75 



It is not sufficient to construct roads ; they must also be kept in good order. The 

 test and cheapest way to maintain them consists in repairing at once the smallest damage, 

 and it is necessary to authorise the forest guard to hire natives for the purpose, whenever 

 the roads become damaged, and to supply him with a small stock of the tools required 

 for working. 



A clause in the Forest Law should provide for the establishment of rights of way 

 over private property, by arbitration or otherwise. 



SUPERVISION OF THE FORESTS. To carry out the protection and management of 

 the native forests, a staff of forest guards will be required ; they should be chosen among 

 working men of a superior class, and receive salaries varying from 8 to 12, according 

 to their grade. Each forest guard ought to provide himself with a horse, but should be 

 supplied with uniforms, and allowed quarters, garden land, and grazing for a limited 

 number of head of cattle. His duties would be to patrol the forests which he is placed in 

 charge of, to report the forest offences that come under his notice and prosecute the 

 offenders, to issue licenses, to collect and pay in forest revenue, to keep the necessary 

 forest books and send in returns, to mark sections, stamp timber ; to assist in making 

 and repairing roads, fences and plantations, in the surveys and demarkation, and gener- 

 ally in all work connected with the Forest Department. Forest guards should have 

 police powers under the Forest Law, and authority to impound cattle trespassing within 

 Crown forests ; they cannot be allowed to engage in farming or in any other occupation 

 outside their duties. 



In the (Jape Colony, the buildings for forest guards have usually been made of wood, 

 but it is found that more substantial and convenient houses may be built of raw brick at 

 a not much greater cost ; and the wooden houses are now gradually replaced by raw 

 brick or sod houses. The forest-guard is expected to assist in the construction of his 

 quarters. The cost of each house averages 50. 



The proper location of the forest stations is a matter of importance, determined by 

 the extent of the forests, the amount of work, the position of the nearest centres, &c. 

 The supervision may become defective owing to the insufficiency of the staff, or to the 

 bad arrangement of the ranges. The extent of the ranges would vary from 4,000 acres 

 downwards. If all the Natal forests were worth opening, more than a dozen guards 

 would.be required, but at present about eight may prove sufficient. They should be 

 distributed thus : 



1. Umtamvuna and Border Forest. Extent of range, 2,500 acres. 



2. Ingeli forest, 3,800 acres. 



3. Forests between the Gwangwane and the Umzimkulu, 7,350 acres. 



4. Forests near Dronk Vlei, 4,400 acres. 



5. Forests near Polela, 4,200 acres. 



6. Forests near the sources of the Tugela, 6,000 acres. 



7. 8. Forests in Newcastle Division, two guards for 9,000 acres. 



