C—lβ.

16

The Average Number of Workmen Employed Daily at the Various Nurseries and Plantations during the Year 1905-6.

Output of Trees from Nurseries during Year 1905-6. Number. Value. £fgj«. d. Bweburn ... ... ... ... 157,400 410* 2 0 Tapanui ... ... ... ... 713,827 2,110j17 5 Hanmer Springs... ... ... ... 35,210 61 * 4 7 Starborough ... ... ... ... 371,100 1,252 ""1 3 Rotorua ... ... ... ... 2,386,931 6,281 13 8 Ruatangata ... ... .. ... ' 158,660 408 15 2 3,823,128 £10,524 14 1 Cost of digging Pits and Tree-planting at Plantations. Digging Pits. Tree-planting. Station. Per 1,000. Per 1,000. £ s. d. £ s. d. Dumgree Plantation ... ... ... 210 6J ' 1 2 If Dusky Hill Plantation ... ... ... 019 8+ 018 3| Conical Hills Plantation ... ... ... 1 6 8J 015 1 Naseby Plantation ... ... ... ... 0 16 8 Gimmerburn Plantation ... ... ... 011 6f 017 7£ Whakarewarewa Plantation .. ... 0 15 3 0 8 11 Puhipuhi Plantation .. ... ... 016 6 015 0 Lining out Trees, Cost of, at Nurseries. Per 1,000. s. d. _ Eweburn ... ... ... ... ... 4 7J Tapanui ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 9|Hanmer Springs ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 7f Starborough ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 11J Rotorua ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 9 Ruatangata ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 8 Establishment of Nursery and Plantation in Kurow District, Otago. As indicated in last year's report, proposals were submitted for the acquisition of a small area for nursery purposes near Kurow. This site of 45 acres has since been acquired, and operations commenced thereon. The area selected possesses all desirable advantages for an ideal nursery— black loam overlaying a strata of porous clay, gradually merging into shingle, shelter from prevailing winds, pure water-supply at a considerable elevation, and convenient to a railway-station. The buildings consist of dwellinghouse, men's quarters, stables, and implement-sheds, and although these are somewhat old and dilapidated, are capable of being made suitable for present requirements. Existing fencing is old and worthless, and will require complete renewal at an early date. The total cost of above was £750, which sum is considered well within the estimated value. As last season's tree-seed crops at all stations were much in excess of anticipations, it is proposed to transfer about half a million seedlings to Kurow Nursery during the ensuing spring. These will be planted in nursery-lines for one season, and then sent to the plantation, thus giving this station the advantage of a year's start. Proposed Operations in Central Canterbury. For a number of years the Mackenzie County Council have been planting annually considerable areas with forest trees, the necessary funds being provided by rentals from plantation reserves throughout the county. The work done by this Council, under the energetic supervision of the Engineer, is of considerable importance both as regards the actual value of the plantations (now approaching the " pole stage") as well as the demonstration of which trees are suitable for extensive plantings for forestry purposes hereafter. Certain difficulties, however, have mitigated against carrying on continuous

Free Labour. Prison Labour. Free Labour. Prison Labour. Bweburn Nursery Tapanui Nursery ... Rotorua Nursery ... Hanmer Springs Nursery ... Starborough Nursery Ruatangata Nursery Gimmerburn Reserve Naseby Survey Plantation ... 5-33 12-25 27-16 4-50 8-83 n-oo 1-80 0-59 Dusky Hill Plantation Conical Hills Plantation Whakarewarewa Plantation Waiotapu Plantation Hanmer Springs Plantation Dumgree Plantation Puhipuhi Plantation Waitahuna Plantation (two months only) 4-50 17-75 19-10 2-51 2-00 11-12 9-58 0-44 14-19 42-56 11-58 27-06 138-46 95-39