a—4.

58

of the gold falls out, when they are replaced in the sluice-boxes ; when they are worn out they are burnt, and the residue of the gold is recovered from the ashes. The black heart of any fern-tree, when thoroughly seasoned, makes beautiful picture-frames, and is often used for inlaying. " Incense " Plant.— This small shrub is to be found mainly on old moraines ;it grows in the Balfour, Fox, and Cook Valleys. .Do not know of its actual occurrence elsewhere in Westland. It rarely attains more than 4 ft. in height, and has a delicate, soft perfume, especially when burnt. It would probably transplant readily. Cordyline.— Found throughout Westland. Invariably grows on the debris and scars of land-slides, on sea bluffs, and the westward faces of the inland ranges. It rarely occurs within the great mountain valleys ; in Upper Grey Basin it has been found near the main divide. Thirty-five years ago it was not often seen, but now this beautiful plant fringes the road-cuttings and spoil-heaps for miles, especially in the southern districts. It evidently requires air and sun. Known locally as the " bush cabbagetree," or " indiarubber tree " ; the leaves are somewhat elastic when stretched, but have no retractive powers. They are often handy in the absence of flax, being fibrous and strong. Tutu.— This is not very common in Westland, and is mainly found skirting the waterways. A very beautiful tiny variety occurs about 2,500 ft. above sea-level, on the high lands. Approximate Quantity of Milling-timber. On Crown Lands and Reserves. Sup. ft. 3,677,800,000 Kahikatea (white-pine) .. .. .. • • • • 310,000,000 Totara & 50,500,000 Mataif (black-pine) .. .. .. ,'.. .. ■• 27,500,000 Birches 350,000,000 Miscellaneous ' 309,200,000 Total .. .. ... .. •• 4,725,000,000 On Private and Native Lands. Sup. ft. Rimu (red-pine) 786,000,000 Kahikatea (white-pine) . . .. .. ■ • • • 65,000,000 Totara 10,000,000 Matai (black-pine) .. . . . . .. ■ • ■ • 6,000,000 Birches 8,000,000 Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. .. •• •• 25,000,000 Total 900,000,000 G. J. Roberts, Commissioner of Crown Lands.

CANTERBURY. The Land District of Canterbury comprises the central portion of the South Island, and lies between the Conway River, Barefell Pass, and Mount Franklin on the northward ; the Spenser Mountains, Travers Peak, Mount Barron, the Amuri, Hope, and Hurunui Passes, the summit of the Southern Alps, and the western watershed of the River Hopkins and Lake Ohau on the westward ; the Rivers Ohau and Waitaki on the southward ; and the South Pacific Ocean on the eastward. It lies between south latitudes 42° 5' and 44° 55', and east longitudes 169° 45' and 173° 30'. The length of the district northeast and south-west is about 220 miles ; the breadth W.N.W. and E.S.E., from the summit of the Alps to sea, averages seventy miles. The remaining native forest in this district which is capable of utilisation as milling-timber is now of very limited extent; the estimated available quantities of milling-timber of the different kinds in the various localities are shown in the appended schedules, the total amount being 31,545,000 ft. Out of this total, about 26,000,000 estimated feet consist of beech (birch) timber, principally blackbeech (tawhai), with a sprinkling of the red and brown varieties. Nearly 2,800,000 ft. of the remainder consist of kahikatea, or white-pine, the balance being made up of small quantities of totara, matai, rimu, and puka (broadleaf). In addition to these there are in various inaccessible localities patches of forest varying in area from 10 acres to 5,000 acres, containing small-sized matai, rimu, kahikatea, totara, and tawhai (beech) trees, useful for posts and stakes for fencing lands in the vicinity, but comprising no milling-timber available for commercial purposes. Amongst these may be mentioned the following :— In the upper watershed of the Waiau River and its tributaries there is an estimated aggregate of 60,000 acres, consisting principally of black and silver beech (tawhai), with scattered trees of matai, rimu, kahikatea, mountain totara, mahoe, &c, all of stunted scrubby character. Every dry season sees a reduction of this area by fire. The upper watershed of the Hurunui River and its tributaries contains an estimated area of about 12,000 acres of forest-clad country of similar character. In the upper watershed of the Waimakariri River and its feeders there is an estimated area of 60,000 acres of bush, the largest forest being included in the Bealey National Park Reserve. This is of