DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. SWAMP DRAINAGE. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1935, TOGETHER WITH STATEMENTS OF ACCOUNTS.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1935 Session I, C-04

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1935. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. SWAMP DRAINAGE. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1935, TOGETHER WITH STATEMENTS OF ACCOUNTS.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 13 of the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915.

Department of Lands and Survey, Sir, —• Wellington, Ist July, 1935. In pursuance of section 13 of the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915, I have the honour to forward the report of the Chief Drainage Engineer covering operations on lands proclaimed under the Swamp Drainage Act and amendments. I have, &c., W. Robertson, Under-Secretary for Lands. The Hon. Sir E. A. Ransom, Minister of Lands.

REPORT OP CHIEF DRAINAGE ENGINEER. Sir, — I have the honour to submit my annual report on the areas proclaimed under the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915, and its amendments. Kaitaia Drainage Area (61,430 Acres), Mangonui County. Maintenance of completed drains, stop-banks, &c., and some repairs to the Whangatane Spillway were the principal works carried out this year. Some fallen trees were removed from the Kaitaia River, and one of the floating Priestman dredges was dismantled and the machinery placed on the river-bank. Rainfall, &c. —Rainfall and river-gauge readings were taken throughout the year as shown on schedule hereunder :— T-» -¥-» T » T7- . . "*7" O-l . H/T . 1 AfllT

Rainfall and River-gauge Readings at Kaitaia for Year ending 31st March, 1935.

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Kaitaia River Gauge Reading. Month. Rainfall Tflet p a y g> Twenty-four (lncnesj. " Honrs (Inches). Hi S hest - Lowest " 1934. April .. .. .. 2-85 12 0-88 J 60-4 52-1 May .. .. .. 5-36 12 1-69 61-3 52-8 June .. .. .. 9-54 18 3-43 69-5 52-9 July .. .. .. 8-44 17 2-96 69-4 54-9 August .. .. .. 8-31 13 2-08 69-0 54-8 September .. .. .. 6-33 14 1-60 64-2 54-1 October .. .. .. 5-12 14 1-87 63-2 53-6 November .. .. .. 2-76 14 1-47 65-5 53-4 December .. .. .. 6-92 14 2-90 66-8 53-1 1935. January .. .. .. 1--80 6 1-08 53-7 52-8 February .. .. .. 8-55 16 2-38 68-1 52-7 March .. .. .. 5-99 15 2-58 67-2 53-3 Totals .. .. 71-97 165

