.210 The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. [July 
operations depends, above all, on the manner in which growing woods are 
tended throughout life, from planting to reaping, and especially on the 
time and strength of the thinnings. Here the skill of the forester really 
comes in. Unless these operations are carried out in the right way planta¬ 
tions will not yield timber in quality equal to that imported, nor will the 
expected financial results be realized. The cost of carrying out these opera¬ 
tions should not be grudged, as it will be more than repaid later on. More¬ 
over, it seems to the author that the time cannot be far off when the 
thinnings will become saleable, whereby not only will the cost of making 
them be covered, but a surplus should be left over and above such cost. 
In conclusion, the chief measures to be taken should be— 
(1.) The appointment of a thoroughly qualified forestry expert as 
Conservator or Director of Forests, responsible to the Minister 
of Lands, and through him to Parliament. He should be assisted 
by a small committee of experienced administrators, which 
might meet at suitable intervals. 
(2.) The building-up of an efficient staff of assistants to the Conservator 
of Forests, and of foresters. 
(3.) The selection, with due consideration of the land required for 
settlement, of a suitable area of natural forests as permanent 
State forests, not only for climatic and scenic purposes, but 
for the permanent production of the more valuable timber-trees. 
(4.) Augmentation of the returns from the natural forests, as far as 
necessary, by the establishment of plantations stocked with 
fast-growing species for industrial and other purposes. 
(5.) The encouragement of planting by private owners of land to relieve 
the work to be done by the State. 
(6.) The tending (thinning) of growing woods to be done in an efficient 
manner, so as to produce the best possible results. 
(7.) The proper organization of all permanent State forests, and the 
construction of roads and other means for the transport of 
forest-produce to the centres of consumption. 
THE DISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION IN NEW 
ZEALAND. 
By F. T. M. Kissel, B.Sc., A.M.Inst.C.E., Public Works Department, 
Wellington. 
In the course of investigations being made by the writer for the Hydro¬ 
electric Branch of the Public Works Department into the question of a 
general supply of electricity throughout the country it was necessary to get 
a general view of the prospective markets and their relative position with 
respect to possible sources of power. For this purpose masses of statistical 
figures and long tables are apt to be confusing, and, moreover, give no 
notion of their relation in position either to each other or to the generating 
station or stations. The issue is always further obscured by the agitation 
of different districts, urging the development of a source of power in some 
particular neighbourhood, or attempting to show the amount of load that 
will be forthcoming as soon as power is available. The value of the source 
