c.—3

difficulty of access, were hitherto rarely visited except by Forest Officers, are now speedily becoming the playground of numerous visitors annually. Whilst this pastime has added to the responsibilities of local Forest Officers, it is very pleasing to report that the visiting public generally is becoming each year more careful in safeguarding the priceless forest heritage ; and acts of vandalism, such as shooting of native birds, indiscriminate lighting of fires, destruction of young growth, &c., are becoming fewer and fewer. The Service cannot, in the public interest, permit an unrestricted right of entry to the forest domain, but all visitors are welcomed thereto, provided they undertake to observe the very simple conditions which govern the permit to enter. It need hardly be stated that these conditions are imposed for the sole purpose of protecting and preserving our native flora and fauna. 7. Honorary Forest Rangers. The total number of honorary forest rangers on the roll at the 31st March, 1933, was 141. There were four resignations during the year and ten new appointments. The thanks of the Service are tendered to these gentlemen for their gratuitous services and co-operation, particularly in respect to forests so situated that the costs of inspection by the permanent field staff would be almost prohibitive. Honorary rangers are generally appointed to exercise supervision over forests in the particular localities in which they reside, and they are therefore well situated to advise and promptly report on all local matters affecting the welfare of the forest.

APPENDIX.

SUMMARIZED REPORTS ON STATE AFFORESTATION. Auckland Region. Nurseries. —At Whangamata Nursery (Tairua Plantation) only a very small sowing programme was carried out last sowing season on account of the large stocks already in the nurseries. The late summer brought an abundant rainfall, and stocks in the nursery put on an abnormal growth. No sowing was done at Riverhead or Maramarua, but a limited number of trees was carried over from last year for planting out next season. At Riverhead a small sowing will probably be necessary during the spring to raise stock to fully establish this plantation. Plantations. —Afforestation operations were very considerably reduced, the total new establishment being 627 acres, distributed as follows : Tairua, 422 acres ; Maramarua, 144 acres ; Riverhead, 61 acres. A considerable area of blanking was carried out at Tairua and Riverhead. The planting season from a climatic point of view was the most unsatisfactory on record, weather conditions being so dry at times that planting could only be continued under the greatest difficulty. The most successful results were obtained at Maramarua, where a strike of upwards of 75 per cent, was recorded. Rotorua Region. Nurseries. —In spite of a very severe winter, the season generally was favourable for nursery operations, and the young stock made good growth. Seed-sowing at Rotorua Nursery was completed early in November, when a total sowing of 351 lb. was made ; 11,000,000 trees were lined out, and 2,095,000 were sent out to Wairapakau Nursery to be lined in. Tree Stocks. —The total estimated number of trees in all nurseries, including 54,000 poplar-cuttings, is 40,774,000. Of this total, 34,240,000 are available for future planting and are sufficient to establish at lease 50,000 acres of new plantation. Plantations. —The total area of new plantations established during the year was 11,395 acres, for which 7,568,400 trees were used, or an average of 664 trees per acre. Replanting was necessary on an area of 73 acres which was burnt, whilst blanking accounted for a further 1,367 acres. Tree and Seed Safes.—Tree-sales to Government Departments, local bodies, and others amounted to 433,000, while the receipts for the sale of tree-seeds totalled £349, or £45 less than the previous year. Wellington Region. Nurseries. —At Karioi during the winter months over two and a half million trees were lifted for transfer to the plantations, while local bodies, schools, &c., absorbed another 174,000. No seed was sown in the nursery. 408,600 trees were lined out in the Homestead Nursery. Plantations. —The principal activities at this station were blanking, replanting, and direct seeding; 138 acres were added to the planted areas, 1,163 acres were direct seeded, and 3,900 acres were reconditioned. Underplanting at Erua was continued, and the total area thus dealt with during the year was 921 acres, making a total to date of 1,923 acres. All projects were carried out by relief labour, and very satisfactory results were obtained with a minimum amount of trouble.

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