150 FIRE. 
(the fire organization 1s described at p. 23 of “ Australian Forestry *’), 
it seems plain-that organization alone would be quite sufficient to protect 
the Kauri forests from fire—viz., fire-protection would cost nothing 
more than occasional extra men to put out such small outbreaks as might 
occur. With good cutlook forest stations, such as I have selected for the 
Rangers’ houses at Waipoua” (see the demarcation plan, ‘‘ Waipoua 
Kauri Forest ’’), and the roads and erassed paths of the cultivated forest, 
I do not think any special fire-paths would be necessary. Any fire that 
broke out would be seen and pounced on at once. 
A little fire is quickly trodden out ; 
Which, being suffer’d, rivers cannot quench. 
—** Henry VI.” 

* Since the above was written the newspapers (March, 1919) have reported a fire in 
the Waipoua Forest, the first serious fire for twenty years. Some 200,000 sup. ft. of 
Kauri was burnt. This was the more unfortunate that steps were being taken to put 
the forest in order and make it safe from fire. This fire occurred owing to the easily 
preventable spread of a settler’s fire across the boundary. The loss is deplorable; and 
still more so the continued absence of a Forest Department to guard against further fires 
in forests more liable to them than the Waipoua Forest. 

