13

C.—3

Note.—Receipts shown above for the periods 1920-2'.1 to 1923-24 do not include the half share of receipts paid into the National Endowment Account from State forests on national-endowment lands. Reference to the following graphs shows the quantities of the various species comprised in .Forest Service timber-sales for the last two years. The most outstanding feature is the very large increase in the quantities of rimu sold during the 1925-26 period compared with those of the previous year ; and., as this species is of lower stumpage value than kauri, totara, and matai, this increase in the quantities of rimu sold is to a certain extent responsible for the lower total value of the timber disposed of during the reporting period.

Statistics of the Service Timber-sales for Years ended 31st March, 1925-26. Quantities shown in Feet Board Measure.

Timber-export Regulations. The administration of the Regulations imposing Restrictions on the Export of Timber lias for some years past been carried out by the Department of Industries and Commerce. At the commencement of the fiscal year this work was placed under the control of the Service, and the changeover has been effected without friction and with apparent satisfaction to all interested parties. One or two breaches of the regulations occurred during the year, owing to certain shipments being made in excess of the quantites allowed by the respective permits. Upon investigation it was found that these were not intentional. While permits were issued for -the maximum amount allowed the actual exported quantities of rimu and beech were much blow the quota. The number of permits issued totalled 263, the majority of which were granted to sawmillers in the Westland region in respect of white-pine and rimu. Further information in regard to quantities, species, &c., of timber exported and imported for the year ended the 31st December, 1925, will be found in Chapter V and Appendix. Y. Forest-improvements. During the year regional efforts were concentrated on improvements to access to and within State forests. The expansion of the afforestation acreage has necessitated the formation of 15| miles of new roads and 67 miles of new fire-breaks ; while 73| miles of tracks provide increased access into remote State areas. Fencing has been increased by 17§ miles, and 2 miles of telephone-lines were erected. Improvements to officers' dwellings have gone on steadily, together with the erection of one ranger's cottage, additional rooms to one ranger station, and provision of a cookhouse at a permanent camp and extensive additions to office accommodation at Rotorua Station. One permanent wire suspension bridge was erected, giving access to a northern State forest.

Number Value of Timber Quantity of r£? el ? 8 , , a |Quantity cut. from Fiscal Year. ; of sold during the Timber sold im er icenses State Forests Sales. Year. during the Year. 111 yj!". 1 "" during the Year. £ Feet, B.M. £ j Feet, B.M. 1925-26 .. .. 65 80,565 73.659,000 130,132 ! 79,009,000 1924-25 .. .. 54 96,158 69,253,000 134,731 102,369,900 1923-24 .. .. 61 266,388 212,085,000 68,295 52,297,000 1922-23 .. .. 52 95,357 78,830,000 47,462 1921-22 .. 40 38,208 35,669,000 24,320 1920-21 .. 5 17,055 6,987,000 16,815