C.—l

manufactories will be kept going, and that the building trade and other industries dependent upon timber will not suffer any inconvenience or diminution. Similar information has been obtained from the Commissioners of Crown Lands and Rangers for all the other land districts. This has been entered in the following table: —

Schedule showing the approximate quantity of Milling Timber on Crown Lands.

It will be noticed that Nelson heads the list with a volume of 5,802,102,000 superficial feet of timber of all varieties; Westland comes next with 4,447,800,000 superficial feet; Wellington is third with 4,291,471,000 superficial feet; and that Hawke's Bay, Taranaki, Otago, and Southland have very considerable quantities of timber available. Marlborough is only credited with about 152,000,000 superficial feet, whilst Canterbury is last with 70,500,000 superficial feet. The gross total of milling-timber upon Crown lands in the colony, therefore, results in 20,465,327,000 superficial feet, which is equivalent to fifty-five years' supply. Excepting in Auckland, Wellington, and Westland, no estimate has been made of the quantity of milling-timber upon freehold And Native lands. It must be borne in mind, however, that much of this timber is to be found in sparse quantities o*er large areas, in many cases difficult of access, remote from railway-stations and ports, and consequently would not be worked except under circumstances which do not now prevail in the colony. As regards the timber upon Native and freehold lands, investigations and proposals have yet to be completed. An endeavour has been made to arrive at the output of all the mills in the colony—that is to say, the rate at which the forests are being reduced—and it is believed that the output is about 372,000,000 superficial feet per annum. If this be maintained, as doubtless it should be, the Crown and other forests, if all availed of and utilised, would not last more than seventy years. It will be seen in Major Lusk's interesting report that the experiment of tapping kauri-trees has been continued, and it is estimated that the gum so derived is valued at 14s. per tree per annum. It yet remains to be seen whether the operation has not injuriously affected the trees. Nurseries and Plantations. From a perusal of the report of Mr. H. J. Matthews, the Chief Forester of the Department, it will be seen that during the past twelve months considerable progress was made in planting operations and in the ordinary work of the nurseries under his control. No less than 6,644,259 trees were raised in the nurseries and plantations during that period, as against 4,000,000 for the preceding year. This makes the total number of trees raised since the inauguration of the Forestry Branch of the Department, in 1896, 18,293,682, which are valued at £25,873. Of the aforesaid number 2,392,939 trees were planted out in the various plantations throughout the colony on an area of 1,040 acres, the value of same being £6,739, though included in the amount are 19,693 trees, valued at £194, supplied to local bodies. The outlay for the year 1903-4 connected with the Forestry Branch amounted to £18,196, which brings the total expenditure since its inception to £55,886; but against this the nurseries and plantations (including trees, buildings, plant, &c.) are valued at £81,641. Reference should be made to the Chief Forester's clear and compendious report, which furnishes information as to the important and interesting work carried out under his directions. The employment of prison labour has proved a great success, and has evidently been very beneficial and advantageous to the men so engaged. The Chief Forester has now completed the manual on tree-planting, and the work is now being printed and will shortly be available for publication. Having been appointed a member of the Scenery Preservation Commission, he was engaged during the latter part of the year in attending its meetings at the various centres, his duties being carried on by Mr. H. A. Goudie. Nurseryman at Rotorua.

XXI

District. Kauri. Rimu. Kahikatea. Totara. Matai. Birches. ! Miscellaneous. I Total. lUckland lawke's Bay .. 'aranaki Vellington larlborough .. lelson Vestland 'anterbury Hago Southland Sup. ft. 447,880,000 Sup. ft. 954,320,000 663,000,000! 1,131,451,200 1,860,629,700: 91,216,000 1,394,666,000! 3,747,800,000i 500,000' 457,175,000 179,000,000i Sup. ft. 159,490,000 226,000,000 285,720,000 478,193,300 46,037,000 147,000,000 327,000,000 2,500,000 13,399,000 31,500,000 Sup. ft. Sup. ft. 163,780,000 98,524,000 62,000,000 ! 144,000,000 5,714,000 5,714,400 85,186,600 874,381,800 2,270,000 12,374,000 Sup. ft. 2,66o,000| Sup. ft. Sup. ft. •30,000,000 1,853,994,000 1,097,000,000 ! 1,428,599,600 1993,080,000 | 4,291,471,400 I 151,897,000 i 5,802,102,000 {294,000,000 ; 4,447,800,000 15,500,000 ' 70,500,000 §294,318,000 | 900,493,000 i!90,000,000 | 421,470,000 4,260,436,000 51,000,000 28,000,000 1,500,000 1,500,000 6,251,000 72,905,000: 8,970,000 12,000,0001 49,000,000 56,445,000 ! 100,000,000 386,671,6001,249,399,200! 14,467,881,000 1,716,898,000 20,465,327,000 447,880,00C 10,479,757,900 1,716,839,300 * Miro, tanikaha, maire, mani ;aio, and tawera. + Miro, feaikawaka, maire, hinau, &c. I Silver and black pine. § Miro. || Miro and kamahi.