DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. RANGITAIKI LAND DRAINAGE. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1928, TOGETHER WITH STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1928 Session I, C-11

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1928. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. RANGITAIKI LAND DRAINAGE. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1928, TOGETHER WITH STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly in pursuance of Section 10 of the Rangitaiki Land Drainage Act, 1910.

Sir, — Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, 30th June, 1928. I have the honour to submit herewith the report upon drainage operations in the Rangitaiki Plains for the year ended 31st March, 1928, pursuant to the provisions of the Rangitaiki Land Drainage Act, 1910. The accompanying statement of accounts and balance-sheet shows the financial transactions for the year, and the position of the account as at the 31st March last. A plan of the drainage district is attached. I have, &c, J. B. Thompson, The Hon. A. D. McLeod, Minister of Lands. Under-Secretary for Lands.

REPORT OF CHIEF DRAINAGE ENGINEER. Sir,— In accordance with the provisions of the Rangitaiki Land Drainage Act, 1910, I have the honour to submit my report for the financial year ending 31st March, 192<S. At the beginning of the period the major works still requiring completion were the Tarawera River dredging, Omeheu Canal improvement, and the Kopeopeo Canal diversion. Of these, the first was carried, on to a point where completion will be assured during the coming year, whilst the Omeheu Canal widening, which was commenced late last year, was completed, towards the end of the period under review. The construction of the Kopeopeo diversion, as recommended by the Rangitaiki Royal Commission of 1925, was commenced with one Monighan dredge. Late in the period, a second Monighan was made available to assist in pushing this work on to completion as expeditiously as possible. No severe flooding was experienced on the area during the winter, and the exceptionally dry summer was of immense benefit in assisting the drying-out of the low-lying and newly drained portions of the area. This benefit has more than offset the set back to the higher and lighter country on the Plains. Another record for production was established by the Rangitaiki Plains Dairy Company, the manufacture of butter for the year totalling 1,558 tons, an increase of 258 tons over last year's figures. The Tarawera Cheese Factory manufactured 300 tons, last year's total being also 300 tons. The prospects for the coming season are encouraging, as the existing herds are being improved, whilst in addition arrangements are being made for the milking of new herds. The improvement in the price of beef, if sustained, should assist in an increase in prosperity for this district. The

