Lecoy. — The Forest Question in New Zealand. 



5 



I. — Statistics. 



The following total quantities relating to the area and value of the Crown 

 lands have been compiled from the Survey Department returns, dated 

 17th of October, 1877, entitled " Statement showing the area and approxi- 

 mate value of the * unsold land in each County in New Zealand, on 31st of 

 August, 1877" :— 



Aeea and Approximate Value of the Colonial Estate on 31st August, 1877, 



Situation. 



Forest Land. 



Open Land. 



Total Area. 



Approximate 

 Value. 



In the North Island . . 



,, South Island . . 



,, Stewart Island 



Mountainous or valueless i 

 (South Island) . . . , J 



Totals . . 



Acres. 

 3,801,612 



3,717,220 



393,000 



Acres. 

 776,706 



17,295,284 



22,000 



Acres. 

 4,578,318 



21,012,504 



415,000 



3,336,026 



£ 



2,784,148 



13,236,852 

 58,125 



7,911,832 



18,093,990 



29,341,848 



£16,079,125 



The official statement does not give the area of the open land in the 

 counties of Wairoa, Hawke Bay, Wanganui, East Taupo, Kangitikei, 

 Manawatu, Waipawa, Hutt, Wairarapa East and West, Eaglan, and West 

 Taupo (North Island). 



Forest lands inserted in the columns agricultural and pastoral, have 

 been included in the colu.m.n forest land in the above table. 



II. — Premises. 



A careful observation of the distinct interests which the colonial estate 

 comprehends, points out of itself, as specially relating to the improvement 

 of the resources derivable therefrom, the advisabihty of a separate manage- 

 ment applying to the open lands and to the forest lands respectively, each 

 kind of property, whether it be intended for sale or conservation, requiring 

 special ti-eatment under the supervision of officials of special aptitude in 

 their respective departments. On the one hand, agronomists are requbed 

 for the purpose of rendering the soil and climate of vast and treeless 

 regions better adapted to settlement ; whilst, on the other hand, foresters 

 are needed to supervise the conservation of State forests, creating thereby 

 a permanent State revenue. 



The adoption of a new system for the general administration of the 

 public estate may partly depend on some preceding legislative action. Still, 

 so far as the forest interest is concerned, it does not appear that there 

 should be immediate need for any changes in the existing forest legislation, 

 otherwise than by appropriating the necessary fund to the creation of the 

 special department. 



* App. to Joiun. H. of E., Ib77, C— 9. 



