C.—3.

Timber-cruising. —An area of 86 acres, containing 2,328,000 ft. board measure, was cruised in the Southland Region for a private owner. Silvicultural Survey of Exotic Forests. —During the year some 25,000 acres of exotic forests situated in the Auckland Conservancy were closely examined on the ground with a view to evaluating the work already done and deciding on future activities. Statements setting out the present condition of the areas and detailing their silvicultural requirements for the next five years are now in the course of completion. In order to facilitate the inspection special plans 1 ft. 6 in. by 2 ft., on a scale of 5 chains to an inch, were compiled at Head Office, showing species and contour-lines and were of considerable help in quickly fixing the positions of the failed, established, and waste areas. This work will be continued until all the State plantations have been dealt with. 4. Forest Atlas. During the year forty-seven general-purpose plans were added to the record. To the forest atlas 546 additions (comprising additions to and deletions from State forests, recording of sawmill, grazing, and mining license, &c.) were made, and to the forest register fifty-four additions were made. Work on plantation plans comprised the preparation of two topographical plans (Pebbly Hills and Golden Downs) and one species plan (Waipoua), and additions were made to the topographical and species plans of all plantations ; forty-three white prints, prepared from the above plans, were coloured for use as species plans. The Public Works, Railway, and Post and Telegraph Departments prepared for Service use 327 helio prints and 171 photostat prints, of which 152 and 90 respectively were for regional use. One map (Rimutaka Range) was prepared for lithography, and 300 copies were printed. 5. State Afforestation. The following summarized statement sets out the position regarding the establishment of State exotic plantations at the close of the year. From it it will be seen that the new planted areas total 30,532 acres, of which 23,159 acres are located on Kaingaroa Plains, Rotorua Region. Other main areas in order of size are Golden Downs (Nelson Region) 2,181 acres , Tairua (Auckland Region) 1,927 acres ; Karioi (Wellington Region) 1,199 acres. The total figures for the previous year's planting were 15,958 acres, and during the forthcoming season it is anticipated that at least a further 23,000 acres will be afforested. The grand total area of all State plantations throughout the Dominion is 394,000 acres.

TABLE 4. Summary of Operations in Plantations as at 31st March, 1934.

6

I Year of New Area Total Net Area Gross Area of Plantation. Establishment, planted, 1933. established. Plantation. Acres. Acres. Acres. Wamoua 1925 532 824 12 ' 600 Sfpuhi :: 1904 .. 849 1,558 Riverhead 19 2 6 241 10,999 11,934 Maramarua •• •• 1928 197 12,280 It'In* 3 Tairua .. •• •• •• I 930 1> 927 9,930 54,400 Wliakarewarewa .. •• 1898 .. 7,591 Waiotarm •• •• 1 9 °1 •• 7 » 051 8 > 003 Kaingaroa 1913 23,159 233,055 329,065 Erua •• •• I 930 449 2 ' 359 3 > 477 Karioi •• •• l 027 1,199 16,077* 33,689 Golden Downs .. •• •• 1927 2,281 17,757 2 o'nnI Westland 1922 272 3,063 8,006 Hanmer 1901 .. 7,750 10,308 Balmoral 1916 3 1 2 0,647 24,014 Evrewell I 928 88 18 > 055 19 ' 266 Dusky Hill .. I 898 •• M68 S'SX Conical Hills WO 3 •• 3 ,551 3,765 Nasebv 1900 •• 3,308 4,032 Pukerau • ■ • • J9 1 5 • • 565 628 Blue Mountains .' 1925 27 8,732 9,628 Pebbly Hills 1930 7 4,332 5,867 Minor areas 1875-1933 855 2,947 Totals .. •• •• 30,532 393,998* 596,765 * 1,163 acres direct sown in 1932 excluded.