Legislative Council.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7826, 19 August 1904, Page 6

Legislative Council.

\By Telegraph—Press Association). Wellington, Last Night. The Council met at 2.30 p.m.

TIMBER RESERVES

The Hon. E. Stevens moved that the report of the Waste Lands Committee on the timber reserves be referred to the Government for con sideraiion. tinder the State Forests Act very large reserves _ were set aside for conservation of timber. In 1885 an amending Act was passed to relieve certain portions of reserves from the operation of the main Act. Without Parliament being aware 21,962 acres of one of these parcels in Southland had been-leased or sold some years previously. The question was whether the revenue therefrom should be paid over to the State Forests Department. The Attorney-General explained that in each district a clerk was told off to watch the Gazette and indicate on the map any proclamation affecting the different blocks of land. W T hen this area was proclaimed the Clerk omitted to note it and the laud was dealt with as stated. He gave no opinion as to whether the Forest Department was entitled to the money. The whole position was due to the omission of the official. The Hon. C. Bowen hoped that such an error would not again occur, as the conservation of State forests was of great moment to the colony. The motion was carried. adjournment. The Council divided on the question of adjournment until Tuesday, there being practically no business on the Order Paper. The motion was lost and the Council adjourned at 3 p.m. until to-morrow.