C.—3.

4. Forest Atlas. The Draughting Branch of the Service was fully engaged during the year in preparing new plans, renewing old ones, compiling atlas sheets, and recording information disclosed by later surveys, &c., particularly with respect to plantation operations and topographical surveys. New work included the making of fifty-eight tracings and three plans, the mounting of 143 plans, the compilation of six compartment survey plans, the colouring of thirty-two species plans to show the various species planted, and the preparation of new atlas sheets for lithographing. Routine work in connection with the recording of sawmilling activities and the changes rendered necessary by the proclamation of new forest areas, &c., was kept well up to date. 5. State Afforestation. It will be seen from the table which follows that, with the exception of Rotorua Region, State tree-planting on a large scale has ceased throughout the Dominion; as mentioned in former reports this is due to the fact that the existing areas available for afforestation have been completely planted except for blanking and miscellaneous planting here and there. The total new area afforested during the year was 12,090 acres—slightly" lower than last year's figures and the lowest for many years. The area of artificially created State forests in the Dominion now approaches, in round figures, 420,000 acres. Planting on a reduced scale will be continued in Rotorua Region. The gross area of the plantations (see extreme right-hand column of the table) differs slightly from the figures published last year; but this is due to the correction of certain errors discovered by recent surveys, &c.

TABLE 4. Summary of Operations in Plantations as at 31st March, 1936.

6. Waitangi Endowment. By authority of the Waitangi Endowment Act, 1932-33, the Service planted a further area, of 94 acres of the "Waitangi Endowment during the year under review, making a total of 181 acres planted to date. The primary object of these afforestation operations, which were commenced in 1934, is to reclothe a treeless area to form a scenic background for the area known as the Waitangi National Trust, and not the establishment of timber-trees as a source of revenue.

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Plantation Year of New Area Total Net Area Gross Area of Commencement planted, 1935. planted. I Plantation. Acres. Acres. Acres. Waipoua .. .. .. .. 1925 9 1,070 12,600 Puhipuhi .. .. .. .. 1904 .. 871 1,558 Riverhead .. .. .. .. 1926 .. 11,029 11,956 Maramarua .. .. .. 1928 4 12,303 14,087 Tairua .. .. .. .. 1930 173 10,604 54^400 Waiotapu .. .. .. .. 1901 .. 7,051 7,974 Whakarewarewa .. .. .. 1898 .. 8,033 10' 076 Kaingaroa .. .. .. .. 1913 11.152 253,752 327^931 Erua 1930 185 2,703 5,392 Karl °i •• •• •• 1927 .. 17,196 33,689 Golden Downs .. .. .. 1927 64 19,245 22,527 Westland .. .. .. .. 1922 .. 3,005 8,006 Hanmer .. .. .. .. 1901 .. 7,737 10,309 Balmoral .. .. .. .. 1916 105 20,757 24,000 Eyrewell .. .. .. .. 1928 155 18,306 19,266 Dusky .. .. .. .. 1898 .. 4,364 6,829 Conical Hills .. .. .. 1903 .. 3,619 3,765 Naseby .. .. .. .. 1900 .. 3,008 4^032 Pukerau .. .. .. .. 1915 .. 565 628 Blue Mountains .. .. .. 1925 23 8,775 9,661 Pebbly Hills .. .. .. 1930 .14 5'330 Minor areas .. .. .. 1875-1935 206 1,207 4,576 Totals .. .. .. .. 12,090 419,553 598,592