440 



MANUAL OF THE NILAGIRI DISTRICT. 



CH. XXVI. 



Forests. 



— rules 

 sanctioned 

 in 1860. 



sholas witliout payment, and thus the most powerful incentive 

 to private planting was lost. 



After further report from the Conservator, the Government 

 (Sir Charles Trevelyan being Governor) decided ^ — 



" First. — The whole of the sholas or woods in the neighbourhood of 

 the station to be absolutely reserved, not only for their beauty, but 

 also from fear of injuring the water- springs ; their limits to be 

 marked ; no private cutters to be allowed inside ; old trees to be felled 

 by servants of the department, and brought outside, and to be sold 

 there by private auction ; trees to be planted when required in vacant 



— additional 

 establish- 

 ment. 



" Secondly. — Sviitable woods at a distance from the station to be 

 selected and marked out in lots of moderate size, and a number 

 of these lots, amply sufficient for a year's supply, to be put up to 

 auction annually. The contractor to be permitted to clear the ground 

 entirely within his lot or lots, with the exception of such trees as 

 may be marked by the Conservancy Department previously to sale. 



" Thirdlij. — The cleared lots to be planted, as required, by the 

 Conservancy Department. 



" Fourthly. — No private felling of any kind, or for any person, to be 

 allowed in woods or on land belonging to Government." 



These rules which applied especially to Ootacamand were also 

 to be adopted, so far as might be necessary, at Coonoor. 



An additional Forester was sanctioned, and Government 

 promised to increase the establishment if necessary to render the 

 conservancy of the numerous and extensive woods effectual and 

 to detect surreptitious cutting. About this time an Overseer 

 was appointed for Coonoor, and not long afterwards Major 

 Morgan, Deputy Conservator of Forests, was placed in charge 

 of the Nilagiri sholas and plantations, including the forests 

 northward of the Hills. 

 —transfer of The conservancy however continued to be ineffectual, and on 

 planta^tions to *^® Creation of the Nilagiri Commission in 1868, the subject was 

 reported on by the Commissioner. In October 1868 he wrote : 

 " Day by day I feel more satisfied that, unless conservancy is taken 

 in hand and organized on some efficient footing under the control 

 of an experienced officer, the destruction of the surrounding 

 sholas is but a question of time." Dr. Cleghorn had in 1867 

 proposed to place the general charge of the Nilagiri woods under 

 the Special Assistant Collector — the resident revenue officer — 

 prior to the creation of the Commission. The Board of Revenue 

 supported the scheme of transfer and the appointment of a 

 military officer having '' some experience of forestry (and) * * of 

 a standing, which would give his proceedings and opinion weight 



the Commis- 

 sioner. 



G.O., 20th March 1860. 



