"NEW ZEALAND STATE FORESTS ACT, 1885" (PARTICULARS RELATIVE TO PLANTATIONS UNDER PROVISIONS OF).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1904 Session I, C-12

C—l 2

1904. NEW ZEALAND.

"NEW ZEALAND STATE FORESTS ACT, 1885" (PARTICULARS RELATIVE TO PLANTATIONS UNDER PROVISIONS OF).

Return to an Order of the House of Representatives dated the 18th August, 1904. Ordered, " That there be laid before this House a return showing—(l) The total area planted with forest trees up to the 31et March, 1904, under the provisions of ' The New Zealand State Forests Act, 1885,' or any other Acts ; (2) the total cost of such planting; (3) the area, approximately, if any, whioh has been destroyed by fire or otherwise; (4) the present estimated value of such plantations; and (5) the amount proposed to be expended on forest-tree planting during the present year."—(Mr. Flatman.)

Return showing—(l) The Total Area planted with Forest Trees up to the 31st March, 1904, under the Provisions of "The New Zealand State Forests Act, 1885," or any other Acts; (2) the Total Cost of such Planting; (3) the Area, approximately, if any, which has been destroyed by Fire or otherwise ; (4) the present Estimated Value of such Plantations; and (5) the Amount proposed to be expended on Forest-tree Planting during the Present Year. 1. Total area planted with forest trees up to the 31st March, 1904, under " The New Zealand State Forests Act, 1885," or any other Acts : 18,343 acres. 2. Total cost of such planting : £59,076. 3. Area which has been destroyed by fire or otherwise : 368 acres. 4. Present estimated value of such plantations : £52,208. 5. Amount proposed to be expended on forest-tree planting during the present year : (See No. 5 below). The above areas and amounts are distributed over the Auckland, Wellington, Marlborough, Canterbury, Otago, and Southland Districts, and the plantations were started under the Foresttrees Planting Encouragement Acts of 1871, 1872, and 1879. It has been found difficult to obtain exact figures owing to a large proportion of the work done being of a private nature. The above portion of the return must therefore be regarded as approximate only. In addition to the foregoing, the following figures relate to the planting operations carried out by the Government from 1896 to 1904 in various parts of the colony : — 1. Total area planted with forest trees up to the 31st March, 1904, under the control of the Chief Forester : 2,479 acres. 2. Total cost of such planting : £55,886. 3. Area destroyed by fire or otherwise : Nil. 4. Present estimated value of such plantations, including stock of trees, horses, implements, &c. : £81,641. 5. Amount proposed to be expended on forest-tree planting during the present year: £27,658. Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given; printing (1,425 copies), 18s.

By Authority: John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9o4. Price 3d.]