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Questions. 
I. What arc the kinds of timber Decs 
produced in the country, and to what uses, 
arc they generally applied P ( State the bota- 
nical name where known.) 
II. Are the forests or lands producing 
the trees owned by the Government or t>y 
private persons P 
III. What is the • approximate extent of 
timber-producing forests or lands at the 
present time P 
IT. Is this area increasing or d! mini shine ? 
V. If diminishing, from what cause P 
VL Are any steps taken for the pre- 
vention of waste or for re-planting any area 
which has been cleared ? 
VII. What is the quantity of timber 
which might fairly be cut every year without 
permanent injury to the forests ? • 
VIII. What is the quantity actually cut 
every year ? 
IX. What is the proportion for home 
consumption and for export ? 
X. What have been the annual exports 
of each kind of timber during the last ten 
years ; stating the proportions to each country, 
and the value of such exports ? 
XI. What are the reasons for, or causes 
of, the increase or diminution of quantity or 
value yi the exports ? 
XII. ( If it be so ), what are they causes 
of the small exportation in comparison with 
the capability of production P 
XIII. Have any observations been made 
or conclusions arrived at as to the climatic 
influence of forests or the effect of their, 
clearance on the rainfall, floods, &c. P 
XIV, Forward any reports made by 
departments or societies, or any Acts of 
Legislature bearing on the subject. 
Replies. 
I. Vide Return A. 
II. Owned by the Government chiefly. 
Acres. 
III. In Singapore... ... 22,000 
In Penang & P. Wellesley. 130,000 
In Malacca ... . .. 45,000 
I V. Diminishing. • 
V . I rom the sale of land and extension 
of cultivation and too often from illicit 
felling, and from charcoal burning. • 
VI. 'The Government has one Forest 
Ranger at Singapore and two at Penang, and 
frequently men arc brought before the Police 
and punished for felling trees on Government 
land, but no steps are taken to re-plant any 
area with fresh trees which has been cleared. 
The Eucalyptus and Acacia of Australia are 
being tried at Singapore on a small scale. 
, VII. The Government can spare no more 
m either of the Settlements. At Singapore 
a reserve is kept round the principal hill 
for climatic purposes, and at Penang, Pro- 
vince Wellesley and Malacca there are also 
belts reserved for the same purpose, but it is 
feared that trees are often felled by Chinese, 
for want of a larger staff for supervision. 
VIII. It is impossible to say. 
IX. Rone for export; mangrove is used 
for firewood, of which there is 'an abundant 
supply, but all timbers. for building purposes 
are imported into the Settlements. Man- 
grove bark is exported to a limited extent. 
X. No exports during the last ten years. 
XI. Do. 
XII Do. 
XI..]. I; R found at Singapore that 
although the Grown la ids have been greatly 
denuded 'if trees, there has been no marked 
diminution in the rainfall. I attach a minute, 
sent iu by me to Government last year, when 
toe subject was under consideration. 
XIV. There are no Acts of the Legisla. 
ture bearing on this subject, but there can 
be no doubt that it would be desirable that 
there should be attached to the Land De- 
partment, a small Forestry Department, for 
the purpose of preserving our reserves, and 
restoring . our forest by the establishment 
of nurseries for young trees. 
