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Fire-pumps and Fire-break Burners. Two Pacific motor fire-pumps were added to the fire-fighting equipment. The motor-pump again demonstrated that under certain conditions it is most efficient, and, as it can be carried easily by one man, it adds considerably to the efficiency of the Forest Service fire-protection organization. The Hauck burners again'proved their value by reducing the cost of fire-break maintenance.

Modern Fish-fighting Equipment: Portable Motor-pump.

For est-fires. The fire season was one of low hazard, except in the Wellington and Westland regions, and no material damage through fires was sustained by forests under the control of the Forest Service. Although thirteen fires were detected on State forests, they were confined to 72 acres of cut-over forest and scrub land, the monetary loss being estimated at £12. No damage was caused by fire to any of the State plantations, but 30 acres of privately-owned plantations were destroyed. The losses of private plantations during the last two years have been due solely to the lack of effective fire-protection measures. Owners of plantations must realize that fire is a real danger to exotic plantations unless adequate measures are taken for their protection. It is pleasing to note that during the past year some owners have formed and maintained effective fire-breaks, and arranged for the patrol of their plantations during the dry summer months. The psychrometer readings taken showed that the relative humidity was seldom below 40 per cent, throughout the Dominion ; Hanmer recorded 32 per cent, for one day in November, and Nelson 30 per cent, for one day in March.

Analysis of all reported Forest-fires in State Forests.

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Forest-fires : Number, Character, and Area. Money Value of Forest-wealth destroyed. Forest- ; , C0 ll? r gIon. 0n Number Timber Land Cut-over Land Scrub Land Total Area Merchantable Valuable j Total detected. "j | £ £ £ Auckland . . 4 Nil Nil 21 21 2 2 N Rotorua . . Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Wellington 3 1. 20 .. 21 . . 10 10 Nelson-Marl- 2 J Nil Nil 24 24 borough VVestland .. Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Canterbury- ] Nil Nil Nil Nil Otago Southland 3 Nil 4 2 6 Totals 13 1 24 I 47 72 .. 12 12