H.—24

At Waiotapu arrangements are in progress for the removal of the prison camp to the centre of a new block of some 5,000 acres to the north-east of the present area. The site for the new camp (three miles distant from the old one) is in a most favourable position, with an excellent water-supply available, and every facility for good drainage. When this camp is completed and occupied, a great deal of time will be saved by the men in going to and from their work. It is proposed to plant this new area as far as possible in wedge-shaped blocks radiating from a common centre at the camp. The walking-distance to and from work will thus be evenly distributed for each year's planting. Convalescent Camp. In order to provide suitable employment for discharged patients from the sanatorium at Cambridge, it is proposed to establish a movable camp on the Whakarewarewa Plantation, some distance beyond the Waips, Prison Camp. This will to some extent overcome the difficulty with which the medical authorities are now faced in having to discharge convalescent patients who in many cases are compelled to resume their ordinary indoor occupations, thus lessening the possibilities of a complete restoration to health. It is not intended that each patient shall do a certain amount of work or plant a given number of trees, as payment will be made by results on the co-operative system. The State will thus be providing healthy employment for the needy without paying more for the work than it is at present costing by ordinary labour. The following summaries show the result of the year's operations and present position: —

Table A.—Summary of Results.

Table B.—Summary of Expenditure and Values.

xxxix

Nursery or Plantation. Number of Number Trees of Trees in raised in Nurseries Nurseries or and Plantations Plantations, on 81st 1907-8. March, 1908. Values of Same. Number of Trees planted, 1907-8. Area planted in 1907-8. Total Area planted to 31st March, 1908. Eweburn Nursery Hanmer Springs Nursery Kurow Nursery Rotorua Nursery Ruatangata Nursery Starborough Nursery Tapanui Nursery Conical Hills Plantation Dumgree Plantation Dusky Hill Plantation Gimmerburn Plantation Hanmer Springs Plantation .. Kaingaroa Plains Plantation .. Naseby Plantation Puhipuhi Plantation Raincliff Plantation Ruatangata Plantation Waiotapu Plantation Waitahuna Plantation Whakarewarewa Plantation .. Domains, reserves, &o. 542,100 1,695,000 43,000 4,550,000 522,062 3,037,000 1,105,640 2,986,200 43,000 7,864,700 761,410 739,600 4,403,960 3,313,579 350,000 1,276,167 487,695 1,863,170 44,-275 360,185 918,795 50,000 £ a. d. 1,757 5 4 4,865 8 6 45 3 0 10,857 9 0 1,715 4 3 1,634 16 0 6,738 19 9 370,200 228,640 475,135 72,000 591,400 A. R. P. 136 0 0 84 0 0 174 2 8 20 2 0 206 0 0 A. R. p. 1,082 1 0 469 3 0 505 2 8 173 1 0 668 0 0 21 0 0 132 2 0 1,125 0 0 206 3 0 22 0 0 2,728 2 0 12 1 14 2,319 0 0 * 457,790 425"o 0 6,932,934 30,525 5,042,126 133,632 * 2,591,230 3,700 1,650,690 952 0 0 1 1 14 650 2 0 * Totals 10,389,162 38,707,593 27,614 5 10 6,440,785 2,655 3 22 9,465 3 22 * Keliable estimates of values not available,

Expenditure for 31rtMa?ch,l&8. : toMBtMarch,' Value of Trees grown and Improvements in Nurseries, 1907-8. Value of Trees in Stock and Improvements in Nurseries, from Inception to 31st March, 1908. Amount at 31st March, 1907 Eweburn Nursery Hanmer Springs Nursery Tapanui Nursery Ruatangata Nursery Rotorua Nursery Scarborough Nursery Kurow Nursery Conical Hills Plantation Naseby Plantation Gimmerburn Plantation Dusky Hill Plantation Raincliff Plantation Hanmer Springs Plantation Dumgree Plantation Whakarewarewa Plantation Waiotapu Plantation Kaingaroa Plains Plantation Puhipuhi Plantation Waitaki Plantation Waitahuna Plantation Domains, Reserves, &c. Clerical assistance Postages and telegrams Contingencies: Telephones, stationery, office material, travelling-expenses, and transfer of officers, &c. s. d. 820 16 2 1,246 15 10 1,860 9 5 1,629 4 4 3,914 14 7 1,058 1 9 579 0 1 1,403 16 3 241 7'0 415 17 9 1,715 0 4 £ a. d 9,538 1 7 3,923 8 5 15,245 17 1 6,013 6 7 25,526 19 0 8,689 1 2 3,070 2 7 9,686 17 11 2,073 10 5 2,021 3 2 10,314 9 5 1,104 12 5 4,374 4 1 9,862 7 11 13,541 18 5 5,209 17 3 368 18 2 4,788 13 4 403 14 5 168 10 3 431 13 1 673 15 0 60 5 4 ! 1,031 13 5 j £ a. d. 28,067 16 10 2,087 0 10 5,639 11 8 7,430 7 i 2,494 3 10 11,556 15 5 3,569 16 7 340 16 7 * £ a. d. 51,992 2 2 0,540 2 11 6,917 18 9 14,170 6 3 4,949 10 7 18,367 2 5 8,102 14 9 2,367 11 5 * * * ♦ 1,123 13 4 1,065 9 11 3,201 15 4 1,547 17 8 11 2 8 1,685 3 8 359 6 8 13 15 10 * * * * * * * 150 0 0 42 0 4 357 6 2 Totals 24,442 15 1 138,122 15 5 61,186 9 1 113,407 4 3 * Reliable estimates of values not available.