C.—B.

17

Analysis of all reported Forest-fires on and contiguous to State Forests.

Deer. As a result of exhaustive investigations made during the year by the Service throughout the Dominion the whole position was reviewed in the last annual Conference, held at Whakarewarewa on the 22nd April, 1925, and the following recommendation was unanimously passed by the executive officers assembled there : " That protection on all species of deer be removed for a period of five years, and that the payment of bounty be continued on all deer destroyed during that period." 4. AFFORESTATION AND FOREST-EXTENSION. The total area of State-forest plantations formed during the year was 11,051 —a British Empire record in acreage and in formation cost. The total area of 62,945 acres now in growing forest capital is situated in the Rotorua-Kaingaroa pumice plains region, Hanmer Springs, Naseby, and Tapanui districts, with smaller acreages in Westland and at the Rangitikei River heads. Mass production methods in the tree nurseries and a high standard of service by the officers and men in charge of planting are responsible for this splendid result - a result which will stand favourable comparison with State or private operations in any country.

Summary of Operations on State Plantations during the Year ended 31st March, 1925.

Forest-fires : Number, Character, and Area. Money Value of Forest-wealth destroyed. Forest- — — t— ; ! C °RegTon!° n Number Timber Land Cut-over Land Scrub Land Total Area Merchantable Valuable Total detected. f™d. i (EE?) JaSS) (Ae?e°) Thnber - R^owth - Val ™' ' S.F. Prlv. S.F. Priv. S.F. Priv. S.F. Priv. S.F. Priv. S.F. Priv. I S.F. Priv. S.F. Prlv. 1 £ £ £ £ £ £ Auckland., j 2 301 25 1,670 .. 2,200 ! 200 4,150 225 8,020 7£ 7,200 1 . . . . 7J 7,200 Rotorua .. I . . . . • • • • .. .. .. .. Wellington | 2 67 .. .. 150 2,005 700 .. ! 850 2,005 .. .. Nelson-Mari- 1,050 25 . . .. .. 25 1,050 .. .. borough Westland .. 5 .. .. I .. 307 1,480 .. 2 307 1,482 . . | Canterbury- j . . 1 .. I .. .. . . 5 200 5 200 . . .. Otago Southland 3 17 1 ; 50 514 600 . . . . 515 650 .. 146 53£ .. 53J 146 Totals 12 386 26 2,770 996 6,285 905 4,352 1,927 13,407 7J 7,346 53£ .. 60| 7,346 J Cost of Protection, Prevention, Detection, and Control of State Forests. Origin of Forest- fire's. Forest- ; ; j j coraervation Fire Patrol Sawmilling Travellers, Land- TTnknnwn g 0 " - fNmriher* nf Wages Cost. equipment Loc 2™? tlon Total Cost. Opera- Trappers, clearing Men) i Cost. Cost ' ; tors. ISportsmen. Operators. A g encle sI ' j I £ s. d. £ s. d. ! £ s. d. £ s. d. S.F. Priv.I S.F. Priv. 1 S.F Priv. S.F. Priv. Auckland : 4 « 762 0 4 5 11 10 124 4 0 891 16 2 j 301 1 .. Rotorua .. | 7 § g 690 7 5 3 0 0 .. 693 7 5 Wellington 5 SI 0 4 .. 38 1 7 119 1 11 1 . . 67 1 .. Nelson-Marl- j 2 f,o 11 12 1 21 5 11 118 4 7 151 2 7 borough S 8 Westland .. I 11 Sf 127 13 4 3 8 1 131 1 5 1 . .. 4 . . Canterbury- 13 519 2 7 37 4 2 10 0 556 16 9 j .. 1 .. .. Otago i .2 S Southland.. 2 £ ' 98 18 2 37 5 7 47 5 9 183 9 6 2 3 1 .. .. 10 4 Totals j 42 .. 2,290 14 3 1C4 7 6 331 14 0 2,726 15 9 5 3 1 .. j .. 379 6 4

7otd«l .A,r0Q/ Forest Plantation. ! Numt,er l reos ! New Area planted. planted in Trees, pianted. r 1896-1925. Acres. Acres. Whakarewarewa .. .. .. 400 .. 8,037 Waiotapu .. .. .. .. .. •• 7,010 Kaingaroa 5,628,670* 8,612 29,203 Puhipuhi .. .. .. .. .. •• 1,200 Conical Hills .. .. . .. .. • • 3,533 Pukerau .. .. .. .. .. • • 573 Duskv Hill .. .. .. .. .. .. 746 Greenvale .. .. .. .. 408,050 600 2,651 (rimmerburn .. .. .. .. .. • • 88 Naseby 70,815 79 2,297 Hanmer Springs .. .. .. .. 484,825 821 4,233 Balmoral .. .. .. .. 471,850 692 2,488 Rainclifi .. . . .. .. .. • • 206 Westland Forest Experiment Station .. 130,200 200 340 Experimental group .. .. .. .. .. 15 Dumgree .. .. .. . . 32,500 , 48 257 Tanaimoana .. .. .. .. 47,000 68 68 Totals .. .. .. 7,227,310 11,120 62,945 * Includes estimated trees (124,600) raised in situ on 178 acres.