C.--4.

Although, as before stated, it is not claimed that these figures are absolutely accurate, yet it is believed that they are approximately correct. Constant inspections of forest areas, extending over a decade at least, and the utmost care in estimating the quantity of trees to the acre and the amount of timber in an average tree, combined with the continual checking that ensues when Crown forests are sold to a sawmiller and converted into sawn timber, has shown that in the majority of cases the estimate of the Government officer is as nearly correct as could be expected, and that, although an area may be underestimated, yet, through causes such as the unexpected discovery that standing trees are rotten and unsuitable for milling, that accidental fires often destroy valuable clumps of trees, and that the transport of timber is more difficult than had been anticipated, it is found as a rule that the Government estimate is accepted by the purchaser as being a very fair indication of the timber offered for sale and standing on any particular area. As numerous officers have occasion in the course of years to inspect and report on forest areas, and as the records of each inspection are carefully checked and verified, and seldom vary to any great extent, it can be said with some confidence that, so far as the Department is in a position to judge, the amount of milling-timber stated herein is approximately correct. This being the case, a comparison of the present estimate with those of past years is of interest as showing to what extent New Zealand is losing its indigenous forests. It is as follows : —

Estimates of Milling-timber in New Zealand.

SAWMILLING. To show the extent to which these forests are annually being depleted by sawmillers, apart altogether from the recurrent fires and march of settlement, the following table is of interest:—

Table C.—Sawmills in Operation in March, 1909.

A perusal of the above will reveal the fact that, notwithstanding the distress that has prevailed in the sawmill industry during the past twelve months, and the complaints that have been made against the importation of foreign timber, the output of timber is still very large, whilst more hands have been employed than two years previously. This will doubtless occasion surprise, but, as the statistics have been compiled with much care, and each district has been separately dealt with, it is thought that the figures are fairly reliable, and can be accepted as being practically correct.

10

Tree. 1905. 1907. 1909. Kauri Rimu Kahikatea Totara Matai Birches Miscellaneous. . Sup. ft. 1,112,019,000 22,334,145,250 5,247,025,900 1,149,388,050 3.802,848,850 4,673,001,000 3,393,146,750 Sup. ft. 646,041,094 17,899,348,364 3,914,685,793 1,025,481,558 3,823,047,378 5,038,406,880 3,448,862,400 Sup. ft. 485,446,989 15,350,474,270 2,586,190,763 570,561,303 3,423,827,164 4,394,238,320 6,250,144,623 Totals 41,723,574,800* 33,060,883,437 35,785,873,467 * Quantities in two districts not completely es itimated ; probably an addition of 1,500,000. ,000 sup. ft. necessary.

Land District. Number. Hands employed. Output for Year. Cutting-capacity per Annum. Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington .. Marlborough Nelson Westland Canterbury .. Otago Southland 62 19 21* 88 13 83 54 8f ist 62f 2,356 481 421 1,605 256 480 605 50 160 1,000 Sup. ft. 184,145,852 16,798,482 8,945,835 73,697,000 11,408,052 15,090,718 48,782,980 1,000,000 5,000,000 49,000,000 Sup. ft. 260,324,980 37,740,000 27,620,500 126,370,000 20,700,000 73,200,000 106,260,000 3,000,000 10,250,000 90,000,000 Totals s 423 7,414 413,868,919 755,465,480 Only 18 world] ig. f Esti: iate only. iOMPARISON ' viTH Previous Years. :n 1886 in 1895 in 1900 [n 1905 n 1907 220 299 334 414 411 3,890 4,055 6,085 6,912 7,139 163,740,546 191,053,466 261,583,518 413,289,742 432,031,611 704,930,600 718,940,000