11

C.—3

Forest Reconnaissance, Demarcation, and Survey. PP A detailed reconnaissance of 11,000 acres of forest tributary to existing milling operations was made during the year to ascertain the prospective life of those operations. In addition, a general reconnaissance survey of 45,000 acres of forested land was carried out for the purpose of classification into commercial and protection forest. In the Auckland region the possibility of obtaining access to the timbered lands in East Taupo County from the Main Trunk line was investigated. In the Nelson-Marlborough region a forest reconnaissance made towards the bead of the Wakamarina River established the fact that the present milling operations in that valley have almost reached the limit of milling-timber, and that the forest around the higher waters is pure protection beech forest. A reconnaissance was commenced in the Southland region to ascertain the timber types and commercial value of the forests in the Martin's Bay locality. In connection with milling operations 16,544 acres of forest were topographically surveyed and the timber appraised, and 264 miles of tramway were traversed and plotted. Special attention has been given to the topographic survey of the various plantations and of the land to be planted within the next two years, and 72,000 acres were mapped during the year. This enables the demarcation of the fire-breaks and of the plantation blocks and compartments to be completed well ahead of the planting programme. In the North Island the detailed mapping of 35,000 acres at Karioi was completed, and at Kaingaroa 17,000 acres were dealt with. In the South Island the principal areas dealt with were 9,000 acres at the Blue Mountains, 5,500 acres at Hanmer, and 2,000 acres at Balmoral. During the year the first forest air survey in New Zealand was completed by the Air Service for the State Forest Service. The survey which was carried out at the Hanmer Springs plantation covers about twenty-five square miles, and takes in all the country from the Township of Hanmer to the summits of the ranges encircling the areas held by the Forest Service at Hanmer. As an inventory and intensive ground survey of the same areas have recently been completed, the combination of the various data gives an exceptional opportunity to check and compare the various methods of work. The most conspicuous feature about the air maps is the detail, which a ground surveyor could not hope to note or mark on his plan. Co-operation in Timber-stumpage Examinations and Reports for other Departments. The Service has assisted other Government Departments, Native Land Boards, and local bodies in assessing the value of standing timber and in reporting on forestation matters generally. The standing timber on areas covering 3,586 acres was appraised, and, in addition, reports were furnished on 3,377 acres of forested land. 2. Finance. Receipts. The forest receipts for the past financial year from all sources were £128,566, details of which, together with comparisons over a period of three years, are enumerated hereunder.: —

Item. 1926-27. 1925-26. | 1924-25. Forest receipts— £ £ £ £ £ £ Timber-sales .. .. .. •• 85,542 107,122 124,918 Timber royalties .. .. .. .. •• 3,816 6,464 5,427 Timber trespass .. .. .. .. • ■ 71 83 239 Leases — Grazing .. .. .* •• •• 2,80b 2,527 2,252 Sawmill-sites, industrial, &c. .. .. 1,225 1,046 1,252 License and transfer fees .. .. •• 117 113 170 Miscellaneous licenses . . .. • • • ■ 280 167 107 Permits—Grazing and miscellaneous .. .. • • 456 564 825 Kauri-gum .. .. .. • • • • 238 627 764 Fees for inspections and reports .. .. • ■ 620 318 324 Interest on overdue promissory notes .. .. .. 213 149 120 Kental of houses .. .. .. •• ■■ 92 77 43 Opossum revenue .. .. .. .. •• 4,680 4,074 . 2,785 Miscellaneous .. .. .. • • • • 544 National Endowment Account allocation .. .. 14,114 17,044 11,247 114,814 140,975 150,473 Less adj ustments .. .. 749 1,969 296 114,065 139,006 150,177 Nurseries and plantations— Trees .. •• 10,229 10,281 8,704 Seeds .. .. .. .. J.934 1,510 970 Firewood and poles.. .. .. •• •• 178 115 150 Grazing .. .. .. ■ • •• 854 565 511 Rental of houses .. .. .. • • • • 763 672 656 Miscellaneous .. .. .. •• 543 401 301 14,501 13,544 11,292 Totals .. .. •• 128,566 152,550 161,469