§ SIR ROBERT HOBART (Hampshire, New Forest)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, having regard to the increase of fires in the New Forest, he is able to state what steps have been taken by His Majesty's Commissioners of Woods, at the request of the verderers, on behalf of the commoners, to burn certain districts to improve the pasture, and also for the protection of plantations; and whether, in addition, he can also furnish any Reports on the number of recent fires, caused by an incendiary or accident, mentioning the areas and the amount of damage done in each case, with special reference to the recent fire in Knightwood enclosure.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. MCKENNA,) Mon-1378 mouthshire, N. At the request of the verderers on behalf of the commoners the Crown Officers, assisted by some of the local commoners in each place, have burned, during the late spring: In the east district 173 acres, in the north district 770 acres, in the west district 150 acres; total 1,093 acres. This burning was spread over seventeen different places, the area burned varying from 3 to 250 acres. Similar areas were burnt last spring and also in former years. In addition to this the Crown burned, for the protection of certain plantations and the forest generally an area of 302 acres in the three districts. Fires caused by an incendiary or accident occurred in sixty-eight places, by which over 1,200 acres more were burned. Most of them were speedily extinguished by the watchers employed, but there were several of large extent—Hill Top 112 acres, Longdown 40, Shirley Holmes 200, Wilverley Plain 500, Hincheslea Wood 86. The extent of the fire at Knightwood enclosure, which was possibly accidental, was 75 acres. Considerable damage was done to the growing timber, but it is not possible to estimate it accurately at present.