C.—3

14

The accommodation of the field staff in the most important forested areas is often a matter of great difficulty. This necessitated the erection of a cottage at Mamaku, an office with ranger's living-room and garage at.TOhakune, and the purchase of a cottage in the Catlin's " .

Forest Improvements.—Communication Bridge erected in Waipoua State Forest.

Recreational Use of the Forests. Forests are essential not only for the production of timber crops, but also for their aesthetic and recreational values to the community. The unsurpassed beauty of New Zealand's native bush, coupled with the facilities afforded by the motor-car for transportation, has resulted in a more extended use and appreciation of the forests for recreational purposes. In the Auckland conservation region the new road through Waipoua Forest has enabled many visitors to visit this extensive kauri forest, while the more accessible Trounson's Park has continued to attract tourists and the public. The Forest Service policy of conservation and reasoned use of the forest domain under its administration assures for future generations the beauties of the native bush, which is such an attraction for and so greatly admired by tourists. Honorary Forest Rangers. Since last report nineteen new appointments have been made under section 10 of the Forests Act, 1921-22, which brings the total of the honorary ranger staff up to ninety-six. It is again pleasing to record the valuable assistance received from these volunteer workers, who without fee or reward, and frequently at considerable inconvenience to themselves, have rendered such loyal and efficient co-operation. As many of the State forests are situated in remote parts of the Dominion, it would be quite impossible for the Service to exercise adequate supervision over such areas without such help. 4. Fokest-protection. Fire Districts. The constitution of fire districts has been attended by such good results that five new districts were made during the period under review, and the boundary of an existing one extended to include an additional area which has been acquired for forestation. Farmers and the public generally are rapidly beginning to realize the value of the fire-district principle in safeguarding our indigenous and exotic forests, and consequently few landowners whose properties are included in these districts attempt to burn off without first securing the necessary permit to do so. The provisions of the Forests Amendment Act, 1925, referred to in last year's report have been availed of by the local authority controlling Rabbit Island, Nelson, and the Christchurch City Council in respect to Bottle Lake Plantation, and fire districts were duly constituted in accordance therewith. Doubtless, as this amending legislation becomes more generally known, other local bodies and owners of plantations, &c., will follow suit. The total number of these districts constituted to date is twenty-nine, of which twenty-seven cover State-owned indigenous and exotic forests. The districts cover an approximate area, in round figures, of 1,500,000 acres. S-park-nullifiers. The passing of regulations by the Government at the instigation of the State Forest Service, making the use of an approved spark-nullifier compulsory, has had very definite results. During the year, one hundred Cheney spark-nullifiers have been installed by sawmillers, and, judging by the encomiums that have been received of the results achieved in the prevention of flying sparks without interference with steaming capabilities, the millers themselves appreciate this effort of fire control.