M 4-
C.-Care of Trees in Plantations. As payment in brushwood to the villagers for work done led to a big increase in the amount of illicit tree-cutting, this method of payment was only continued to a very limited extent. Only 2,828 loads were thus supplied and these were taken out of the following plantations:- Shaukiwan (3), Little Hongkong (5), Aberdeen (6), Pokfulam (7), Kowloon (8) and Kowloon Reservoir (10).
Creepers which were interfering with the growth of trees in the plantations in 3E, 3F and 4A were cut. A large number of dead trees were removed from plantations in various parts of the island during the year.
At Mt. Davis several trees which were growing alongside the road were damaged by coolies, employed by the Military Authorities for hauling big guns and material, by fastening ropes around them. The Military Authorities who were communicated with have promised to notify this Department when any further big haulage operations are to take place.
D.-Protection from Fire. The length of the old barriers cleaned was 142,087 feet at a cost of $374. New fire barriers to the extent of 71,365 feet were made, principally in the Harbour Belt, Kowloon, at a cost of $282.28. Fires were unusually destructive during the year. Fifty-two in all were reported, and the greatest damage to trees occurred on Mt. Kellet in 7D and 7E, and at Aberdeen in 6E. The former fire occurred at the Tsing Ming Festival and the latter at the Autumn Festival, when, on both occasions, worshipping at the tombs took place. Between 2,000 and 3,000 trees were destroyed by each of the fires at Mt. Kellet and Aberdeen. The severity of the fires was owing to the exceedingly dry state of vegetation and the high winds prevailing at both the Tsing Ming and Autumn Festivals.
E.-Forest Guards' Service. Reports of Forestry Offences were less than in the previous year, and convictions were less also. The most notable improvements were at Yaumati and in the greatly reduced numbers of persons of unknown address who were convicted. See Tables II and III.
Towards the end of the year inquiries were held under the Malicious Damage Amendment Ordinance, 1910, at Pokfulam, Taihang, Chaiwan and Little Hongkong, villages which showed no improvement in regard to forestry offences. As a result of these inquiries Pokfulam was warned, and fines were imposed on the other villages named.
A sum of $12.52 was deducted from the security furnished by the occupant of a matshed for damage done to trees within a radius of 500 yards of his matshed.
F.-Revenue Felling. Plantations of 200 acres on Mt. Davis (7G) and about 70 acres at Aberdeen (6E) were felled during the year under the tree-felling contract. The total amount of revenue derived from this source and from thinnings was $8,955.04.