N 8
Pine tree caterpillars appeared in plantations at Chuk Yuen, Ngau Chi Wan, Fan Ling and Cheung Chau. They were immediately dealt with; the total amount collected and destroyed amounted to 155 piculs.
Camphors attacked by white ants were treated with insecticide.
Protection from fire:-One new fire barrier 1 miles in length was made in Plantation 7C, below Matilda Hospital, Mount Kellet.
The total lengths of old barriers cleared before the dry season amounted to 18 miles in the New Territories, 17 miles in Hongkong and 5 miles at Fan Ling.
Hill fires were comparatively very few during the year, numbering only 18 as compared with 79 in 1923, of these 5 occurred during the first quarter, 2 in the second, 1 in the third. and 10 in the fourth, the worst fire broke out in Plantation 5A east of Little Hong Kong Old Village, where over 1,000 young Pines were destroyed.
On Tsing Ming Festival Day, no fires were reported, this being due to recent light rains.
On October 7th the date of Chung Yeung Festival only two small fires were reported, they were easily extinguished by the staff on fire-watching duty.
The thanks of the Department are due to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs for the loan of 10 District Watchmen on both festival days.
Thanks are also due to the Captain Superintendent of Police and Police officers at various outstations for promptly reporting and in many cases extinguishing fires during both night and day.
Forest Guards Service-Forestry offences were very numerous during the year, this being mainly due to the shortage of imported firewood stocks in the Colony. Prices were at one time so high that dealers in a species of hardwood imported from Singapore turned their stocks into firewood and sold them at a handsome profit.
The total number of persons arrested and charged was 449 as compared with 406 in the preceeding year and 335 in 1922, of these 366 were convicted, 20 discharged, 17 cautioned. 40 had their bail estreated, 6 received strokes with the birch and 2 were required to find a personal bond.
Further particulars of these cases are given in Tables II and III.