a—s

32

Pitting. —Pits to the number of 443,975 were dug during the year, at a cost of about £1 per 1,000. General. —The clearing and burning-ofi of scrub, &c, on the Jollies Pass block, and clearing the area recently destroyed by fire on No. 1 plantation, was carried out at a cost of £148 9s. 2d., a total of 67 acres being thus dealt with. The heavy cost of clearing can be attributed to the extremely heavy growth on the areas operated on. The distribution of trees to the planting-areas cost £10 2s. 9d. for the year, the number of trees handled being 763,600. Of the many works included under the heading of general upkeep the, principal were—ploughing, chipping, and widening of firebreaks ; thinning Pinus radiata, birch, and alder plantations ; grubbing out noxious weeds such as gorse, briers, broom, &c. ; checking spread of rabbits and hares ; removing tussock growth, &c. from boundary-fences to minimize danger from fire. The growing of horse-feed for the year cost £50 14s. Bd. Some £129 13s. 4d. was expended in the purchase of material for fencing Jollies Pass block, which work is now well in hand. The grazing of seventy-five ewes on the fire-breaks has proved a success, and the scheme is worthy of extension. A regrettable outbreak of fire occurred on No. 1 plantation, caused by sparks from a fire on adjoining property being carried into the plantation, by a sudden change of wind. The alarm was given at once, however, and all available employees were soon on the spot, ably assisted by a large number of the townspeople, who were deserving of great credit for the prompt manner in which they .responded to the, call for assistance and the able way in which they set about combating the fire. By strenuous efforts the fire was confined to about 30 acres of Austrian pine, which was completely destroyed. Thinning operations were completed during the year, a large portion of the felled timber being sold for fuel at £1 per cord, the sum of £48 being realized. The total expenditure for the year was £2,159 2s. Id., the expenditure to date being £24,770 2s. 3d. The daily average of men employed throughout the year was 11-69 men.

Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not Kiven; printing (1,050 copies), £22 10s.

Authority : Marcus F. Marks, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9l6.

Price 9d.]