C.—3.

Exotic Forests. A topographical survey of Rotoehu Exotic Forest (Rotorua Region) is proceeding at the time of going to press, and already 4,650 acres have been surveyed by the plane-table method, for which the country is well suited. Four thousand eight hundred acres have been subdivided into blocks and compartments. Towards the close of the year a preliminary reconnaissance was commenced in connection with the proposal to obtain a water-supply for this station by reticulating Pongakawa Valley Settlement from Waitahanui River. This work will proceed until completed. Inventory. —The inventory of the older portions of Hanmer Plantation (referred to in last year's report) was completed, and a working-plan for this and Balmoral Plantations is now being compiled. 4. State Afforestation. Table 4 summarizes the position of the exotic State forests as at the close of the year under review and requires little explanation. It will be noticed that the gross area has been increased by the inclusion of the hew afforestation project—Rotoehu —to which reference is made in other portions of the report. Planting proceeded only on a very minor scale, being mainly confined to the Auckland and Rotorua Conservancies, and the recorded total of 1,705 acres is the smallest for two decades. In addition, however, a gross area of 10,700 acres was reconditioned by interplanting, blanking, and replanting with species more suitable to the locality, &c. Nearly one-half of the area so dealt with is at Kaingaroa, where more than 250,000 acres have now been planted in trees. It may be stated that, of the gross area of 617,568 acres, the non-plantable land—i.e., the land absorbed by roads, fire-breaks, rides, swamps, administrative buildings, &c. —comprises approximately 140,000 acres.

TABLE 4. Summary of Operations in Plantations as at 31st March, 1938.

5. Sales of Timber. The demand for milling-timber continued fairly keen throughout most of the year, although there was a noticeable slackening off in some districts during the latter months, due probably to accumulation of stocks of inferior grades, 0.b., &c. As will be seen from the appended schedule, the quantity of timber sold was slightly lower than the previous year's figures. In Westland a new record was set in regard to timber sales, the figures (exclusive of sales on Warden's areas) being sixty-one sales affecting 4,020 acres valued at £40,808 and of an estimated quantity of 45,915,100 board feet.

10

. Year of New Area Total Net Area Gross Area of plantation. Commencement planted, 1937. planted. j Plantation. Acres. Acres. Acres. Waipoua 1925 201 1,560 12,600 Puhipuki 1904 .. 1,176 1,558 Riverhead 1926 39 11,063 11,956 Maramarua .. .. .. 1928 .. 12,303 14,087 Tairua .. .. .. .. 1930 544 11,150 48,510 Rotoeku .. .. .. .. 1937 237 237 19,628 Wkakarewarewa .. .. .. 1898 .. 8,033 10,073 Waiotapu .. .. .. •• 1901 .. 7,051 7,974 Kaingaroa 1913 42 259,178 327,931 Tongariro .. .. .. •• 1937 77 77 1,800 Erua .. .. .. ■■ 1930 179 3,116 6,648 Karioi .. .. .. .. 1927 .. 17,191 33,689 Golden Downs .. .. .. 1927 19 19,311 22,557 Westland .. 1922 2 3,064 5.839 Hanmer 1901 7 7,784 10,372 Balmoral 1916 191 21,282 24,012 Byrewell .. .. .. .. 1928 3 18,343 19,266 Naseby .. .. .. 1900 2 3,053 4,032 Dusky .. .. .. .. 1898 .. 4,4-70 6,866 Conical Hills .. .. •• 1903 .. 3,612 3,805 Pukerau .. .. •• 1915 .. 565 628 Blue Mountains .. .. .. 1925 .. 8,775 9,661 Pebbly Hills 1930 .. 4,353 5,330 Minor areas .. .. .. 1875-1937 162 1,463 8,746 Totals .. ... .. .. 1,705 428,210 617,568