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HanmEr Springs Plantation. (Area, 1,488 acres; altitude, 1,225 ft.) Tree-planting operations at this station during the past year have been attended with exceptionally favourable results, and the trees of all ages throughout the plantation have made much better growth than during the last few years. The percentage of failures amongst trees planted during the year is much smaller than usual, and it is estimated that not more than 5 per cent, of losses have occurred amongst all species of trees planted. These losses have been almost entirely confined to where the trees were planted on dry gravelly soil. The total number of trees planted during the year was 568,060, and the number used to replace blanks was 168,280 trees. The area planted during the year was 208 acres, and the plantation now comprises 876 acres, containing 2,431,230 trees. Free Labour. —The average daily number of free men employed was three, and the cost of the Various works undertaken was as follows: Pitting for tree-planting, 12s. 6d. per thousand; treeplanting, 12s. 6d. per thousand; clearing round trees and cultivating fire-breaks, £112 18s. 6d:; pruning trees, £5 16s. 7d.; removal of Dumgree Prison Camp to Hanmer, £200; clearing for tree-planting, £1 per acre. The clearing of growth from around the smaller trees necessitated a considerable amount of labour being expended, and during the summer months two men were constantly employed at this work. Some ten miles of fire-breaks were ploughed and cultivated, and on portions of plantation this work was very difficult, owing to the stony nature of the ground. Pruning was continued where necessary, and all trees which required attention in this respect were dealt with. The replanting of blanks was done entirely by free labour. The number of pits opened during the year was 435,000, and the number available for treeplanting to date (including pits dug by prison labour) is 303,202. Clearing for tree-planting amounted to 41 acres. A fire-break 30 chains by 1J chains wide was ploughed through the centre of new plantation area, and four miles of fire-break half a chain wide was ploughed round plantation-boundary. The growth of larch of all ages throughout the plantation has been remarkably good during the year, and amongst the older trees the vertical growth for the year varies from 12 in. to 48 in., while the average growth of trees planted during the year is 12 in. Of the various pines planted, Pinus Laricio and Pinus ponderosa continue to show the best results, and these species may be safely planted on poor gravelly soils in this locality. The average vertical growth of trees planted during the year is 4 in., and the growth of the older trees varies from 12 in. to 30 in. A considerable amount of labour has been necessary during the year in keeping hares and rabbits in check, and it has bean necessary to provide a number of dogs for this purpose. No damage of any consequence has been done by these pests. The results of ploughing fire-breaks on boundaries and' through plantations has been entirely satisfactory, and no damage has been caused by fire. Prison Labour. — The average number of prisoner's employed at forestry work during the year was thirteen daily, and the average value of each prisoner's work for the year was £33 os. 6d, The total value of prison labour for the year was £429 7s. 3d. The details and values of work done by prisoners is as follows: Clearing for tree-planting, £71 Is. lOd. ; pitting for tree-planting, £145 3s. lOd. ; tree-planting, £136 ss. 43. ; maintenance, £56 10s. ; road formation, £5 Bs. 9d.; fencing horse-paddock, £4 10s.; building workshop, £1 16s. 3d.; miscellaneous works, £8 lis. 3d. The pits opened numbered 323,893; trees planted, 431,490; clearing, 96 acres; road formation, 60 chains; fencing, 60 chains. The details of expenditure for the year and expenditure to date are appended.

Statement of Expenditure. £ s d Amount at 31st March, 1908 ... ... ... ... 4,374 4 1 Pitting ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 352 18 6 Tree-planting ... ... ... ... ... ... 42 7 0 Cartage of trees ... ... ... ... ... ... 546 General upkeep of plantation ... ... ... ... 281 9 1.1 Horse-feed purchased and grown ... ... ... ... 140 Fencing . ... ... ... ... ... ... 34 4 6 Buildings ... ... ... ... ... ... 39 18 1 Tools, implements, &c. ... ... ... ... ... 56 18 0 Salaries— Supervision of prison labour ... ... ... ... 72 10 0 free labour ... ... ... ... 72 10 0 Nurseryman's proportion of, and travelling-expenses ... 90 0 0 Supervision ... ... ... ... ... ... 36 10 0 Removal of prison camp ... ... ... ... ... 224 211 £5,684 1 6 R. Leask, Assistant Forester-. T. B. Curle, Forester in Charge.