1 ( 8 )
2 ‘In India Unreserved Forests consist in all Government Forest land
3 ‘which has not been specially reserved from sale.”
4 “In Burma it would seem to apply to all uncultivated lands falling
5 ‘within the Forest limits as specified in Rule II,, the products of which are
6 ‘‘ Government property.”
7 “It may however be concluded that Chapter I of the Forest Rules,
8 “‘which provides for the preservation of Teak and other useful trees in these
9 “Tracts through the agency of the Forest Department, is at present deemed
10 “sufficient for the requirements of the Province.”
11 8. PRorecrion,
12 37. No changes have to be recorded in the system of protection.
13 The location of two Assistant Conservators at Zeegoom and Poungdey,
14 on the Prome road, noted in para 42 of last year’s Report, has been attended
15 with such good results, that it appears desirable to erect Rest houses cither at
16 these, or other places on the Prome Road, for the spevial use of Forest Officers.
17 The Road Bungalows at present occupied by the Assistant Conservators
18 must be vacated at any time when required by Officers of the Department
19 Public Works,
20 88. Rangoon Division. Towards the*close of the year an examination of
21 the Western Pegu Forests led to the discovery of 42 trees girdled and felled by
22 a late Contractor, and the maximum fine of Rs. 200 was inflicted. It is to be re-
23 gretted that in lieu of the usual procedure, this Contractor was directly ontrust-
24 ed with the girdling of a large number of trees in 1865.
25 39. Zharrawaddie Division. Two cases involving Breaches of Rules Vi
26 IX were tried in the Civil Courts, and resulted in the infliction of fines of
27 s. § and 20.
28 40. Theft and misappropriation of teak timber in the Irrawaddie river
29 and near the Forests have been apparently much on the increase. Seven cases
30 were sent up for trial in the Civil Courts,—three of theft of timber, and two
31 of misappropriation of timber, and two of selling Government timber. Three
32 of the defendants were fined Rs. 5, 10, and 20, respectively ; three were sever-
33 ally sentenced to three, six, and nine months imprisonment, and five were dis-
34 charged for want of evidence of Criminal intention. One case is reported as
35 still under investigation.
36 41. The reports of the District Foresters give a total of 1199 ftoungyas
37 cut in Teak localities on which were found 417 large, 471 small, and 7 girdled
38 trees. The Divisional Officer does not consider these reports as altogether
39 reliable. Their late submission probably precluded any revision on the part of
40 the Forest Rangers.
41 42. The Divisional Officer has again commented on the small pay sanc-
42 tioned for Foresters, and considers the Forest peons as also underpaid at Rs. 10
43 per mensem, as cooly labor can nearly always command os much as 8 annas
44 per diem.
45 __ Circumstances have of late much changed; and the duties and responsi-
46 bilities of both Foresters and Peons having greatly increased, it is but reason-