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completion of the East Coast Railway, which crosses the Plains, should be a big factor in reducing the cost of manures, which must play a very large part in the development of this area of flat land. This is, however, not the only advantage, for the rapid transport of fat stock —the local freezing-works being closed —will eliminate the losses associated with driving this class of stock over long distances. During the past session of Parliament further relief was given to the settlers on this area by the passing of section 12 of the Finance Act (No. 2), whereby the rates for capital expenditure are made payable on a graduated scale commencing at a low figure and extending over a period of ten years, the deficiency in each year being capitalized. At the end of the tenth year period rates will be levied on the then capitalized cost extending over a period of fifty years. The easing of the rates has resulted in those remissions being made available for dovelopment-work on the lands within the area, with the result that there has been a decided improvement in the pasturage. Rainfall. —The average rainfall, as recorded at Thornton, for the past ten years has been 54-02 in., last year's figures being 63-07 in., which fell on sixty-nine days. The wettest month was July, when 15-42 in. was recorded, whilst the driest was January, with a fall of 0-39 in. Eastern District. —The land necessary for the construction of the Kopeopeo diversion having been taken under the provisions of the Public Works Act, it was possible to proceed with the excavation in June. Later in the year the construction of the flood-gates near the junction of the diversion with a back-water of the Whakatane River was commenced. This is a concrete structure, and four Calco flood-gates, each of sft. diameter, are being installed. Considerable difficulty was experienced with the foundations, both from water and sand, but this work is now well on to completion, and will be available before the necessary dredging is completed, connecting the diversion on to the existing system of drainage. The maintenance of the existing drains, &c, was tho only other work carried out in this area. Western District. —The stop-bank and improvement of the Tarawera River was carried on to a point nearing completion. In addition to the raising of the eastern stop-bank, a considerable length of widening and deepening of old diversion channels was carried out with a view to giving the river a reasonably even cross-section throughout. It is found that wandering stock do considerable damage to the completed pumice stop-bank by starting small slips, which lead to considerable erosion, and it is necessary to have the banks permanently patrolled. As the bank is absolutely necessary to the security of a large portion of the Plains, it is essential that all stock should be prevented from wandering there, and the only remedy is the erection of substantial fences. The works on the Tarawera River have been carried out with a view to the stabilizing of the water-level, and, although it is'too soon to give a definite statement, there has been practically no other variation in the upper reaches, except due to the seasonal discharge of the river. When dredging is completed above the railway, the records should show whether the desired object has been attained. The widening and improvement of the Awaiti-Omeheu outfall was completed during the period, pronounced tidal action being carried as far south as the railway. A substantial stop-bank was erected on the east bank to protect the low-lying country in and about the Omeheu Settlement, and this bank was continued south to the railway along the Omeheu adjunct drain. Throe Calco flood-gates were erected under this stop-bank. A short length of drain through Section 140, towards the cost of which the settlers concerned contributed, was constructed by the Bay City dredge. The usual maintenance of hand drains and minor improvement work were put in hand throughout the area. Dredges. —Four dredges comprising two Monighan drag-lines, one Priestman, and one Bay City dipper dredge have been operating part time during the period. A total of 359,080 cubic; yards of spoil was dredged, covering a distance of 9 miles 68J chains. The cost per cubic yard of the material excavated was 5-28 d. The following table shows the total amounts excavated, and the cost per cubic yard for the past nine years : — Cubic Cost per Cubic Cost ]>or Yards. Cubic Yard. Yards. Cubic Yard. 1919-20 .. 176,672 6-62 d. 1924-25 .. 626,762 5-56 d. 1920-21 .. 215,768 8-82 d. 1925-26 .. 431,277 5-88 d. 1921-22 .. 473,994 6-68 d. 1926-27 .. 227,006 6-05 d. 1922-23 .. 540,802 8-13 d. 1927-28 .. 359,080 5-28 d. 1923-24 .. 788,059 - 5-59 d. No. 8, Priestman Dredge : This plant continued working northwards in the Tarawera River, raising the east bank stop-bank and improving the channel, and at the end of the period was within 30 chains of the railway bridge. The distance covered during the year was 270 chains, a total of 127,800 cubic yards of spoil being removed. No. 9, Priestman Dredge : This plant has been laid up throughout the period. The machinery has been kept in first-class order in readiness for future maintenace work. No. 17, Monighan Dredge : This plant was engaged for the major part of the year on the Omeheu Canal, where excellent work was accomplished in. excavating material which was too difficult for the Priestman dredge when the canal was originally constructed. On completion of this work the machine was transferred by sea to the Whakatane River to assist in the completion of the Kopeopeo diversion. To begin with, the dredge was worked from a pontoon, improving the tidal creek into which the Kopeopeo will discharge, and although not designed for this class of work, good progress has been maintained. During the year a total of 123,180 cubic yards of spoil were dredged, the distance covered being 268 chains.

