17

C—3

With proper development of the economic research work of the Forest Service it should be possible to reduce the forest-products imports by at least 80 per cent., thereby effecting a direct annual saving to the community of at least £250,000 in transport charges alone. Forest Service Reference Library. The resources of the central office and. regional libraries in essential technical references, instructional works, and dendrological authorities were strengthened during the year by the addition . of 902 works. Exchange relations have been established with practically every country carrying out forestry activities. Our exchanges totalled 450 publications with Empire and foreign services. The total number of books, works of reference, and other publications now filed is 2,057. (The public is invited to take advantage of the facilities offered by the reference library.) The Forest Atlas. % Out of tho total number of eighty forest-atlas sheets which are being compiled, on a scale of 1-5 miles per inch, for the forested regions of New Zealand, fifty-one sheets have been completed, and five thousand copies have been distributed to the various regional officers. These forest-atlas sheets, which form the mother maps for all forest reconnaissances, surveys, cruises, silvical reports, and all other activities, are considered as tho basis for the permanent and historical record of each forest. The atlas staff has produced during the. year 1,034 plans, maps, tracings, and map-sheets. The photographic records have been added to during the year by the addition of 1,200 negatives, 196 lanternslides, and 900 ft. of film descriptive of forest-work, the timber industry, and tree-planting. These have steadily improved during the year, and now include a fine series dealing with many of our principal timber-trees. In addition, the work performed by the Agricultural Department's staff photographer has.provided a unique series of kauri-timber pictures. These photographs are indexed and recorded, and have proved of the greatest value for illustrative purposes. Office System and Work. A modern series system of current and permanent record filing was evolved and put into operation during the year. This system includes the international method of recording State forestry activities, and may be considered as embodying the latest improvements in office efficiency and routine. The regional offices have been closely co-ordinated with the central office in numbering and classification. Correspondence. — Received: Letters, 12,200; telegrams, 600; parcels, 240; circulars, form letters, etc., 61. Despatched : Letters, 15,120 ; telegrams, 800 ; parcels, 576 ; circulars, form letters, &c, 2,200.

ANNEXURES.

ANNEXURE I.—STATE AND PROVISIONAL STATE FORESTS AND FOREST RESERVES. Area in Acres at End of Fiscal Year 1922.

Permanent and provisional State forests and forest reserves under Service control comprise 108 per cent, of the total area of the Dominion. Total area of State forest and provisional State forest at 31st March, 1922, 7,181,975 acres.

3—G. 3.

.„.„ in »„.„,„♦ ■,,„,,„,• Changes in Area during 1 rcentage of Area in ,\u< .s, .it niu 01 Ul( , Macal y 192 i_ 2 2: Area in Acres at Unci of Fiscal Year 1922. Al ,?.'\°* |' i . uul Flsoal real 1921. N( , t Inoreas(! ln Acre3 . District m i .i,i,i TMaMvt Permanent and Land District. Provisional ur.,i., Provisional State ; Provisional o f .,,„ ,,.„„„„, Provisional Forest State Forest State Forest. state For ,. st . ;i , 01 . ( , s t. state Forest. *>t,itc loicst. st . lt( , Fm .,, st . Kcscrvcs . and Forast Reserves. i i ~~T~ North Auckland 106,956 14,898 Nil 1,192 98,981 j .16,690 3,193 | 2-6 Auckland .. 144,796 ' 589,560 1,049 Nil 145,845 ' 587,813 2,316 i 8-1 Hawke'sBay .. 199,653. 15,350 Nil 38,385 i 199,653 53,735 16,921 4-9 Taranaki .. j 69,564 I 36,079 Nil 6,560 | 69,500 ] 42,639 40,811 6-3 Wellington .. I 500,506 Nil 16,284 27,638 ' 516,790 ' 27,638 9,091 7-8 Nelson .. I 19,955 I 1,971,068 Nil 13,475 19,955 1,984,543 8,470 42-7 Marlborough .. ! 79,753 i 105,631 1,990 14,000 ' 81,743 119,631 6,194 7-5 Westland .. 1,542 ! 1,627,961 636 104,551 j 2,178 1,732,512 119 44-9 Canterbury .. ' 290,176 \ Nil 104 Nil 290,280 Nil .. 3-0 Otago .. .. 129,465] 253,022 Nil 64,110 128,280, 317,132 543 4-9 Southland .. 136,306*1 521,082 Nil 1,391: 136,306 522,473 .. 8-3 i_ ' I Totals .. 1,678,672 ; 5,134,651 20,063 I 271,302 ] 1,689,511 j 5,404,806 87,658 Totals .. 1,678,672 ; 5,134,651 20,063 j 271,302 ] 1,689,511 j 5,404,806 J I : I * Alteration due to revision of last year's figures. ■ J I '