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In 1893 I had sawn some 11,000 ft. of the blue-gum into 5-2f and 6-6, for sheep-yards and rough sheds. About 5 per cent, of the posts have gone at the ground, but all the rest and the rails are as sound as the day they were sawn. Any sap on the timber, of course, rotted off. In my opinion, this class of gum is one of the most valuable timber-trees to grow on a farm, as they are fast growers, and you can cut and come again. At twenty-five to thirty years of age they are fit to saw for fencing-posts and rough sheds. lam enclosing some leaves and seed-capsules. Insignis. Insignis was first planted here in 1871 or 1872, and in 1893 I had a few thousand feet sawn, the same time as I had the blue-gum, and used it in several sheds. This timber was used under cover, and now appears 25 per cent, harder than when first sawn ; straight and Very little cracked, and no dry rot. The insignis is a very useful tree for a farm, as at five years old it is quite safe to allow sheep into for shelter, and it cannot be beaten for a hedge if checked at the height you want. In a few years the lower spreading branches make a great shelter for stock, and if you give sheep which are affected with lung-worm a good supply of the branches it is a certain cure, as the affected sheep greedily eat the pine-needles. Flowering or Prickly Acacia (Eobinia). This is also a most valuable timber ; in my opinion, quite equal to totara, black-pine, or kowhai, and a fast grower from, the suckers. I have a gate-post which had been in the ground for fourteen or fifteen years, and the bark was not even rotted off, and none of our bench saws would touch the timber. It has a grain Very similar to the kowhai. I also enclose a few leaves of the acacia. Yours, &c, The Chairman, Forestry Commission, AVellington. Duncan Rutherford. The following are some of the measurements and ages of trees grown at Leslie Hills : — Blue-gums planted in 1860 : Greatest girth, up to 13 ft. 10 in., 3 ft. from the ground. Blue-gums planted in 1882, 4 ft. 8 in. Insignis planted in 1871 or 1872, 10 ft. 5 in. Insignis planted in 1882, 8 ft. 9 in. Wattles planted in 1861, 9 ft. 3 in. Wattles planted in 1882, 6 ft. Walnuts planted in 1860, 8 ft. 5 in. Walnuts planted in 1887, 4 ft. 6 in. Ash planted in 1861, 4 ft. 4 in. Elms planted in 1861, 7 ft. 2 in. Oaks planted in 1872, 4 ft. 8 in. Sycamores planted in 1872, 5 ft. 8 in. Special Trees. Blue-gum. Girth at Ground. Height. Useful Timber. 10 ft, .. .. .. .. ..137 ft. 72 ft. lift. .. .. .. .. .. 152 ft. 76 ft. Insignis. 8 ft. .. .. .. .. .. ..132 ft. 102 ft. 9 ft. 6 in. .. .. .. .. .. 141 ft. 93 ft.

No. 12. Dear Sir,— Hokitika, 27th March, 1913. In accordance with the general invitation issued by your Commission, requesting written evidence on matters affecting your order of reference, I respectfully beg to submit the enclosed statement regarding the administration of timber in this district. Our long experience since the year 1872 convinces us that dealing with the timber under the regulations under the Mining Act is unsatisfactory alike to those engaged in bona fide sawmilling and to the Crown. I have endeavoured to set out in a concise form the relative merits of the regulations under the Mining Act and those under the Land Act. I remain, &c, Camille M. Malfroy, For J. C. Malfroy and Co. H. D. M. Haszard, Esq., Chairman, Forestry Commission,