The Hawaiian gazette., 1882-06-28


transfer clause struck out of the Appro
priation Bill, the money voted would have
to be spent In this way or else have to be
returned into the treasury.
-
In starting out upon this scheme, of
course there viii be some expense and
very small results could be shown at first.
To our mind it appears as if little or no
general planting can be done for many
years to come. All that any ad1ninistra-
ton can hope to do at present is to take
under its care certain reservations. which
should be very carefully looked after
This is what is done In Mauritius. Some
what may be done too by judicious legis-
lation If by, say a remission Of a certain
amount of taxation, property owners can
be induced to keep their cattle within
bounds, not permitting them to stray into
the higher lands, there would certainly be
great gain. Again II private parties
could be induced to take up tree planting
as a business there would, be another
great gain. A gentleman tells rs that 6
or years ago he bought piece of land
for $1,000. That land is now bringing
him In 500 a year from the fire wood
which he Is able to cut. There Is certain
~ money in such speculation, not for
tune. but a very comfortable living. This
would be helping the forests indirectly.
The only direct aid. which the govern
ment could at present give to the forests.
is to get nd of the wild goats and pigs
Both of these animals do an immense
amount Of mischief, they go further into
the woods. climb upon the lodges. get to
places where cattle would not dream of
going. 1t would be judicious thing to
pay a small bounty to have these pests of
our forests hunted down. and if any party
of men set about IT systematically it
would not take long to do so. Some legis-
lation there might be as to the telling Of
timber, but anything done in the direc-
ton Of direct interference with the rights
of land owners would have to be most
carefully thought out 1t is stated that
IN some places trees have been felled
without any thought for the future this
is certainly very wrong, but it would not
be well for US to fall from the Scylla of
the thoughtless axe, in the Charybdis of !
foolish acts.
The subject is one Of immense import
ance, and il Is one which is engaging the /
attention of almost every nation of the |
civilized world, It is high time that Ha
wsii should be doing something in this |
direction too. The country. within the |
of a number of our residents. |
shows marked signs Of d rapid decrease OF |
our forest lands, especially upon Oahu. |
Maui, MolokRi and Kauai. Now that the |
item for nurseries Is likely to be put in a |
definite shape, we feel sure that il Will |
pass the house and we hope that some |
thing be done IN the indirect way indi
Gated above to induce land owners to pre-
serve their forests The only trouble in
ihst suggestion is, that our Legislature
has started upon such a course Of extrava-
gsnce that it VIII be unable to offer
such bounty, with an Appropriation
Bill which bids fair to be nearly
double the income of the country;
instead Of tightening any tax the admin
strstion VIII have TO seek for means by
which the revenue shall be augmented. so
We fear that the forests are likely TO suffer
rom the extravaganza of the Legislature.