126 
particulars are 2 i en Annual Report for 1894 pu to 
Parliament in May, 189 
It affords me much gratification to again report most favourably upon 
this branch of our industries. Its expansion has been most rapid, as 
the following comparative statement will show :— 
| 
Year. M feet. Valued at 
1888 30 360 
1889 5 50 
1890 1,329 21,180 
1891 1,431 28,620 
1892 2,355 47,100 
1893 3,073 45,986 
1894 6,357 82,641 
The above gives the amount, exported, but in addition to this a very 
large quantity is annually used for home consumption. 
In this connexion I would observe that the amount of timber which 
has been destroyed by forest fires in this Colony is exceedingly large, and 
can only be appreciated by those who have travelled much in the 
interior. Forest fires are no doubt due occasionally to lightning, but 
most of them are traceable to the carelessness of hunters and travellers. 
In the partially inhabited regions, fires originate by the settlers burning 
brush and logheaps in SE the land. The question has arisen as 
to whether anything can be done to prevent this destruction of the 
timber of the country. “There is a law upon the Statute Book which 
deals with the subject, but no adequa eans have heretofore been 
provided for enforcing it. Tt is considered that the appointment of 
conservators or forest guardians whose duties, in addition to preventing 
the destruction of the timber by fire and otherwise, might be directed to 
promoting the growth of existing timber, checking the stumpage upon 
ranted areas and preventing encroachments upon ungranted Crown 
lands, wil undoubtedly repay the cost that wiil be entailed. These 
officers will have the power to arrest or lay information against pie 
suspected or known to have wilfully, or by their negligence, set fire t 
the woods. As matters now stand, many guilty persons are allow to 
“on through the reluctance or fear which disinterested or private 
ndividuals may have in regard to informing against 
Shirley Poppy.—The origin of this attractive garden annual has been 
investigated by Dr. Prain (Journ. As. Soc. Beng., 1895, pp- 506, 307). 
He says:— 
«The form seems to have originated in Indian gardens, and is 
ve very recently been introduced to European culture. 
century. It is P. Hookeri, Bak., figured in the Bot. Mag. t. 6729. 
. Rheas is stated by Dr. Prain to be “an extremely rare 
: — in 1 India.” 
E Aa Yes 
