o.—lβ.

28

Buildings : A four-roomed cottage was erected last winter for the Nurseryman in Charge. The building was erected in a substantial manner, and is replete with every convenience, although the rooms are somewhat on the small side. The men's quarters were also extended, two rooms being added to meet the requirements of the increased staff. It was also necessary to extend the stable in order to accommodate the three new horses purchased for the Whakarewarewa Plantation. The alterations comprise four stalls, an extension to the loft, and harness and feed rooms. A much-wanted convenience was provided in the shape of a bridge across the Puarenga River. Formerly all the traffic to and from the nursery was either by way of the native village (which is a very unsafe road for horse traffic) or by a more circuitous route, by way of the Tikitere and Wairoa Eoads. For safety, the waggon when going to Waiotapu took the latter route, which added about three-quarters of an hour to the journey, and during the short winter days the Waiotapu Plantation was reached just at dark, provided the roads were good and no accident happened. In the event of a delay from any cause whatever, the latter and most dangerous part of the road had to be traversed after dark, and great credit is due to the driver for the careful manner in which he carried out his duties —no accident of any consequence having occurred. The Eotorua Nursery and Whakarewarewa and Waiotapu Plantations were each equally eonvenienced by the new bridge, and the cost of the erection was divided between the three works. Trees to the number of 2,386,931, valued at £6,281 13s. Bd., were sent to the plantations, &c, during the year, and since the initiation of the nursery 9,705,571 trees, valued at £21,509 11s. 5d., have been sent out. The cost of mossing trees averaged 10s. Id. per thousand, and the number thus dealt with amounted to 704,393 —mostly Eucalypti. Seedling trees —number, 2,750,800 —were lifted, sized, &c, at an average cost of 2s. per thousand. This work was carried on in the sizing-shed, mostly during wet weather. The average number employed daily during the year was twenty-seven. Schedules of trees and statements of expenditure and values are appended. The following is a record of the rainfall and temperature for the year : —

H. A. Goudie, Nurseryman in Charge.

Whakakewaeewa Plantation. (Area, 8,912 acres, approximate ; altitude, 1,000 ft., approximate.) Owing to the excellent weather conditions which prevailed during the greater part of the year, the trees on the whole have done well. During the year trees to the number of 1,195,904 were dealt with. Of this number 967,983 were planted on a new area of 435f acres, 222,417 were used to replace deaths in former plantings, and 5,504 were planted for ornamental and shelter purposes adjacent to the camp-site. This reserve now contains 2,408,186 trees, which occupy an area of 1,401f acres. Much of the work has been done by prison labour, but it was also necessary to largely employ free labour in order to get all the available trees planted. Portions of the plantation are also at too great a distance from the prison-camp to be economically worked by prisoners. This applies generally to the oldest blocks of the plantation which have been worked entirely by free labour. An average daily number of 14-19 prisoners performed work to the value of £771 Bs. 4d., or an average value of £54 7s. 3d. per man. Details of this will be found in the schedules of values appended. Free labour : An average daily number of nineteen free men were employed, and the cost of the various works undertaken was as follows : Pitting cost 15s. 3d. per thousand; planting cost

Month. Rainfall. Number of Days Rain fell. Highest j Reading c f! Thermometer. Date. LowesD i Reading of Thermometer. Date. 1905. Inches. 2-95 4-70 515 7-29 Degrees. 83 71 62 60 Degrees. 30 29 26 26 23rd,24th 5th, 6th, 7th 7th 3rd, 11th, 19th, 20th 8th 6th 5th, 15th 10th 25th April May June July 9 14 18 13 7th 3rd 27th 2nd,15th, 24th 31st 15th 19th 19th 4th, 9th August September October November December 1906. 4-56 4-46 7-80 3-25 2-48 13 22 21 15 15 67 69 89 93 94 24 31 32 32 36 January February March 2-37 2-51 2-15 6 15 8 91 82 88 27th 2nd 14th 40 32 32 24th 21st 28th Totals 49-67 169