900 Transactions.— Miscellaneous. 
a portion of the moisture which the roots draw from the earth. 4th. A 
mechanical action through the roots, in retaining in its place the earth, 
especially on the sides of mountains and hills." The writer then proceeds 
to examine each action in detail, and deduces conclusions favourable on the 
whole. He admits that “ the action and influence of forests on the climate 
and physical condition of countries is yet but imperfectly understood.” 
And concludes: “ It seems to have been clearly proved that whenever 
countries have been denuded of trees their climate has been radically 
changed. Not to quote again the case of France, Asia Minor may be 
quoted as a country which in the era when it was covered with forests was _ 
richly cultivated, and supported easily a high rate of population, but which 
at the present day, owing to the destruction of the forests, has become so 
arid that the crops fail to come to maturity, and thousands of human 
beings are now perishing from hunger and want.” Before concluding, I 
must say a few words with special reference to the New Zealand forests, and 
give some indications of the nature of the proposals which, so far as I can 
at present judge, I shall lay before Government with my report in March 
next. I need scarcely premise that my estimate of the value of New 
Zealand forests is based on actual inspection and comparison with those in 
other countries, and that the Government are in no way pledged to accept 
my proposals for the organization and working of the State Forest Depart- 
ment, though I shall endeavour to make them such as they may with 
confidence recommend during next session to the Honourable House for 
adoption. I think very highly of your New Zealand forests. The kauri 
and puriri in Auckland, the totara in Hawke Bay and Wellington, the 
red, black, and white pines and cedar of the South Island, are timbers of 
their class second to none in the world. They still exist in considerable 
quantity and large dimensions, and if we adopt proper measures in time, a 
permanent yield may, I am confident, still be secured. Then we have the 
so-called black, red, and white birches, the kowhai (Sophora tetraptera), ete., 
useful for general purposes, and several descriptions, such as the rewa-rewa 
(Knightia excelsa) or honeysuckle, of great value as furniture or ornamental 
woods, I have not yet visited the West Coast, but, from what I am told, 
there is to be found there alone a supply of good timber for many years, if 
not centuries, to come. I daresay many would call it an inexhaustable 
supply, but we foresters maintain that there is no such thing as an inex- 
haustable supply so long as the forest is under no control, is being trenched 
upon at haphazard, and without any data or regard to the annual increment 
of timber. In fact, so long as we are working in the dark, without any 
knowledge of the extent of our capital or annual income in wood, I think 
many of the New Zealand timbers never have had a fair chance or trial, 
