MANGATAUTAU RANGE.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15272, 23 June 1923, Page 9

MANGATAUTAU RANGE.

AS A CLHWATIC RESERVE. “If the Maungatautau Range Is allowed to become a bald spur it will be a serious thing for the farmers around the distriot,” said Gr. B. J. Darby at the last meeting of the Matamata County Council. After explaining many reasons why the range should be made a climatic reserve, he moved that the Council again approach the Government.with a view of haying it made such, and also that other local bodies be asked to assist In this connection. At yesterday’s meeting of the Council a reply was received from Mr Frederick Lye, MJ 3 ., who advised that he would be pleased to support the object, and forwarded to the Council a letter received by him from the Prime Minister, in which the Prime Minister sold he would be pleased to forward the representations for the consideration of the Hon. the Commissioner of State Forests.

Mr F. F. Hockly, M.P., also advised that he would give the matter His hearty support. The Leamington Town Board advised that it was prepared to render all assistance possible in the support of the request.

The Hon. W. Massey advised having taken note of the Council’s representations drawing attention to the need of conserving the forest, and stated he would be glad to forward them for the consideration of the Hon. the Commissioner of State Forests. The Commissioner of State (Forests advised having received correspondence from the Prime Minister on the above subject, and advised that he was obtaining a report on the matter from his responsible officers. The following petition, strongly urging the Government to take over the range and create a reserve for climatic purposes, was submitted by Cr. Darby, member of the Council, chairman of the Puketurua Farmers’ Union, secretary Putaruru Dairy Farmers’ Union, and president Puketurua Development League. The chairman said it was intended to send the petition to the various local bodies to secure their signatures thereon. This had not been done as the figures as quoted are in excess of the late offer of the owners. The petition reads as follows:

(1) The proposed reserve contains the only two eminences of any importance in the district, namely, the Maungatautau Mountain (2639 feet in height), which is situate on 3a 5a 3 block, and the mountain) (2386 ft in height) situate on 3a 5a 7 block. These mountains are, therefore, the only condensers in the district. While these mountains are covered with trees, and more particularly with undergrowth consisting of moss, etc., they are condensers of rain. As they are mostly built of volcanic rock, should they be denuded of their natural blanket they would then become, in lieu of condensers of moisture, undesirable radiators of heat. The country for miles around, consisting as it does of light land highly productive for dairying conditional upon its obtaining a large rainfall (55-56 inches at present), would be certainly lowered in its productiveness by one-third should these hills lose their verdure. (2) Most of the streams supplying the water for Pukeatua, Maungatautau, Parawera and areas to the hinterland of Cambridge have their sources in Maungatautau. Should the bush go, these streams would cease to exist. The farms covering hundreds of thousands of acres, would rapidly deteriorate in value, and might possibly be completely for dairying. In

view of the above, the present climatic reserve of 631 acres is completely inadequate, and the area comprising the whole of the upper part of these mountains should immediately be set aside as a climatic reserve, to be kept rigidly free from cattle, who do untold damage by destroying firstly the bush trees and secondly the undergrowth. (3) We understand that the following blocks of land can be purohased atthe amount of the Government valuation, namely:—Part 3a 5a i, 756 acres, £2852; 3a 5a 3, 936 acres, £2426; 3a 5a 6, 221 aores, £550; 3a 5a 7, 2693 acres, _ £BO26 —a total of 4606 acres for £13,854. We consider these prices reasonable. No time for the acquisition of these blooks can be more suitable than now, especially as prices are at their lowest. As the future progresses, the prices will rise, and therefore this reserve should be bought forthwith.

As the figures, as quoted in the petition, exceed the previous offer of the owners, it was resolved to leave the petition in further abeyance until Cr. Darby interviews Messrs Earl and Kent, the owners.