EUCALYPTUS TEEES. 57 



in each district some fertile, siieltered valleys, readily 

 accessible to good lines of traflflc, to be selected, where, 

 from springs or rivulets, water could be obtained for 

 inexpensive irrigation, in order to reserve such spots 

 for forest nurseries before they are all alienated from 

 the Crown. The transit of the millions of seedlings 

 needed for forest plantations, from remote spots, would 

 not only be one of enormous and unnecessary expend- 

 iture, but, in the many instances of evergreen and 

 even some deciduous trees, it would be next to impos- 

 sible to convey living plants for long distances. The 

 union of Forest Boards to Road Boards or Shire Coun- 

 cils I regard inadvisable, because their scope of action 

 is so different. The predilections of a member of a 

 municipality will often be in building operations and 

 kindred objects, while for culture processes he may 

 have neither inclination nor experience. It is never 

 .wise to burden too heavy responsibilities on a few 

 honorary administrators, whose leisure in this youth- 

 ful country, where so much work is yet under the 

 first or early process of creating, is almost sure to be 

 but limited. 



But there are instances in which — as, indeed, a 

 thoughtful legislator has suggested — the Mining 

 Boards might exercise, in their vicinity, supervision 

 also over the woods. On many professional ques- 

 tions, such as the renovation of forests, the best util- 

 ization of their products, the increase of their riches, 

 I would, myself, very gladly afford advice, and thus 

 maintain a consulting position to the Forest Boards ; 

 for, need I add, it has ever been my aim to serve, as 

 far as it was within my means, the best interests of 

 my fellow-colonists ; and while official responsibility 



