A.—2A

6

The existence of a forest fund would enable the authorities to exercise in flagrant cases a restraining and minatory influence over private owners similar to that possible under the 24th clause of the Mauritius Ordinance. As regards encouragements to private planting, I would venture to call attention to a measure passed by the Legislature of South Australia, entitled the Forest Trees Planting Encouragement Act, and to another measure, I believe with a similar title, passed by the Legislature of New Zealand, in which provision is made for a free grant of two acres of land for every acre planted with trees. I have not had an opportunity of seem**; copies of these Acts, but I understand that many useful suggestions might be gathered from them which might casterisparibus prove useful auxiliaries to any direct action of the State in the case of the Windward Islands. Except where the object has been the clearing of the country, I have not gathered that the system of wood-cutting licenses has worked satisfactorily, and I conceive that a system of leasing (equivalent to farming) wood-lands would be adopted with greater advantage. I am not aware, however, whether this system obtains to any extent at the present time in the cases under consideration. I may perhaps be pardoned an expression of satisfaction at learning that steps are being taken to remedy the very serious, and I fear imperfectly recognized, evils which threaten our colonies from the extirpation of the indigenous forests. It has been pointed out by the Hon. J. K. Howard, one of Her Majesty's Commissioners of Woods and Forests, that out of thirty-eight colonies, the subject of the Timber Reports, " there are only four in which the timber is not diminishing, and in many cases rapidly, without any steps being taken to replant or prevent waste;" and I would respectfully urge the importance of some comprehensive action on the part of the Government. I have, &c, John Bramston, Esq., Colonial Office. Julian C. Rogers.

Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure in No. 2. I. —Forest Conservation. Extracts of Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Ceylon, with the Advice and Consent of the Legislative Council thereof. An Ordinance to amend the Law relating to the Felling, Destruction, and Removal of Timber grown on Crown Lands. No. 6, 1878. 5. No person, other than an officer of Government acting in the discharge of his duty, shall fell or destroy any trees or remove any timber on or from any laud in this island belonging to the Crown, without having previously obtained a license from the Government Agent of the province in which such land is situated, specifying the name and residence of the holder of such license, the number and description of the trees to be felled, the place where and the time when and the terms and conditions on which the same are to bo felled and removed. And such license shall be directed to such headman of the district or place where such land is situated as to the Government Agent shall seem fit, and shall be as near as is material in the form in the Schedule hereunto annexed, marked B. And there shall be paid or delivered to such Government Agent for the said license by the person or persons to whom the same is granted such sum of money or such share of the timber as shall be determined by such Government Agent when issuing the license: Provided always that it shall be lawful for such Government Agent to extend the time within which the trees or timber are to be felled or removed, or to refuse a license to any person whomsoever, if he shall deem it advisable so to do. 6. Every such licensed person shall by himself or by his servant or agent, before felling any of the trees mentioned in such license, produce the same to the headman to whom it is addressed, and furnish him with a list of the names of every person whom he intends to employ in felling or removing the trees or timber specified in such license. And it shall be the duty of such headman to write upon such license the date of its production to him, and to sign his name thereto, and thereafter to return the same to the person from whom he received it, together with a copy also signed by him of the said list: Provided, however, that it shall be lawful for the Government Agent granting any such license to state in writing in or upon the same that the holder thereof shall not be required to furnish such headman with such list as aforesaid; and in such case such list shall be dispensed with. 7. It shall not be lawful for any such licensed person to remove or cause to be removed any timber felled in virtue of such license, unless notice of his intention to remove the same shall have been given to the headman to whom the license is addressed, or to some other person to be appointed in that behalf by the Government Agent granting the license. And it shall be the duty of such headman or other person aforesaid to inspect such timber previously to its removal, and, if he finds that the timber has been felled conformably with the license, to grant a permit to the holder of such license for its removal, which permit shall be as near as is material in the form in the Schedule hereunto annexed marked C, and to stamp or otherwise sufficiently mark each log intended to be removed. And the said headman or other person aforesaid shall forthwith deliver or transmit a duplicate of such permit to the Government Agent by whom such license was granted: Provided, however, that it shall be lawful for the Government Agent granting such license to state in writing thereon that the holder thereof shall not be required to give any such notice of removal or obtain such permit as aforesaid ; and in such case such notice and permit shall be dispensed with. 8. If any person, other than an oflicer of Government acting in the discharge of his duty, shall fell or destroy any trees or timber, or remove any timber on or from any Crown land in this island for any purpose whatsoever without having obtained a license as aforesaid or contrary to the conditions thereof; or if any licensed person shall fell or destroy any trees on such land for any purpose whatsoever before producing his license to the headman to whom the same is addressed, aud furnishing him with a list of the names of every person whom he intends employing to fell or remove the same, or shall employ any person for any such purpose whose name is not mentioned in such list, except when such list is dispensed with under section six; or shall fell any trees on land belonging to