FORESTRY OPERATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20307, 15 July 1929, Page 14

FORESTRY OPERATIONS.

AUCKLAND ACTIVITIES.

QUESTION OF FUTURE AREAS. TAIRUA AND WAIPAPA BLOCKS. In connection with future extensions of Statu Forestry plantation work in tho Auckland district attention is being turned to an area of several thousand acres at Tairua, near Mercury Buy. Planting at Riverhead will bo completed at tho end of next season and tho Maramarua block will bo covered by 1931. Tho Tairua block is of light, almost ptimiccous, country, very suitablo for afforestation purposes. It is a provisional Stato forest reserve vested in tho Forestry Department, and a large portion of the area is considered suitablo only for forestry operations. Residents of Waihi havo made representations to tho department, pointing out that some of the country could bo farmed successfully, and before any definito policy is undertaken it is intended to investigate tho land in order that it may bo used to tho best purpose.

Tho area is bordered on tho east by tho sea coast and several tidal waterways run inland through the area. These will bo of immenso benefit in later years in transporting timber to markets. The department has also under consideration an extensive area near Waipapa, Bay of Islands. However, this land is now being investigated by the Agricultural Department regarding its suitability for farming purposes. Good Progress With Work.

Good progress lias been made this season with tlio tree-planting operations at Riverhead, Maramarua and Puhipuhi. Riverhead and Maramarua are tho chief centres of operation and tho programme nt both places is well up to schedule. Planting operations were commenced at Riverhead early in Jtino and are now more than half completed for the season. The season generally lasts from Juno to September, but it is expected tho whole of tho season's programme will bo completed in August. About 2650 acres are being planted this year. < Eighty-seven men are employed in tho plantation and 10 in the nursery. These men are mostly drawn from the surrounding districts, in many cases being fruit farmers who find little regular work to do in the winter. Tho chief varieties being planted at Riverhead are pinus insignis and pinus laricins (Corsican pine). Small areas of tho following varieties of pines are also being planted: Ponderosa, canadensis, taeda, mitis, palistris, strobus and lombertana. Californian redwood, thuya plicata .and Japanese cedar are also included in small lots, while several varieties of eucalyptus aro being planted. Tree-planting at Riverhead was commenced in 1926, about 100 acres being covered that year. In 1927 and 1928, 5364 acres were planted. Up to the end of last season, 5454 acres had thus been covered, and with tho 2650 acres of this year's programme, the total will be 8114 acres. With tho 10 per cent, of additional land occupied by fire-breaks, the planted area is approximately 9000 acres. Tho total area of the station is 11,000 acres and the remaining 2000 acres will be planted in 1930. The Maramarua Station. The Maramarua station comprises 14.000 acres, of which 5408 acres will bo planted at the end of the present season. Planting was commenced in 1928, when 2758 acres were covered. This year's programme includes 2650 acres. The balance, of 8000 acres, should be completed by the end of 1931. The area covered next year will be in advance of this season as the Riverhead staff will be slightly curtailed in 1930. Planting was commenced this season early in July and it is expected tho season's programme will bo completed by the end of August. About 95 men aro being employed at Maramarua, half of these having been drawn from the Auckland labour market. The remainder aro chieflv local Maoris who aro in need of employment during tho winter. Pinus insignis and pinus laricius aro the chief varieties being planted at Maramarua. Busy scenes are presented at each of these stations during the winter months. At Riverhead tho camp is transferred every year to the scene of the season's operations, the men walking to and from work. At Maramarua tents accommodate tho workers. Work During Summer.

A normal staff of between 20 and 30 men is engaged at Riverhead and at Maramarua during tho summer months. These men are employed in road work and in clearing, burning and ploughing fire breaks in order that the planted area may bo protected from fire. At Riverhead the fire-breaks arc all laid out, and most of the roadway has been completed. Firebreaks are established on the greater portion of the Mararnarua area, while the roading scheme is well under way. When tho Riverhead area is placed on a maintenance basis after next season's planting, a staff of about 20 men will bo employed in guarding the plantation from fire and in keeping fire-breaks clear. Two men will bo continually patrolling, while it is possible a look-out station will bo established. At present the frees first planted in the area arc commencing to show above the scrub. Satisfactory growth lias been made, considering tho setback experienced by the Irees as a result of a severe drought shortly after the first season ended.

The Puhipuhi area, in tho Whangarei district, is being planted this season with pinus insignis, which is being used to fill gaps between eucalyptus trees planted some years ago. The whole area is 1500 acres, about 1200 acres of this having already been covered. A further 100 acres are being planted this season and tho balance will be completed within the next two seasons. Seven men are employed in the work On the silo of an old kauri l'orest the plantation covers table-land rising to hilly country.