter was as follows: — ; "During the Xmas holidays I took a ~ Maori guide and with him inspected | much of the country lying to the! south west of Lake Taupo and included in the Tongariro Company’s timber grants. I had with me plans of the district and of the bush and the estimates of the various amounts or timber in the many blocks affected. One block in particular excited my curiosity, as it was said to contain 90,000 ft. of timber to the acre of which 60,000 ft. was totara and 30,000 ft. was matai. The particular block, which contained only 83 acres, was easily located as it was an area a. he tip of a tongue of bush some four miles in length and is part of a block known as Waituke Kuratau 4B 2. My gu ! ”e knew it well as he had been an owner but had sold his interest to the Crown. I spent a week riding every day mainly along the outskirts of the bush and in my travels came across the survey line just cut of the new proposed road from Taumarunui to Tokaanu and it is within easy access of this particular bush. The bush adjoining this 83 acres contains also very fine timber, according to my records from 30.000 to 66,000 fet. to the acre. ‘‘l think this bush, known as lhe Tongariro Company's bush, is the last big area of millable bush in the North Island and *he particular block I have described is the best piece of that bush. It has stood for countless ages in its present state and the felling of other bush on the block will not affect it. Could not steps be taken to have his and adjoining blocks on the tongue, say 1000 acres in all declared a scenic reserve with a suitable area of adjoining country with no bush on to show future generations what the original bush was really like? I have seen a good deal of bush in New Zealand and I have no hesitation in saying there is no better bush nor any prettier bush of its kind. “The Crown already owns a large in Waituke Kuratau 482 and

could no doubt now acquire the other interests. Perhaps the Bruce Trust would assist. The adjoining block is, I think, part of the Puketapu Block. I should be pleased to supply you with further details and a list of owners from the Native Land Records at my own expense and in fact do what is within my power to preserve this wonderful piece of bush foi the nation.” Mr. J. Williams, secretary of the Wanganui Beautifying Society, said (that a conference of Government of- ' ficials was held a few months ago at j which matters of forest conservation I were discussed. In view of this a I resolution passed by the meeting would have a good chance of attracting the attention of the department.