1 ( 21 )
2 145. As far however as the constant opposition on the part of the
3 District Officer would allow, attempt was made to control the system of felling
4 by permit in the hill forests, and with considerable success. As regards this
5 branch, Mr. Ellis, the local officer, also visited all the rakhs of the upper por-
6 tion of the district, with a view to preparing a register and proper list of all the
7 rakhs—which is now in progress.
8 146. As the rakhs in the 2nd class were all demarcated Government
9 System of felling and property, attention was directed to the subject of fuel
10 fuel-cutting adopted. supply, which is derived from these rakhs, and which is in
11 a condition calculated to excite attention. The yearly demand for the canton-
12 ments, the road engines, &c., &c., 1s very large, and, as in these rakhs no
13 attempt had been made to stop grazing, reproduction by natural coppicing was
14 nil. I therefore determined to stop all permit-cutting in these rakhs, and, having
15 determined an order in which they might be cut over, the wood is now cut and
16 sold by stacks on the spot. This of course gave rise to complaints, some of
17 Inconvenicnces of the Which were just ; retail dealers would not be supplied, and,
18 system. as one large contractor has all the carriage in his own
19 hands, the price in the city rose.
20 147. I may mention that since this arrangement has been made, and we
21 ourselves convey wood to the city and sell it at a depédt,
22 epee retail dealers can thus obtain what they want. This
23 system ensures the cutting being properly done, z.e., the stumps properly cleared
24 for coppicing, and in definite tracts, which, when clear, are rigidly closed against
25 trespass. Other rakhs, which had already been cut out,
26 Rakhs cut out were close’. 44 where there was a good chance of successful restor-
27 ation, were closed, and a list, with maps, sent to the Deputy Commissioner.
28 148. A nursery was opened near Trét, and another in the Margalla hills.
29 These will I hope soon yield a good supply of young trees
30 ah abies of the better sorts (Hucalyptus &c.) for transplants. A
31 portion of arakh near the Murree road has been fenced off and tried to be
32 improved by the method of dibbling in seeds.
33 149. J regret this meagre account of Rdwalpindi, but the Jhelam report
34 Shelam report defective has hardly anything on the subject; and, circumstances
35 on the subject. compelling me to write this report out in camp, I have
36 no means of referring to numerous papers without great delay in getting
37 them out.
38 150. Upper Lhendb Division.—The officer in charge arrived rather late
39 Tour with n vew to OWing to a change of officers. The first thing done was to
40 careful exanunation of the send Mr. Sparling, the late officer in charge, with Mr.
41 SBR Ce ere Hillier, to take a thorough view of the whole forests, so as
42 to get the benefit of Mr. Sparling’s long experience of them; and this visit, during
43 which notes were made, resulted in the preparation of a list of forests to be
44 finally reserved ; the survey was in progress all the time, as before related.
45 151. Arrangements were made for replacing the high level “ jhila” at
46 Pe eer ee Mindla by a wooden bridge, and also the dangerous one at
47 ; on Pineti, and when the road is completed on the left bank,
48 the difficult and dangerous crossing at Shor (this jhuld has since given way)
49 will bo avoided, and the valley made accessible.
50 Nicer nae 152. The opening of the Sanch tributary into the
51 ' Chendb has been partly blasted out and the waterway
52 improved.
53 153. Planting.—The Purti Deodar Plantation was interplanted between
54 Manus the old lines, which were too far apart, with 2,000 seedlings ;
55 . they live, but 1 should never have selected this place for
56 a plantation to start with.