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not be situated within such local bodies' districts; (2) that no portion of a recreation reserve shall be leased for building purposes ; (3) that no natural bush upon a recreation ground shall be cut down or destroyed without the approval of the Governor in Council; and (4) that every Domain Board shall annually report and furnish a statement of receipts and expenditure for the year for the information of the Minister of Lands. The Department issued a circular letter to the 351 Domain Boards, calling attention to the provisions of the above Act, and requesting to be supplied with the prescribed reports and statements. Of these Boards, 287 complied with the request, and steps are being taken to obtain reports from the remaining sixty-four Boards, as it is necessary that the Government should exercise some control over the valuable public estates which have been set aside for the use and recreation of the people. Forests. The Departmental officers in the various land districts continued throughout the past year investigations with a view to classifying the remaining Crown forests, with the result that in nearly all the districts proposals to this end have been agreed upon, and steps are now being taken to have the areas gazetted and set aside permanently. It has been thought advisable not to take these final steps until full and definite information is available. This applies specially to the forest lands contiguous to Crown lands suitable for settlement or to lands in the occupation of settlers. Persons in remote localities usually begin in a small way, and after some years' successful work find themselves in a position to enlarge their holdings to an extent commensurate with their increased responsibilities, especially where the children have grown up, and desire to obtain lands in the vicinity of their parents' holdings. As Crown lands become scarcer it is found that persons are willing to go further back and select high and rough lands, which in former years were not much in demand. It is therefore necessary to retain for the extension of settlement all areas of bush lands suitable for the purpose, and to consider conservation of forests, except where millingtimber is involved or special beauty spots are to be found, as secondary to the profitable occupation and utilisation of land. In several localities it has already been ascertained that existing reservations of forest lands are detrimental to the progress of settlement. It becomes a question, therefore, whether portions of these reservations might not be released and allotted at a fair valuation to the adjacent owners, in order that they may be able to maintain themselves and families. In some instances within the goldfields, where the miners can no longer obtain a living wholly from following their original occupation, and where the families have increased and the demands upon the parents are heavier, it is obvious that attention must be given more to agriculture and grazing to supplement the incomes. Each locality will, of course, require to be considered according to the special circumstances, and I think it could be demonstrated that in many cases scenery is not everything, but that the welfare, advancement, and happiness of the people should be given first consideration. A remarkable instance of the clashing of the two interests above named is to be found in the Southland District; and proposals are about to be submitted for the removal from the State forests in that district of a total area of 49,039 acres. This is in consequence of the present Commissioner of Crown Lands having discovered that no less than 24,962 acres of these reserves had already been alienated by sale or lease. The balance of 24,077 acres comprises various blocks and sections, formerly covered with forest, which have been operated on by sawmills. These lands have been inspected by the Rangers and the Commissioner, and reports and certificates have been received showing that the lands are no longer required for State forest purposes, are not suitable or necessary for replanting, that they have become overrun or are likely to become overrun by blackberry and other noxious weeds, which if allowed to take possession will render the lands hopelessly and irretrievably useless for the farmer or grazier. The proposal is startling in its magnitude; but it is contended that the necessity for the expansion of settlement in the district far outweighs all other consideration. There will still remain considerable areas of forest reserves in the Southland District. Another instance showing how settlement is restricted is to be found in the Wakamarina and Pelorus Valleys (Marlborough), where the once flourishing mining industry was all in all to the community, and especially to the town of Havelock. Unless the residents are encouraged and given an opportunity of diverting their attention and labour to the utilising of lands, there is a risk of the population becoming more and more sparse. Here, too, the sawmills have cut out areas of land within the State forests, noxious weeds have taken possession, and annual fires make still further encroachment upon the standing bush. Wherever this occurs it will not be possible to reclaim the class of land to be found in this locality and bring it into reproductive use after it has been overrun with noxious growths. The only hope there is of preventing such lands from becoming practically waste and useless is at the proper moment (that is, after the sawmills have cut out the timber) to place the lands in the hands of those with energy and inclination to undertake

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