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No. 18, Monighan Dredge : This plant, after being idle for some time, was placed in commission on the Kopeopeo Canal, and. to date has done a creditable amount of work under fairly difficult conditions. The spoil excavated is being placed on either side, and one bank will eventually be used as a roadway and the other as a stop-bank, both serving to prevent the escape of flood-waters on to the adjoining low-lying country. The distance covered during the period was IIIJ chains, a total of 90,600 cubic yards of spoil being excavated. No. 21, Bay City : This dredge was put into commission early in the period to excavate a drain to serve low-lying country in Sections 137 a and 140, which cannot economically be drained into the Omeheu Drain. This was completed after two months' working, and the plant was again laid up. This plant will shortly commence maintenance work in the Tarawera Western Drain. The length of canal completed during the period was 70 chains, 17,500 cubic yards of spoil being excavated. Bridges, Flood-gates, <&c. —In addition to the large Kopeopeo flood-gate, three small flood-gates and seven sill bridges were erected during the year. Drains and Stop-banks.— -The only new stop-banking carried out in the period was that done by the dredges and already enumerated. A length of 87 chains of existing drain was taken over and improved. Drains in Operation.. —The total length of drains in operation is as follows : Dredge cuts, 67 miles 35 chains ; main outlet drains, 106 miles 24 chains ; road-drains, 30 miles 46 chains. Roads opened. —The total length of roads opened is 113| miles, of which 85 miles have been constructed by the Department. Buildings. —These consist of Engineer's cottage, and twelve cottages and huts for workmen, office buildings, machine-shop, smithy, store, sheds, &c. All men occupying quarters pay rent for same. Workshops. —The workshop and smithy have been kept fully employed on repair work for dredges and general machinery, and the ironwork for general construction-work. Rolling-stock. —The Tliornycroft lorry, now in its seventh year, has done practically all the general cartage of supplies throughout the works. Plant and Machinery. —This consists of two Priestman grab dredges, two Monighan walking dragline, excavators, one Bay City walking dipper, one Priestman pontoon, two coal-punts, three oillaunches, and six small boats and punts. Summary of Work Done: — M. Ch. Cub. Yds. Cleaning drains . . . . .. .. .. 107 0 Deepening and widening .. .. .. .. 3 17 5,140 Spoil dredged .. .. .. .. .. 9 68J 359,080 Levels taken .. . . .. . . 66 50 Survey traverses .. .. . . .. . . 7 0 Proposed Works. —Completion of the Tarawera stop-banking and river improvement; Kopeopeo diversion excavation, flood-gates, bridges, and road formation, and general maintenance included in which is the redredging of the Tarawera Western Drain. Rates. —Some 725 demands for rates were issued during the year covering a total sum of £4,716 14s. Bd. During the year rates collected amounted to £7,133 os. 6d. Works Expenditure (General). —The total amount of expenditure recorded for the year was £16,550 6s. 10d., day labour accounting for £8,651 3s. Id., and. forty-six piecework contracts totalling £1,394 16s. 9d. The sum of £9,486 Is. 7d. was paid from Whakatane Imprest Account. I have, &c, R. G. Macmorran, The Under-Secretary for Lands, Wellington. Chief Drainage Engineer.

RANGITATKI LAND DRAINAGE ACCOUNT. Receipts and Payments Account por Year ended 31st March, 1928. Receipts. Payments. To Cash in Public Account, Ist April, £ s. d. £ s. d. By Drainage-works, stop-banks, cleaning channels, £ s. d. 1927 .. .. .. 4,839 4 4 and other expenditure incidental to drainage Cash in Investment Account, Ist . operations .. .. 10,921 8 11 April 1927 .. .. 10,000 0 o Engineering and administration expenses .. 540 3 1 14,839 4 4 Fuel .. .. .. .. .. 1,380 12 9 Proceeds from sales and transfers Le.eal expenses .. .. . . . . 6 0 0 of plant, &c., to other works .. .. 602 5 9 Material and stores .. .. .. 1,808 4 7 Subsidy from Consolidated Fund Plant and machinery . . . .. 166 7 4 for maintenance of completed Refund of rates .. ... .. .. 1,205 13 3 works .. .. .. .. 3,200 0 0 Travcllii.«-oxpenses .. .. .. 41 12 3 Rents .. .. .. •. 132 7 10 Interest on debentures recouped to the Consoli"Thirds" .. .. .. .. 10 4 8 dated Fund .. .. .. .. 5,010 0 0 Rates .. .. .. .. 7,213 2 11 Interest on investments .. .. 574 2 8 Balance — £ s. d. Sundries .. .. .. .. 316 7 0 Cash in Public Account .. 3,807 13 0 Investment Account .. 2,000 0 0 5,807 13 0 £26,887 15 2 £26,887 15 2

