H.—37.

1902. NEW ZEALAND.

"NEW ZEALAND STATE FORESTS ACT, 1885" (RETURN RELATIVE TO PLANTATIONS UNDER).

Return to an Order of the House of Representatives dated the 23rd July, 1902. Ordered, " That there be laid before this House a return showing—(l) The total area planted with forest trees up to the 31st March, 1902, under the provisions of " The New Zealand State Forests Act, 1885," or any other Act; (2) the total cost of such planting; (3) the area, if any, which has been destroyed by fire or otherwise; (4) the present estimated value of such plantations; and (5) the amount proposed to be expended on forest-tree planting during the present year."—(Mr. Flatman.)

Return showing—(l) the Total Area planted with Forest Trees up to the 31st March, 1902, under the provisions of " The New Zealand State Forests Act, 1885," or any other Act; (2) the Total Cost of such planting; (3) the Area which has been destroyed by Fire or otherwise; (4) the present estimated Value of such Plantations; and (5) the Amount proposed to be expended on Forest-Tree Planting during the present Year. 1. Total area planted with forest trees up to 31st March, 1902, under "The New Zealand State Forests Act, 1885," or any other Act ... ... ... 18,343 acres. 2. The total cost of such planting ... ... ... ... ... ... £59,076. 3. The area which has been destroyed by fire or otherwise ... ... ... 368 acres. 4. The present estimated value of such plantations ... ... ... ... £52,208. 5. The amount proposed to be expended on forest-tree planting during the present year ... ... ... ... ... ... ... (See No. 5 below.} The above figures are distributed over the Auckland, Wellington, Marlborough, Canterbury, Otago, and Southland Districts, and were started under the Forest Trees Planting Encouragement Acts of 1871, 1872, and 1879. It has been found difficult to obtain exact figures, owing to a large proportion of the work done being of a private nature. The return must therefore be regarded as approximate only. In addition to the foregoing, the following figures relate to the planting operations carried out by the Government from 1896 to 1902 in various parts of the colony : — 1. Total area planted with forest trees up to 31st March, 1902, under the control of the Chief Forester ... ... ... ... ... ... 853f acres. 2. The total cost of such planting ... ... ... ... ... ... £9,972. 3. The area, if any, which has been destroyed by fire or otherwise ... ... Nil. 4. The present estimated value of such plantations ... ... ... ... £16,309. 5. The amount proposed to be expended on forest-tree planting during the present year ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... £13,848.* (In addition, the sum of £2,000 has been voted for prison labour at Waiotapu Plantation, Eotorua District.) * Of this amount, £5,341 is for new plantations.

Approximate Cost of Paper—Preparation, apt given; printing (1,200 copies), 17s.

Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9o2.

Price 3d.\