NEWS AND NOTES. 



The Province of British Columbia has passed important legis- 

 lation relating to the preservation and conservation of standing 

 timber and the regulation of commerce in timber and other forest 

 products. The Act is divided into fourteen parts, the first of 

 which deals with the establishment of a Forest Branch of the 

 Department of Lands and a Provincial Forest Board which are 

 to have jurisdiction over and control and administer all matters 

 relating to and in any way connected with forestry. 



Part II deals with the prevention of trespass upon crown timber 

 lands and the protection of crown timber, whilst Part III sets 

 forth the methods of holding and disposing of crown timber. 

 Part IV deals with timber leases ; Part V with timber licenses ; 

 and Part VI with rights of way. 



Timber leases as they exist at present will be recognized and 

 continued in future, but as certain leaseholders come up for re- 

 newal new terms will be imposed by the Forestry Department in 

 view of the terms and conditions imposed on other holders of 

 timber so as to maintain them all on an equality. The old 

 method of staking timber is abandoned. The land is to be first 

 cruised as to the quantity of the timber and surveyed, after which 

 licenses are offered for the same by tender. The bonus on these 

 licenses is fixed in several ways according to conditions, but 

 principally at so much per thousand feet in addition to the royalty 

 imposed under the Land Act. 



In the case of pulp limits the licenses will be sold on rather 

 more favorable terms, the present pulp concessions remaining at 

 present until renewed. Although the conditions are much altered 

 the Government retains the licensing system for the purpose of 

 uniformity. 



Provisions are made for the creation of Forest Reserves, on 

 the basis of and mainly for the purposes of reforestation. 



The present provisions regarding the scaling and measurement 

 of timber are not interfered with and the present law relating to 

 the marking and manufacturing within the Province of timber 

 products remains practically unchanged. 



