81 

 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY 



( Honolulu Star-Bulletin, March 22. ) 



Positive ground was taken against the introduction to Hawaii 

 of any bird that might possibly become a nuisance, at a meeting 

 of the board of agriculture and forestry yesterday. It was the 

 house wren that was particularly tabued, it having been mentioned 

 in a list of birds recommended for importing. At the same time 

 official salt was held out for the tails of a species of quail and 

 the teal duck, the members being in favor of increasing the 

 number of game birds here. 



The meeting was held at the office of the Waterhouse Com- 

 pany, Ltd., Stangenwald building. With President Walter M, 

 Giffard were present Commissioners H. ]\I. von Holt and John 

 M. Dowsett, and Ralph S. Hosmer, superintendent of forestry. 



Reports of divisions for January and February were received. 

 A favorable report of the forestry committee on the Makua. Kuo- 

 halu and Nanakuli proposed forest reserves was adopted. 



^Ir. von Holt made an oral report that the fencing of the 

 Nanakuli forest reserve was required by the existing lease. 



There was a discussion of boundaries of the Paumalu forest 

 reserve on this island, with regard to encroachments by adjacent 

 property owners. The question seemed to turn on the water 

 privileges of homesteaders. 



Mr. Hosmer explained the situation. There were springs in 

 two parcels of land, which had been reserved, one of fourteen and 

 one of fifteen acres, each surrounded by homesteads. He said 

 the matter was now one of policy. 



The matter was referred to the forestry committee for investi- 

 gation. 



It was announced that !vTr. Hosmer would go to ]\Iaui next 

 week to investigate encroachments of cattle on the Polipoli 

 Springs reservation. 



J. F. R"ock, botanist, wrote asking for assistance in the publi- 

 cation of his book on Hawaiian trees. The matter was referred 

 to the finance committee. 



Mr. Hosmer requisitioned $200 for a sterilizing garden, whicli 

 was granted. 



An appropriation to pay for additional forest fire protection 

 service in the IManoa section was allowed. 



]Mr. Hosmer wrote recommending a reservation of the water- 

 shed back of Honolulu, and asking that restriction be placed, in the 

 meantime, on the cutting of trails between Xuuanu and Palolo 

 valleys. In replv to a question he explained how trails not prop- 

 erly laid out might increase the danger of fire. His idea was 

 that the thing should be under definite control, which was not 

 the case now. 



Tvlr. von Holt said he had asked the question because he did 

 not think the board should take arbitrary action in a matter in 



