C.-3.

f3. Forest Reconnaissance, Demarcation, and Timber Cruising. In Auckland Conservancy the main reconnaissance work was the continuation of the surveys of Puketi and Waipoua State Forests. At the former station fieldwork was pushed forward to enable it to be completed if possible before winter sets in. A field party completed the survey of an area of 12,000 acres and 119 chains of boundary-lines were located. The formation of an access and extraction road was put in hand, and at the close of the year 125 chains had been formed, 74 chains metalled, three bridges (one 180 ft. long), and seven culverts constructed, seven miles of new riding tracks were formed, and about thirty miles of old tracks reconditioned. Survey-work is proceeding at Waipoua, and the timber-measuring and typemapping of 1,300 acres in Block 111 (topographically surveyed the previous year) was completed. A start was made with the topographical survey of the kauribearing portion of Block 11, 500 chains of grid-lines being cut. A commencement was also made with the topographical survey of Warawara State Forest, and, although some preliminary work was done, it was hampered owing to shortage of trained staff. At Omahuta the reconditioning and metalling of the access road were completed, 4,350 yards of metal being used. In Rotorua Conservancy a reconnaissance survey was made of an area of 355 acres of silver beech, as there is a local demand for this species for motor-body work, and, although the result showed a volume of only 4,150 ft. board measure per acre and the timber tends to be much denser than the Southland silver beech, it is hoped that the area may prove millable. In Wellington Conservancy the field staff was fully occupied with the cruising of new timber areas in response to applications from established sawmillers, and thirteen cruises, covering approximately 9,000,000 ft. board measure, valued at over £14,000, were completed, in addition to others which were made at the request of the Native Department. Three inspections were also made on behalf of the Tongariro National Park Board. In Westland Conservancy the field-work obtained in the final quarter of the preceding year was plotted and other office work completed relating to the reconnaissance surveys at Saltwater, Karangarua, and Bruce Bay. These covered a total area of 6,479 acres, with a recorded stand of 83,760,000 ft. of timber. In Southland a reconnaissance survey of 1,227 acres in Lilburn district revealed a stand of approximately 14,346,000 ft. of mixed species ; 2,600 acres of milling timber in State forests in twenty-five lots were cruised for sale purposes, the total stand being 22,410,000 ft. board measure. In addition to its ordinary duties of measuring and appraising blocks of timber to meet the requirements of sawmillers, the Service continued to cruise blocks of timber at the request of the Lands and Survey and Native Departments, and, in a few instances, private concerns also. Particulars of these are shown in the schedule below.

Table 5. —Timber Appraisals for Government Departments, etc.

17

Rnffion Number . „ rui „ ed Quantity of g of Jobs. Area cruisecu Timber. _ . Acres. ft. b.m. Auckland .. .. 4 1,059 8,400,000 Rotorua .. .. 5 1,383 13,000,000 Wellington .. .. 3 1,445 10,637,000 Nelson .. .. 20 1,400 Output basis. Westland .. .. 10 1,108 3,600,000 Canterbury .. .. 1 .. { Southland .. .. 9 910 6,216,000 Totals .. .. 52 7,305 41,903,000