29

C.—lβ.

Bs. lid. per thousand trees ; replanting failures (including opening pits) cost 28s. Bd. per thousand, and 85 chains of roads and tracks were formed, at a cost of os. per chain ; clearing 154 acres cost on the average £1 Bs. 2d. per acre. A large portion of the area cleared was covered with a very heavy growth of tutu and fern, and the land was also rough and sleep, consequently the cost of this work is considerably greater than the previous year, when it cost on an average 9s. per acre. As a rule, clearing costs on an average about £1 an acre in the district. A further area of 95 acres, between the Wairoa Eoad and the old plantation area, was set apart during the year for State-forest purposes. The old boundary fence was consequently removed and re-erected on the new line. This fence was also continued for about 120 chains along the Wairoa Eoad, and a short length of fencing was also erected between Lakes Tikitapu and Eotokakahi, thus making the north-eastern boundary of the plantation secure from wild horses and cattle. Good results have been obtained with the trees planted during the year (for species see Schedule G s ), and of these the larch has, as usual, made good headway, with a very small proportion of deaths. On the Whakarewarewa Plantation Extension—known as the Waipa Valley— this species was nipped with a late frost on Christmas Day, but the damage was not serious, being confined to the young tender leaves. Abies Douglasii transplanted well, but made very little subsequent growth. Pinus Torreyana and Pinus contorta were planted out experimentally, but the results are not encouraging, due to a very dry spell of weather shortly after they were planted. Acacia melanoxylon is undoubtedly a wonderfully quick grower. Many of those planted last spring have made from 2 ft. to 4 ft. of growth. It stands the frost and drought well, and is evidently suited for holding its own amongst the thick undergrowth of fern and tutu which is so common here. It is a valuable Tasmanian timber, commercially known as " blackwood," and, from the results obtained from it, here it is recommended that in future it should be planted more extensively. In the Eucalypti compartment, E. amygdalina, E. Stuartiana, and E. pauciflora have done well, while E. obliqiia, E. Sieberiana, E. hceviastoma, and E. gigantea were badly frosted, the latter being killed outright. Catalpa speciosa: Owing to unseasonable frosts, this tree has not done so well as was expected. As soon as the young growth appeared in the spring this was cut off by the frost, and the trees are in consequence nearly all dead, and those that are alive have a stunted appearance. No further plantings will in future be made with this tree here. During last winter a large wagon and three strong mares were purchased for carting trees from the Eotorua Nursery. Maintenance-work : A sum of £408 Bd. was spent on clearing the undergrowth from around the young trees. This work is increasing annually, although portions of the plantation have needed no attention in this respect for the past two years. These portions, however, all need to be pruned in order to suppress the double leaders, and this work will be proceeded with shortly. For the coming planting season preparations are well in hand for planting about 1,000,000 trees, now available in Eotorua Nursery. Statements of expenditure and values are appended. W. G. Mobbison, Assistant Forester. H. A. GouDiß, Nurseryman in Charge.

Waiotapu Plantation. (Approximate area, 3,200 acres ; altitude, approximate, 1,200 ft.) The rainfall for the year ending the 31st March, 1906, amounted to 46'63in., falling on 185 days, the heaviest monthly fall being registered in October, when 782 in. was recorded on 21 days. The lowest shade temperature registered was 16 deg. Fahr., or 16 deg. of frost, on four occasions during July and August; and the highest temperature was 86 deg. Fahr. on the 14th January. The results of prison labour for the year are highly satisfactory. An average daily number of 42-56 prisoners performed work to the value of £2,440 Bs. 3d., this showing an average value per man for the year of £57 6s. 9d. The entire work has been performed by prisoners, supervised by warders and two Foresters. Trees planted during the year number 1,165,253, Of this number 287,240 were planted to replace deaths in former plantings, 1,488 were planted experimentally, and the remainder (876,525) were planted on a new area of 322 acres. This plantation now contains 2,814,179 trees, which occupy an area of 1,215-J- acres. The trees on the whole have done well, with the exception of a number of varieties of Eucalypti, of which only the species Gunnii (Hooker) seems to be a decided success. Acacia melanoxylon, of which forty trees were planted experimentally, have done exceptionally well, and is thoroughly suited to the soil and climate here. Bobinia pseudo-acacia, although quite hardy, have made very little progress, owing to hares nibbling off the young shoots as they grow. All the species of conifers planted, details of which will be found by referring to Schedule C B , have done well, and the death-rate amongst these does not amount to more than 5 per cent. Pruning has been necessary amongst some of the older trees, and was commenced last February with six prisoners. This work requires a great deal of care and discretion, and it is pleasing to note that these men, although only supervised by the Forester in Charge occasionally, have carried out this work in a most satisfactory manner. Eoads and tracks were formed through the land cleared during the year. The total length formed was 115-J chains. 14 ft. wide, but in all cases a strip of land 1 chain in width was reserved