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Revenue Account for the Year ended 3.1 st March, 1928. Dr. £ s. d. Cr. £ s. d. To Rates, &c, written off .. .. .. 310 710 By Accrued rents .. .. .. .. 143 19 0 Interest on debentures .. .. .. 20,503 0 0 Rates levied to moot maintenance £ s. d. Maintenance of completed works .. .. 2,629 1 6 cost .. .. .. 2,578 10 6 Excess levy for maintenance rate transferred to Rates levied for repayment of Suspense Account .. .. .. 1,025 0 0 capital and interest .. 2,000 0 0 4,578 10 6 Excess rate levied in previous year transferred in reduction of maintenance costs .. .. 1,267 0 0 Penalty levied on arrears of £ s. d. maintenance rate . . .. 101 15 4 Penalty lovied on arrears of capital rate .. .. 101 6 11 203 2 3 "Thirds" .. .. .. .. 10 4 8 Interest on investments .. .. .. 550 1 10 Interest allowed on sinking-fund contributions. . 20 2 7 Rates for year ended 31st March, 1928, capitalized under section 12 (4; (c), Finance Act, 1927 (No. 2) .. .. .. .. 8,618 17 3 Interest on amount of rates capitalized as above under section 12 (4) (d), Finance .Act, 1927 (No. 2) .. .. .. .. 351 5 11 Balance transferred to Drainage Works Account 8,724 5 4 £24,467 9 4 £24,467 9 4 Balance-sheet as at 31st March, 1928. Liabilities. £ s. A. Assets. £ s. d. Loan Account .. .. .. .. 507,500 0 0 Drainage works —Expenditure in connection thereLess loans redeemed under Public £ s. d. with, including wages, supplies, administration, Debt Repayment Act, 1925 .. 15,500 0 0 and engineering expenses, depreciation of plant Securities cancelled and amounts written off, as and capitalized interest charges-reduction under per contra.. .. .. .. .. 15,500 0 0 section 22, Finance Act, 1925 .. ..326,405 15 0 Less securities cancelled and amounts written off, 492,000 0 0 an per contra. .. .. .. .. 15,500 0 0 Loans rodeomed from Consolidated £ s. d. Fund .. .. .. 2,500 0 0 310,905 15 0 Less sinking fund in hands of Drainage works—Cost recoverable £ s. d. Public Trustee .. .. 1,525 16 0 out of rates .. ..205,000 0 0 974 4 0 Capitalized interest (section 12, Interest contributed by Consolidated Fund .. 63,650 19 7 Finance Act, 1927 (No. 2)) .. 15,996 I 3 Unpaid purchase-money for land taken. . .. 210 1 1 220,996 I 3 Sundry creditors —Miscellaneous .. .. 1,540 1 7 Plant and machinery .. .. .. 18,829 12 10 Interest on debentures accrued, but not due .. 4.836 6 2 Live-stock .. .. .. .. .. 3 10 0 Suspense Account, for maintenance rate levied in Loose tools .. .. .. .. .. 331 3 0 excess of requirements .. .. .. 1,025 0 0 Buildings .. .. .. .. .. 1,246 0 3 Consolidated Fund —Amount overpaid on account Wharves .. .. .. .. .. 330 16 3 of maintenance subsidy .. .. .. 951 0 0 Material and stores .. .. .. .. 1,126 3 9 Suspense Account .. .. .. .. 2,005 8 8 Fuel .. .. .. .. .. 221 8 0 Reserve Account .. .. .. .. 138 14 2 Land for Settlement Account .. . . .. 20 0 0 Rates paid in advance .. .. .. 10 13 10 Sundry debtors for rates .. .. .. 7,145 4 2 Rent paid in advanco .. .. .. 16 18 8 Sundry debtors for law-costs .. .. .. 78 10 1 Sundry debtors for rent .. .. .. 716 6 Sundry debtors for miscellaneous . . . . 62 14 10 Sundry debtors for interest on investments .. 199 2 2 Cash in hands of Post Office .. . . .. 47 16 8 Cash in Public Account, 31st March, £ s. d. 1928 .. .. .. 3,807 13 0 Cash in Investment Account . . 2,000 0 0 5,807 13 0 £567,359 7 9 £567,359 7 9 J. B. Thompson, Under-Secretary for Lands. J. H. O'Donnell, Controller of Accounts. I hereby certify that the Statement of Receipts and Payments, Revenue Account, and Balance-sheet have been duly examined and compared with the relative books and documents submitted for audit, and correctly state the position as disclosed thereby. The following comment is appended : — Interest on the amount held by the Public Trustee on behalf of the Public Debt Redemption Fund has been compounded, whereas there is no statutory provision therefor. G. F. C. Campbell, Controller and Auditor-General.

Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given; printing (700 copies, Including map), £27 10s.

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PLAN OF Rangitaiki Drainage Dist.