17

A.—2a,

I need not detail the conditions for regulating the sale of timber. Besides, these would depend in a great measure on local circumstances, such as the value of the timber, the situation of the forest, whether in its natural state or otherwise, &c. It would, however, be necessary in every instance to impose the two following conditions : Ist. That the trees be cut at the surface of the ground. 2nd. That the whole of the timber sold must be removed from the forest within a certain time from date of sale, otherwise such timber to revert to the Government. The former condition should be imposed for carrying on an economical system of management, and the latter for guarding against monopoly. I cannot see that anything more liberal could be devised than the inducements held out by the General and Provincial Governments for planting on private lands. A condition might be imposed on persons obtaining leases of education reserves, or agricultural leases, to plant a certain area annually. State plantations could be raised on public lands, either under the Forest Department I have already mentioned, or by taking advantage of the pastoral resources of the country. This could be done by giving a lease for twenty-one years of small runs, say, from 5,000 to 10,000 acres of pastoral land, more or less, as the nature and features of the country would recommend. Absolve the assessment on the land set apart for that purpose, and make it a condition to plant a certain area annually. The area to be planted yearly would have to be determined by the annual value of the land leased, the kinds of trees, the distance apart, and the nature of the soil intended to be planted. Tho whole estate to be handed back to Government at the expiration of the lease. It would be necessary, for the purpose of carrying on planting operations successfully, and for raising plants at the cheapest possible rate, to set apart planting districts, and establish a nursery as near the centre of each as possible ; say one at Oamaru, one at Dunedin, one at Clutha, one at Naseby, or any other place where it might be deemed advisable to carry on planting operations. If the inducements which I have already mentioned for planting on public land were held out, and nurseries established, I have no doubt but the land would be rapidly taken up for the purpose. Establishing nurseries in different parts of the province would facilitate planting operations both on private and public lands. The public would be able to obtain plants within the district at a more reasonable rate than from private nurserymen at a distance. Inducement might be offered, with success, in a money grant of from £3 to £5 per acre, for an area of not less than five acres planted with young trees; or a grant of from three to five acres of land for every acre planted with trees in blocks of not less than five to ten acres. A supply of good seed should be kept on hand to encourage planting, or a stock of young trees supplied by tender.

No. 3. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach to Governor Sir Hercules Eobinson. Sir, — Downing Street, 12th April, 1880. I bave the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch of the 10th October last, No. 62, bringing to my notice the services of Mr. O'Eorke, the Speaker of the House of Eepresentatives of New Zealand. I have much pleasure in stating, and I request that you will so inform Mr. O'Eorke, that the Queen has on my recommendation been pleased to give directions for the dignity of Knight Bachelor being conferred on him. His patent will be proceeded with on his remitting to the Secretary of State for the Home Department the sum of £97 15s. 6d., the amount of the usual charges on such patents. I have, &c, M. E. HICKS BEACH. Governor Sir Hercules Eobinson, G.C.M.G., &c.

No. 1. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (Circular.) Sir, — Downing Street, 16th April, 1880. I have the honor to transmit to you, for insertion in any volumes of colonial regulations in use in the colony under your Government, amended copies of clause 415, relating to the mutual surrender of merchant seamen deserters, under the provisions of the Imperial Act 15 and 16 Vict., c. 26, of 1852. I have, &c, M. E. HICKS BEACH. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. B—A. 2a.