HAURANGI FOREST RESERVE (PROPOSAL TO WITHDRAW PORTION OF).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1913 Session I, C-09

C—o.

1918. NEW ZEALAND.

HAURANGI FOREST RESERVE (PROPOSAL TO WITHDRAW PORTION OF).

Laid before Parliament in accordance with Section 28 of the State Forests Act, 1908.

Land proposed to be withdrawn prom State Forest Eeservation. Description.— All that area in Wellington Land District, containing by admeasurement 12,894 acres, more or less, being part of the Haurangi Block, situated in Blocks VIII, XI, XII, XV, and XVI, Haurangi Survey District; Block IV, Kaiwaka Survey District; and Block XIII, Waipawa Survey District. Reason for Proposed Withdraival. —lt is desired to lift the reservation in order that the land may be subdivided for settlement. The forest on 8,394 acres has been destroyed by fire; and in order to obtain better boundaries it is desirable to include with this an additional area of 4,500 acres on which the bush is still standing, but which is in imminent danger of being swept by fire when the settlers clear their holdings lower down the spurs. Fires have run through this forest at different times during the last twenty years, and it is likely that they will occur again and again until they destroy the forest to the top of the hills. Value of Land. —About £1 ss. per acre. Altitude. —From 425 ft. above sea-level, and rising to a maximum of nearly 3,230 ft.; but the greater part lies at an altitude of from 1,600 ft. to 3,000 ft. Timber.—The timber is chiefly red-birch, with some silver-birch and a little rimu, hinau, and matai in patches, not suitable for milling, and principally on the high levels. Suitability for Settlement. —The land is suitable for grazing in large areas. About 8,000 acres are partly grassed and already carrying stock. Water-conservation.— lt is considered that, in view of the almost certain destruction of the forest to the tops of the hills by fire, it would be of little use to retain the reservation on account of water-conservation. Access. —The land is tapped by two unformed roads, and is eighteen miles distant from Martinborough. Appro<amaU Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given ; printing, including map (1,400 copies), £6 Se.

By Authority : John Maokay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9l3. Price 3d.]

PART OF HAURANGI STATE FOREST RESERVE PROPOSED TO BE WITHDRAWN.