C—lr.

46

Schedule ll. — -Statement of Expenditure. For Year. To Date. Planting operations and maintenance—■ £ s. d. £ s. d. Tree-planting.. .. .. ... 299 9 7 3,357 1 3 Pitting .. .. .. .. 483 3 0 4,976 12 7 Clearing .. .. .. .. 254 16 2 1,872 2 11 Cartage of trees .. .. .. 18 3 6 107 14 10 General upkeep of plantation .. ■• 336 18 6 3,309 4 8 General repairs .. .. .. 12 3 8 . 29 17 6 Horse-feed .. .. .. .. 41 1 8 215 0 1 Permanent works — Fencing .. .. .. .. 189 13 I 1,506 11 9 Formation .. .. .. .. 102 1110 1,312 2 6 Buildings .. .. .. .. 151 2 3 901 13 4 Stock, implements, &c. —Tools, implements • • 41 1 7 507 6 3 Supervision and clerical (salaries) — Supervision of free labour .. .. 170 0 0 1,03614 4 Supervision of prison labour .. .. 85 0 0 688 17 2 Proportion of Superintending Nurseryman's salary and clerical assistance . . 60 0 0 478 7 0 £2,245 4 10 £20,299 6 2 Estimated value of prison labour (apportioned in above items) .. .. .. 468 12 4 6,849 17 0 Actual expenditure .. .. .. £1,776 12 6 £13,449 9 2 Schedule 111. — Trees Account. Number. Trees received during year . . . . . . . . . . 900, 165 Less to replace blanks .. .. .. .. .. 221,760 Planted on new area . . . . . . . . . . .. 678,405 Previously planted .. .. .. .. .. .. 5,346,871 Total number planted on 2,2134; acres (average age, nine years) .. 6,025,276 Schedule IV. — Property Account. £ s d Land (3,668 acres) : Crown land not charged to Forestry Account Buildings .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 901 13 4 Live-stock Improvements .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,312 2 6 Fencing .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,506 11 9 Stores in hand .. .. .. .. .. .. 165 4 6 £3,885 12 1 Balance-sheet. £ g j Total expenditure .. .. .. .. .. . . 20,299 6 2 Less Property Account .. .. .. .. .. 3,885 12 1 Cost of operations .. .. .. .. .. ..£16,413 14 1 2,2134; acres planted (average age, nine years). Estimated value of plantation per acre .. .. .. .. 1150 A. J. BoYDELL, Plantation Foreman. W. G. Morrison, Nurseryman in Charge.

Dumgree Plantation, Marlborough. (Area, 881 acres ; altitude, 100 ft.; commenced operations, 1903.) An inspection was made of this plantation during the latter part of January. The .development of Pinus Laricio, P. ponderosa, P. muricata, and P. radiata is exceedingly fine, particularly on the terraces, where the annual growth of leaders has in many cases exceeded 3 ft. Undoubtedly the conditions here are eminently suitable for pine-growing after the young trees have become established, and as over a large proportion of the area isolated clumps of trees remain, and from which little profit can be expected, I am of opinion that all vacant spaces of sufficient extent should be replanted with Pinus Laricio, P. ponderosa, and P. radiata. Almost equally satisfactory headway is being made by Larix europaea on the northern terrace ; but the same mysterious discoloration of needles exists here as in the southern plantations, although perhaps less pronounced. Grass fires occurred in various parts of the district without gaining entrance to the planted reserve. Constable Williams has again exercised his discretion in keeping the coarse vegetation in check by