C—3

10

safety of State forests and plantations. As it would bo futile to proclaim such areas within State forests alone, .adjoining areas under any tenure have had to be included. Upon creation of a fire district, each landowner interested within the area is notified in writing of the closed seasons during which no fires may be lighted except with the written permit of, or the taking of precautions prescribed by, a Forest officer. The gradual extension of the system in districts of great fire hazard, will give the Service complete control over the fire danger, with a minimum patrol staff. One aspect of this question, which has been readily appreciated by the sawmillcrs and settlers affected, is that they are relieved of serious liabilities provided that they comply with the conditions laid down, also that the advantages of the system are not one-sided, as the safeguard afforded is mutual. Even outside fire districts, in many cases settlers intending to bum off land have taken to voluntarily notifying the local Forest officer. In Westland, the sawmillers spontaneously co-operated with the Service by detailing workmen to patrol the logging-tramways daily during the fire season. Calico fire-pre-vention notices have been posted up in the most frequented portions of the State forests and plantations, and in every case have been respected. The total expenditure on fire protection for indigenous forest was at the rate of 6d. per 100 acres. Trespassers. Twenty-six cases of trespass on State forest lands were reported, fourteen of which were foi illegal timber-cutting and post-splitting, and twelve for stock trespass and vandalism. Several convictions were obtained under the Forests Act and State Forest Regulations, and also under the Animals Protection and Game Act, while a few cases of trespass on scenic reserves and national parks were reported to the Lands Department and Tourist Department respectively. The small number of cases reported reflects the growing moral sense of duty in the public mind to safeguard and respect national property. Insect Damage. With the assistance of the Department of Agriculture it has been possible during the year to secure some measure of control over a large number of the pests attacking eucalypts and other trees. In the plantations a Tortrix moth has caused a slight amount of damage. A more extensive control programme is planned for the coming year, as damage by decay fungi and timber insects is becoming more extensive. It has now been definitely established that imported timbers are bringing forest and timber pests into the Dominion, and investigations will probably show that for the protection of our forests and wood-supplies, inspection of all imported timber is an urgent necessity. Wild Pigs and Goats. These are numerous in some localities, and the goats cause great damage by browsing on undergrowth and young forest-trees, and by barking young trees. When the intensive management of indigenous forests is commenced, however, these animals will be easy to control. i. AFFORESTATION AND FOREST-EXTENSION. Despite the drastic reduction in capital moneys available, another year of splendid progress in the quantity of trees planted by the State and by non-State interests is recorded. In the Stale plantations nearly four million young trees (Douglas fir, Pinus ponderosa and P. radiata) were planted on 2,862 acres, at a labour cost of £1 LBs per acre (15 per cent, less than last year). Not only did the number of trees planted by the Service exceed the normal average, but the new method of notch planting has proved entirely successful in reducing formation costs and in enabling concentration of planting effort at the optimum planting-time. The State afforestation activities are now on a more efficient basis, and compare most favourably with any similar organization in the Empire.

Summary of Operations on State Plantations during the Year ended 31st March, 1923.

Forest Plantation. Wliakarcwarewa* Waiotapu*f Kaingaroa Plantation! Puhipuhi Conical Hills Pukeran Dusky Hill Greenvale Gimmerburn Naseby Hanxner Springs Balmoral Raincliff Experimental group j xr , f _ Total Area ; Number oi 1 rees N A planted . planted in Trees, planted. i , 189<!~192:i. i i Acres. Acres. 8.037-00 7,010-00 3,264,275 2,539 14.976-00 1,200-00 3,533-50 565-50 745-75 395,125 307 1,710-75 88-00 46.300 12 2,150-75 6,425 1 2,913-50 71,1)05 3 1,256-50 206-00 253-00 Totals .. 3,784,030 2,862 44,646-25 * Qiecrepanoiea with areas shown in previous repor ■\ Kaingaroa West and Kaingaroa Plains Plantatic lOrtion of the Waiotapu Plantation has now been incli ts were dieoovered <ln ms have been amalgi uded in Kaingaroa PI ring a survey made ii amated as " Kaingarc lantation. i 1922-23. ia Plantation," and a