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TABLE OF CONTENTS.

PAGE Warrant appointing the Commission .. .. v Extension of Commission .. .. .. vi Report. Account of journeys of Commission .. .. viij General consideration of investigations .. . . xii Indigenous Forests— Climatic Reserves — Erosion, denudation, floods, &c. . . • • xiv Original donse forest covering .. .. xv Forest reserves at sources of streams.. .. xv Forest reserves on mountain dividing-ranges of the North Island .. .. .. xv Forest reserves on all high mountains and on banks of streams .. .. xv Damage to forests by deer .. .. xv Forest undergrowth : its functions .. .. xvi Scenic Reserves — Reserves for preserving the distinctive scenery of New Zealand . . . . .. xvi Reserves for protection of historic places .. xvi Thermal-springs reserves .. .. .. xvi Reserves for preserving examples of the flora and fauna of New Zealand as living museums xvi Reserves for pleasure resorts .. .. xvii The development of scenery-preservation .. xvii Value of scenic reserves to the whole Dominion xviii Scenery reserves under the Land Act .. xviii Danger of sce,nic reserves from fire, grazing of stock, and weeds . . .. .. xviii The uplifting of scenic reserves . . . . xviii Factors for consideration . . .. .. xviii Number and kinds of scenic reserves.. .. xviii National parks . . .. .. .. xviii Bird sanctuaries .. .. .. . . xviii Proposed new scenic reserves .. .. xix Lake Waikaremoana . . .'. . . xix Lakes in Rotorua thermal district .. .. xix Wanganui River .. .. .." . . xix Mokau River .. . . .. .. xix The Waipoua Kauri Forest.. .. .. xix Recommendations regarding same .. .. xix Reasons for such . . . . . . .. xix Warawara Kauri Forest .. .. . . xx Preservation of Scenic Reservi 8— Recommendations for preservation .. xx Abeas not required as Scvenic and Climatic Reserves — Removal oj Reservations-— Where removal of reservation advisable .. xx Milling previous to settlement .. xx Present or future utilization of forest areas .. xx Best Methods of dealing with Indigenous Forests — Classification of Forests — Administration of the milling-forests.. .. xxi One system cf measuring timber-trees advisable Dual control by Warden and Commissioner .. xxi Reasons for terminating it . . .. .. xxi Reasons why Commissioner should have sole control .. .. .. .. xxi Timber royalties for future planting purposes .. xxii The Beech Forests--Their increasing value as other timbers become scarcer .. .. .. .. xxii Value of the beech timbers .. .. .. xxii Confusion and danger from the loose naming of the beeches .. .. .. .. xxiii Different trees called birches .. .. xxiii Proposed illustrated pamphlet on the beeches .. xxiii Proposed definite names for beeches .. . . xxiii

PAGE White-pine Timber— Yield from white-pine forests .. .. xxiii White-pine occupies the best lands .. .. xxiii It is more profitable to farm such lands ~ xxiv White-pine for butter-boxes .. .. xxiv Substitutes for white-pine foi butter-boxes .. xxiv Requisites of the substitutes .. .. xxiv Poplar as a substitute .. .. .. xxiv Pinus radiata as a substitute .. . . xxiv Tawa as a substitute . . .. .. xxv Its present inferiority tc white-pine .. .. xxv Foreign supplies soon necessary .. .. xxv Our own plantations will eventually supply the demand .. . . .. .. xxv Consumption of white-pine in Australia . . xxv Dangers of legislation restricting output .. xxv Recommendation that no restriction be imposed xxv Recommendation that exhaustive tests of their suitability for butter-boxes be made of Pinus radiata, poplar, &c. . . .. . . xxv Precautions that must be observed in these experiments .. .. .. .. xxvi AprORESTATION— The Probable Future Demand jor Timber lor Commercial Purposes in New Zealand— Questions required to be answered .. .. xxvi What will be the future increase in population xxvi To what extent will the use of timber increase xxvi Influence of substitutes on future demand .. xxvi Inadequacy of published returns of output and imports .. .. .. .. xxvi Increased consumption of timber probable .. xxvi Probable future consumption, amount of .. xxvii Recommendation for more exact statistics .. xxvii Particulars as to the Naivre and Kind of Timber* likely to be required— Inadequacy of published data .. . . xx\ ii Kinds of timbers likely to be most required . . xxvii Whether the present State plantations are adequate for the future supply of timber .. xxvii Yields per acre of European trees . . . . xxvii Probable yield in New Zealand .. .. xxvii As to what Extent and in what Localities the Present State Plantations should be extended. — The crucial question in afforestation is cost . . xxviii The cost of borrowing by the State .. ..xxviii Compound interest on cost of establishment .. xxviii Cost of, and interest on, upkeep of plantations xxviii Cost to date of State plantations . . . . xxviii Cost per acre of State plantations .. . . xxix Yield from Pinus radiata .. .. .. xxix Profits from crops of Pinus radiata .. .. xxix Returns from a long-rotation crop .. .. xxix Uselessness of planting native timber-trees .. xxx With cheap land and good management State afforestation will pay .. .. .. xxx Business considerations to be observed .. xxx Plantation on an extended scale necessary to avoid future shortage of timber .. .. xxx The percentage of forest area in European States xxx Steady rise of 20 per cent, in consumption of timber .. .. .. .. xxx Danger of reliance on foreign supplies .. xxx Advantage to State of afforesting treeless regions xxxi Nurseries — Whakarewarewa Nursery .. .. .. xxxi Good soil necessary for nursery .. .. xxxi Extension of nurseries in North Island .. xxxi Tapanui, Hanmer, and Ranfurly Nurseries .. xxxi One central nursery advisable .. .. xxxi Studholme Junction is most suitable.. .. xxxi Plantations — Areas suitable for future plantations.. .. xxxii Central Otago suitable for afforestation .. xxxii Mackenzie Plains suitable for afforestation .. xxxii

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