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The year was one of exceptionally heavy rainfall and frequent flooding, but in spite of abnormal rainfalls the flood-levels recorded in the flat portion of the drainage area did not approach the levels reached in previous years. On numerous occasions a large volume of water was passed by the Whangatane Spillway, and this reduced flood-levels generally by approximately 3 ft. Overflow from the Kaitaia River at Johnson's corner occurred on two occasions, but elsewhere on the Kaitaia Flats the river was confined to its channel at these times and throughout the year. Whangatane Spillway.—This channel was running to capacity on several occasions, and some damage was caused to the concrete floor at the intake. Temporary repairs were effected between floods, but some more extensive work will eventually have to be carried out to arrest scour above and below the intake. Drains.—4o m. 57 ch. of drains were cleared within the period, mostly during the autumn of 1934, and contracts are now under way for clearing approximately 50 m. of drain, which will be completed in April. No new drains or improvement to drains were undertaken, and clearing of weeds and slips is the only work being carried out. Kaitaia River. —A small amount of work was carried out above Kaitaia in clearing the river of fallen trees. Many poplars and other trees are growing on the banks, and these fall into the channel as they become top-heavy and where scour takes place. It is essential that they be removed to prevent blockage of the channel, and this work is carried out as required. Plant. —Dredge No. 7 was dismantled, and machinery stored on the river-bank. The pontoon is in a state of decay, but has been beached and securely moored. Any other plant and tools which could be used on small-farms work have been transferred as required. Proposals for Ensuing Year.—Maintenance of drains is the only work proposed to be carried out next year, but the position at Whangatane Spillway intake requires watching and may necessitate some further work at any time, depending on the frequency and volume of flooding. Works Expenditure. —The total expenditure for the year was £1,279 Is. 4d. Drainage Rates. —Rates struck amounted to £3,969 10s. 7d., and £1,929 4s. 3d. was collected. HikuranCtl Drainage Area (50,000 Acres), Whangarei County. Rainfall. —The rainfall throughout the year was in excess of that usually experienced. The year's total recorded at the Apotu Camp gauge was 83-67 in., and on seven separate days rain in excess of 2 in. was recorded. Floods.—On five occasions the Jordan Bridge stage reached an elevation of 31 ft., and early in March a maximum stage of 32 ft. was experienced, being the highest for five years. These floods have been simultaneous generally with the severe flooding that has occurred in the Northern Peninsula during the past twelve months. Data. —Data of precipitation at various stations of water, stages, &c., have been collected continuously and have been plotted in graph form. Construction Work. —Construction work through the year has been on the Wairua River near Lewis's Bridge, and also in improvement to the Lower Okarika diversion. This work ceased towards the middle of November. Excavator Work. —Wairwi River. Main Diversions. —No work has been carried out on these. Main Diversion and Spillways.—No work has been carried out on same. Up-river Diversions. —Nos. 12 and 14 drag-lines have carried out improvement by deepening and by widening to No. 5 diversion. River-improvement. —(a) Purua to Lewis's Bridge. No. 12 Bucyrus has carried out improvements to the river-channel from 5 m. 77 ch. to 6 m. 51 ch. to Lewis's Bridge. (b) Lewis's Bridge to Jordan Bridge. No. 14 Bucyrus has carried out improvements to the river-channel from 6 m. 30 ch. to 8 m., and No. 12 Bucyrus has eased back the right bank at 7 m. 26 ch. near the entrance to No. 6 diversion. Canal-improvement. —No. 14 Bucyrus has improved, by widening and deepening, the first 20 ch. of the Okarika diversion. Hand Work. Okarika Diversion. —Hand work has been done from 20 ch. to 38 ch. to carry the effect of the drag-line work up to the outlet through Sections 7, 12, and 11. Ngararaturiua Canal. —Hand work was done in removal of poaquatica grass, and minor improvements where required. Maintenance. —Contracts for drain-maintenance have been advertised, and work will commence early in April, 1935. Plant and Machinery. Bucyrus Plant.—Nos. 12 and 14 excavators have been working as drag-lines on river-improvement, &c. Wear-and-tear has been excessive only in respect of buckets and wire rope in grappling with timber and rock under water. No. 13 Bucyrus. —This excavator is parked at Apotu Camp. No. 26 Dipper.—This excavator is stored at Apotu. No. 3 Priestman.—The machinery, &c., of this excavator is stored at Apotu. The pontoon is used on the river for transport of the drag-lines. Drilling and Compressor Plant. —This plant remains stored at Apotu, Trucking Plant. —No use of this plant has been made.

