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Tararaa and Bimutaka Ranges. —The next important proposal may be described as the extension of the existing reservations on the Tararaa and Eimutaka Ranges from the Manawatu Gorge to the sea at Palliser Bay. About 80,000 acres of Crown lands would thus be absorbed into the existing reservations, care being taken in the first instance to excise small portions adjacent to the existing settlements which may be found suitable for occupation and improvement. Puketoi Ranges. —Out of the remaining Crown lands in the Puketoi country I have included in the schedules about 20,000 acres of the summits and higher slopes of the ranges. Waikanae. —l am of opinion that the 1,807-acre block cut out of the Wellington Fruitgrowers' Settlement at Waikanae should be conserved. Haurangi. —Another considerable proposal includes about 39,000 acres of the high isolated mountains called Haurangi, situated at the southern end of the Wairarapa district, east of Palliser Bay. Lands to be held back. —As regards the unsurveyed Crown lands proposed to be held back from sale, it will be noticed by the schedules that large areas are situated in the Waitnarino country and north of the Kawhatau, between the Bangitikei Eiver and the summit of the Buahine Eange. There are, in addition, several smaller blocks in various parts of the back country. General Objects in View. —Having thus indicated in a general way the position of the various blocks proposed to be reserved or held back from sale, I may say that the proposals as a whole are made principally with the object of preserving the magnificent scenery of the interior, and especially that on the high mountain-ranges; to control the distribution of the rain : waters so as to maintain springs and streams and prevent more disastrous floods in the low country than are at present experienced ; and also to preserve, as far as possible, the unique flora and fauna of New Zealand. As regards ordinary forest lands at a lower elevation, the proposals have for their chief object the conservation of timber valuable for constructive and other economic purposes. A large factor taken into account in framing these proposals is the necessity that exists for the preservation of blocks or patches of timber throughout the whole of the settlements for the use and convenience of the people. Care has also been taken to recognise the importance of maintaining wherever opportunity offers strips and patches of bush, so as to preserve some remnants of the beautiful forest scenery of the districts. Acquisition and Resumption of Forest Lands. —In order that the best possible conservation scheme for the Wellington District may be fully considered it is necessary to revert to the suggestion that the Crown might acquire by purchase the control of waste Maori lands, and in some instances freehold land in the possession of Europeans. Should this view be accepted, attention should be given to the enlargement of the National Park, as already indicated, by the acquisition of the bush lands owned by the Natives in the district about Eotoaira and on the great Euapehu-Tongariro Eange. The fine beech forest on the Kaimanawa Eanges east of the Waikato Eiver might also be acquired. The block of land between the Bangitikei Eiver and the summit of the Buahine Eange, on which stands Aorangi Mountain, appears to be desirable of acquisition. The Native lands now lying waste and useless to the owners on the western slopes of the Euahine Eanges might also be acquired. There are large tracts of Native lands between the Waitotara and the Wanganui Eivers, and eastward from the latter river to Murimotu, and as far northward as the Whirinaki Survey District, which should be dealt with under Government control, so as to insure the conservation of forest and scrub on the higher and poorer class of lands, and the milling of all suitable and accessible heavy-timbered lands. On inquiry I find that the Wellington and Manawatu Eailway Company have not yet disposed of the area of about 100,000 acres of lands allocated to them under their contract with the Government. These endowment lands are situated generally adjacent to the existing forest reserves on the ranges inland of Tokomaru, Shannon, Kereru, Manukau, Otaki, Te Horo, and Waikanae. In addition the company still holds two large tracts of country east and west of the Akatarawa Valley, which are also contiguous to existing Government forest reserves. 1 am not aware whether the company would be disposed to treat with the Crown in regard to resumption of this high country, but I submit that the question is well worthy of consideration. Objections, Difficulties, and Precautions. —Objections are often raised by settlers and others to the setting-aside of blocks of forest land, and even to the existence of reserves already established, and attempts are made to have them unreserved, or applications are made to the Land Boards to cut and utilise the timber. In some instances even small clumps of bush which have been set aside on account of their great beauty are trespassed upon, hacked about, and turned into cattle-runs. It is time that a public interest was created and fostered, so as to insure by the action of the whole community the preservation of the growth upon all such reserves. An essential safeguard to this end is to effectually fence in all reserves, whether large or small, to prevent intrusion of all stock, and to control as far as possible the actions of those who enter upon and travel through the reservations. It might be apprehended that the setting-aside of so much of the remaining Crown lands, whether by conservation or temporarily holding them back from sale, would be detrimental to the interests of settlers, and that it would also affect the revenue of the Lands Department. There can be no objection as regards the great bulk of the area being dealt with; but it must be admitted that those settlers whose properties are situated contiguous to some of the lands included in these proposals would labour under the disadvantages and drawbacks which sparse population necessarily entails upon pioneer settlers, by the lack of assistance from adjoining neighbours in the fencing of their holdings and in the risks which must follow the working of the forests lands and the burning-off of the residue at a later period of the settlement of the country. Against this must be placed the advantage that must accrue to such settlers later on from the establishment of sawmills and the consequent demands by the employees for the produce of the farmers. In order to minimise the above-mentioned drawbacks it appears to me to be but fair