D.—No. 22.
No. 1. The Hon. E. W. Stafford to their Honors the Superintendents of Provinces and the Chairman of the County Council, Westland. Colonial Secretary's Office, Sib, — Wellington, 28th November, 1868. I have the honor to enclose a copy of a Eesolution, adopted on the 7th ultimo, of the House of Representatives, desiring that steps be taken to ascertain the present condition of the Forests of the Colony, with a view to their better conservation. In order to enable the Government to obtain the information desired by the Legislature, I enclose a list of questions on which information is required ; and I shall feel obliged if you would be good enough to refer those questions to the persons best able to give that information, and would forward it to me when obtained, in order that it may be submitted to the Legislature. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent. E. W. Stafford.
Enclosure 1 in No. 1. (No. 71-68.) Extract from the Journals of the Souse of Bepresentatives, Wednesday, the 7th day of October, 1868. "Resolved, That it is desirable that Government should take steps to ascertain the present condition of the Forests of the Colony, with a view to their better conservation." — (Mr. Potts.)
Enclosure 2 in No. 1. from Dr. Sector's Memorandum, 18th November, 1868. 1. "What is the area, character, and value of forests in the district ? 2. What was the original area of forest ? 3. How much is still on Crown lands ? 4. State what has been the relative destruction of forest on Crown lands and on freehold ? 5. What causes have led to the destruction of the forest, particularizing the relative effect of accidental fires, felling by holders of bush licenses, and destruction by cattle ? 6. State any damage which has occurred to agricultural districts, or other destruction of property, such as mills, &c, that has been imputed to floods, or droughts being rendered more severe through the destruction of the forests ? What is your opinion on the following points : — 1. Are bush reserves advisable, or should the forests be allowed to pass into freehold, with a view to their better conservation than at present ? 2. Does the system of granting bush licenses lead to an extravagant waste of the forest; and could you propose any system of supervision by which the forests might be thinned without their absolute destruction ? 18th November, 1868. James Hector.
No. 2. His Honor J. P. Taylor to the Hon. E. W. Stafford. Sir,— Superintendent's Office, Southland, 7th January, 1869. I detained the accompanying letter of 14th December, with its enclosed remarks in answer to Dr. Hector's questions, hoping to receive the Report of the Commissioner of Crown Lands on the subject. As that gentleman has been unavoidably engaged up country for some time, the report, which I now enclose and quite agree with, has been delayed until to-day. I have, &c, Jno. P. Taylor, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Superintendent.
Enclosure in No. 2. Sib, — Crown Lands Office, Invercargill, 6th January, 1869. Referring to my conversation with your Honor some time since on the preservation of the Timber Reserves throughout this Province, I have now the honor to report upon the subject. The protection at present afforded to the bush reserves by placing them under the control of the police constable residing at the station in each district was no doubt, to a certain extent, a step in the;
CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE FORESTS OF NEW ZEALAND.