Forest of the Urewera.

The last great unspoiled area of native forest in the North Island is the Urewera Country. Comparatively unspoiled, that is, for it is not now in exactly the condition in which I first saw it when I travelled through it on horseback and foot nearly forty years ago. A motor highway has been made through the heart of it, and timber cottages are replacing the Maoris’ primitive whare in the cutlivated valleys. There are pakeha commercial interests that have turned an acquisitive eye in that direction and there are those who ask, “What's the good of all that bush? Cut it out and open up the Urewera! Turn the timber into cash and put sheep on the hills.”

Bless their eyes, those people would soon make a ghastly ruin of the glorious wave upon wave of forested ranges as they have of other hilly parts of the Island. Happily they are not to have their way, if the present Government can prevent it.

The Hon. Mr. Langstone's announcement that the whole of the Crown's interest in the Urewera Country, totalling 482,000 acres, is to be declared a State reserve, is the best news New Zealand forest-lovers have heard for many a day. This area includes the noble Huiarau and various other ranges, in fact all the wildest and highest parts of the mountain land.

The Minister deserves the warmest praise and congratulations on his timely action.

The conservation of our hill forests, for river-protection and climatic and scenic purposes, is the urgent duty of those in authority. Now the exact nature of the official reserve is important. I hope it will be declared a National Sanctuary, to make it perfectly tapu and secure against all undesirable interference.