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The following is a record of rainfall and temperature for the year :—

Record of Rainfall and Temperature at Waiotapu Plantation.

James Henderson, Forester. H. A. Goudie, Nurseryman in Charge.

Kaingakoa Plantations (Four). (Total area, 25 acres.) As it is intended that the extension to the plantation at Waiotapu will in time absorb these four experimental enclosures, no further areas were planted during the year, and the only work done was the planting of trees to fill blanks through failure last season. Owing to the fact that one of these areas is about half-way between Galatea and Waiotapu, a considerable amount of damage has been done during the year to the fence and trees by stockdrivers using the enclosure as a resting-paddock for their horses and cattle. It is intended shortly to erect notice-boards at each of the enclosures, warning people from trespassing, and any breach of the law will be dealt with by the Commissioner of Crown Lands. A small quantity of seed of Hungarian brome-grass was sown here in the spring, to test its adaptability to the high altitude of this plain. The seed germinated well, and the young plants throve notwithstanding the dry season, but whether they will survive the winter yet remains to be seen. Details of trees planted and expenditure are attached. James Henderson, Forester. H. A. Goudie, Nurseryman in Charge. Statement of Expenditure from the Ist April, 1902, to the 31st March, 1903. Eweburn Nursery. £ s. d. Amount at 31st March, 1902 ... ... ... ... 4,891 12 4 Tree-growing ... ... ... ... ... ■■• 307 17 1 General maintenance ... ... ... ■■• ... 168 12 4 Nursery-formation (draining, &c.) ... ... ... ■•■ 132 3 2 Horse-shoeing and general repairs ... ... ... ... 18 15 0 Horse-feed ... .. ... ■•■ ••• ••• 26 8 3 Tree-seeds ... ... •■• ••• ••• ••• 26 9 8 Tools, implements, &c. ... ... ■■ ••• •■• 348 Fuel 14 19 4 Water-supply ... ... •■• ••• ••• ■■■ 1 19 6 Miscellaneous work ... ... ... ■•• ... 0 13 7 Supervision ... ... ... ••• ■•• ••• 45 4 8 £5,637 19 7

Month. Rainfall. Number of Days Rain fell. Highest Reading of Thermometer. Date. Lowest Reading of Thermometer. Date. L I 1902. April ... May ... June ... July ... August September October November December 1903. ... In. 811 3-90 5-61 0-63 3-41 5-02 3-36 0-98 1-72 11 12 14 7 6 15 14 9 11 I " [ Deg. 74 67 60 56 60 64 72 76 90 5th 9th 11th 30th 22nd 29th 7th 21st 12th Deg. 24 26 18 17 18 18 22 22 32 13th and 14th 24th and 29th 4th 17th 30th 2nd and 9th 2nd 20th 2nd January February March 7-75 2-24 1-15 13 7 8 84 88 82 7th 15th and 16th 5th 32 28 22 2nd 2nd 21st Totals ... 43-88 127