C—IB

16

can be easily ploughed, and the climatic conditions are suitable, certain species of trees, such as Eucalypti, might profitably be grown by direct sowing. Fire-protection. —An improved system for dealing with outside fires which endanger the planted area has been in operation daring the dry season. The eastern boundary, which follows the Wairoa Road for a distance of about five miles, owing to the difficulty of seeing it from other parts of the plantation, has been proved by the experience of former years to be particularly dangerous. On this boundary a Ranger has been stationed, whose duty it is to patrol the road during dry weather and to attend to the fence and fire-break, and such matters as trespassing persons, stock, &c. For his accommodation a small building was erected near his work, where he also keeps an outfit of tools sufficient for the use of ten or twelve men, thus reducing loss of time as much as possible should any fire in the vicinity bo considered dangerous. The building is connected by telephone with the nursery, and, if necessary, communication may be obtained at any time of day or night. The appointment of a Ranger relieves tho responsible officer on duty considerably, as on Sundays and holidays he has quite enough to do in attending properly to other parts of the plantation. On a recently acquired section on the Waiotapu Road two huts for workmen have been erected in a position from which several miles of the boundary on that side may be seen. The men living there take turns in staying about the camp on Sundays during dry weather, and would be ready to give prompt warning of and render assistance in dealing with an outbreak occurring in the neighbourhood. In addition to these buildings, an old kitchen and dining-shclter previously used by the Health Department is being converted into suitable quarters for workmen, so that in future a number of men will always be available in case of emergency. For the next season's tree-planting pits to the number of 774,700, prepared by prison labour, are available, and it is intended to shortly commence with the preparation of an area of land sufficient to accommodate another 800,000 trees. D. J. Buchanan, Assistant Forester. Schedule II. — Statement of Expenditure. For Year. To Date. Planting operations and maintenance — £ s. d. £ s. d. Tree-planting .. .. .. 465 19 9 6,444 13 6 Pitting .. .. .. .. 639 6 2 6,785 15 2 Clearing .. .. .. .. 942 13 I 8,766 19 2 Cartage of trees .. .. .. 17 13 10 344 9 8 General upkeep .. .. .. 1,618 3 4 11,389 10 3 Thinning .. .. .. .. 28 18 0 97 15 7 General repairs .. ' . . .. 121 0 3 943 10 10 Horse-feed .. .. .. 241 8 0 1,247 16 11 Permanent works — Fencing 65 19 10 1,201 7 8 General formation .. .. .. 140 3 4 2,231 15 5 Buildings 201 14 9 1,380 15 4 Water-service . . .. . . . . 95 5 6 Stock, implements, &c. —Tools and implements 162 7 11 799 2 1 Supervision and clerical — Supervision of free labour .. .. 490 17 0^ prison labour .. .. 170 00 V 4,430 0 4 Clerical assistance .. . . .. 42 0 0J 5,348 5 3 46,158 17 5 Value of prison labour for which no payment has been made, apportioned in above items .. .-. .. •• 53 19 5 7,607 18 2 Actual expenditure £5,294 5 10 £38,550 19 3 Schedule 111. — Trees Account. Number. Trees received during year .. .. .. .. .. 1,702,745 Less to replace blanks .. .. .. .. .. 444,175 Planted on new area .. .-. .. .. .. .. 1,258,570 Previously planted .. .. .. .. •. .. 12,687,026 Total number planted on 6,224 acres (average age, six years) .. .. .. .. •• 13,945,596 Schedule IV. — Property Account. £ s. d. Land (9,547 acres) : Crown land not charged to Forestry Account Buildings .. .. .. ....... 1,051 16 5 Improvements .. •• ■■ •• •• •'■ 1,612 1 2 Fencing .. .. • • • ■ • • 761 19 11 Stores in hand .. .. • • • • • ■ • • 785 15 3 £4,21112 9