D.— No. 22,

by exposing the standing timber to high winds and storms. Inspectors of works, &c, now in the employ of Highway Boards, or Postmasters, &c, might be engaged at a small remuneration by the Government to look after the forests, prevent depredations, &c, and render a yearly report of their state.

KaulcapaJcapa Highway District. 1. About five thousand acres mixed forest with numerous clumps of kauri. Value nominal, on account of the inland situation and rugged description of country. 4. About six hundred acres, mostly freehold. 5. Accidental fires occasioned by surveyors, gum-diggers, and others, about fifty per cent. By bush licenses, niliil. By cattle, nihil. Second Series of Questions. 1. It is our opinion that considerable reserves of forest land should be handed over to the different Eoad Boards for the better consideration of the timber, and for the purpose of erection and repair of public works. 2. It is our opinion that bush licenses are prejudicial to the interests of the country. If any further licenses are issued, the supervision should be left with the Board of the district wherein the license is issued.

Kaurihohore Highway District. 1. The forest in this district contains little or no valuable timber, and not worth more if the upset price (sic). 2. Have no means of knowing. 3. Have no means of knowing. 4. There has only been one instance of destruction (by casual fire) of about five acres on freehold land. 5. Cattle running over all wild land is considered beneficial. 6. None. Second Series of Questions. 1. Reserves are at present a nursery for thistles, and would be better in private hands if honafide occupiers. 2. Bush licenses undoubtedly lead to great waste. I think the valuable timber is better protected by the forest in its natural state. John 0. Eichakdscot, Chairman to the Kaurihohore Highway Board.

Paparoa Highway District. The Paparoa District does not contain the class of forest land information upon which is requested - t the land is almost entirely freehold, and no bush licenses in the district. The small reserves here are merely for the purpose of landings, &c. Ealph Gγ. Fenwick, Secretary, Highway Board, Paparoa.

JVaipu Itighioay District. 1. Concerning the area of forest in this district, in order to obtain an exact area of the same you must appeal to the district surveyors, viz., Mr. James or Dan. Wilson, of Wangarei, either of whom is perfectly acquainted with the district. Concerning the character of forest here, it is very broken, rough, and hilly, with very small surface of level ground ; the value cannot, with equality, be more than from ss. to 10s. per acre, so you can compute the value by ascertaining the area from the aforesaid persons. 2. The present state of the forest is, with very little exception, without any alteration from its original. A few blocks of land had been taken up by the settlers, so that the present area of the forest is between 2,000 and 3,000 acres minus the original area. 3. The whole of the forest is in Crown lands, with the exception of the aforesaid quantity, being freehold property. 4. No serious destruction of forests has occurred since the settlement of the Waipu, either on Crown land or freehold property. 5. No accidental fires occurred in this district, neither is there any bush license granted therein, nor is the damage by cattle of any effect. 6. All the damage done in this district has been by floods, especially on mills, bridges, and fencing. No serious damage done by accidental fires. Second Series of Questions. 1. The forest should, in my opinion, pass into a freehold estate, according to its value. 2. As formerly stated, the system of granting bush licenses does not exist in this district, neither can I propose any system by which the forests might be thinned without their absolute destruction, but by cutting the under-scrub, which labour would be both tedious and expensive, beyond its value either to the forest or freeholder. Niel Campbell, Chairman of the Waipu Highway Board. P.S. —In order to ascertain the extent of forest on the Waipu Block, I wish to notify to you that there are about 20,000 acres of freehold property in the district; all the remainder is either ti tree scrub or rough and hilly forest of various kinds of wood, with few patches of kauri trees.

THE FORESTS OE NEW ZEALAND.