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Trucks and Cars.—One 30 cwt. truck and two cars have been used and serviced through the year. Workshops. —These have been staffed, as occasion has demanded, to facilitate bucket and machinery repairs, &c. Other Works. Survey Work.—Levels, cross-sections, &c., have been taken as required. Relief Works.—For the first few days of the year some sixty Hikurangi men were still on the Otonga, Riponui, and Okarika areas. Arrangements have recently been completed for some twelve No. 5 Scheme Hikurangi men to commence improvements to the stream that traverses Storrar's, Palmer's, and Munro's, near Hikurangi Mountain. Closing-down of Works. —All items of plant and tools, save boats and punts, which are moored in the river, have been returned to Apotu Camp for storage. Some workmen's quarters have been dismantled and all usable corrugated iron transported to Kaitaia for use on small-farm buildings. Comprehensive lists of all plant and stores have been compiled for the purposes of possible disposal of these items. Works Expenditure. —The expenditure for the year totalled £4,182 os. 6d. Waihi Drainage Area (20,000 Ackes), Tauranga County. Work in this area was again confined exclusively to the maintenance of existing drainage outfalls, stop-banks, and flood-gates. A Monighan dredge was employed for a short period removing an accumulation of silt from the southern portion of the Wharere Canal, sufficient depth being dredged to provide a basin to trap the silt from the higher reaches. The distance dredged was 12 ch., and 5,280 cubic yards of spoil was moved. The hand drains, totalling 37 m. 73 ch., were cleaned during the year, and the growth was removed from several lengths of dredged canals. A short length of stop-bank on the west bank of the Wharere Canal was raised. Improvements to the drains and the clearing of growth was proceeded with by the flax company leasing the area east of the Wharere Canal, but no milling was done during the year. Development work was proceeded with by the Department on the areas of surrendered flax lease west of the Wharere Canal, totalling 930 acres. The progress made in grassing these areas is very encouraging. A total of 402 acres has been grassed, and these farms are being fully equipped for dairying in the coming season. Stock to assist consolidation are being grazed on the balance of the area. Expenditure for the year totalled £536 14s. 2d. Drainage rates struck totalled £1,537 Is. 4d., and £745 Bs. 2d. was collected. Pottkawa Drainage Area (13,567 Acres), Hawke's Bay. The work for the past year was confined to the completion of deepening the formed outlet from the lake, and, late in the period, the cleaning of drains at the south end of the lake was commenced. Expenditure was £176 10s. Bd. Rates struck totalled £1,389 Is., and £882 2s. Id. was collected by the District Office, Napier. I have, &c., R. 6. Macmorran, The Under-Secretary for Lands, Wellington. Chief Drainage Engineer.

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SWAMP LAND DRAINAGE SCHEMES. Rate Accounts foe the Year ended 31st Mabch, 1935. Kaitaia Dbainage Abea. Special Rate Accounts : Capital. Rural Town Rural Town Subdivision. Subdivision. Subdivision. Subdivision. £ s. d. £ s. d. Cr. £ s. d. £ s. d. To Transfer'to Reserve Fund ... 364 13 6 49 16 9By Balance .. .. • • 567 10 9 12 15 2 Interest charge •• 2,335 6 6 401 3 3 £ s. d. Remissions 13 4 3 17 13 1 Rates levied .. 3,325 9 3 460 3 3 Balance " •• 786 9 4 25 7 2 Less rebate .. 600 5 5 2,725 3 10 Penalty, 10 per cent, unpaid rates 206 19 0 21 110 £3,499 13 7 £494 0 3 £3,499 13 7 £494 0 3 General Rate Accounts : Maintenance. Rural Town ®. llr . a ! „ ,s?™. Subdivision. Subdivision. Subdivision. Subdivision. Br. £ s. d. £ s. d. Cr. £ s. d. £ s. d. To Balance .. •• •• 40 18 8 .. By Balance .. .. •• •• 53 4 0 Cost of maintenance (less subsidy) .. 580 0 0 49 10 2 Rates levied (less subsidy).. .. 684 14 3 99 3 2 Remissions •• 36 3 413 11 Penalty, 10 per cent, unpaid rates .. 49 5 3 411 A Balance 109 14 7 102 14 4 £733 19 6 £156 18 5 £733 19 6 £156 18 5 NOTE—Gross maintenance costs (£1,094 10s. 2d.) were subsidized from Consolidated Fund by £465. Waihi Dbainage Abea. Special Rate Accounts : Capital. Pukehina Kaikokopu Pukehina Kaikokopu Ward. Ward. Ward. Ward. Dr. £ s. d. £ s. d. Cr. £ s. d. £ s. d. To Balance .. •• •• 48 0 8 By Balance .. .. •• 607 3 11 Remissions " 2 310 Rates levied 374 2 0 389 17 0 Transfer to Reserve Fund .. 31 18 2 47 17 3 Penalty, 10 per cent, unpaid rates .. 37 8 2 32 0 8 Interest charge .. • • • • 243 110 364 12 9 Balance Balance . ■ • ■ • • 7 43 14 1 .. £1,018 14 1 £462 14 6 £1,018 14 1 £462 14 6 General Rate Accounts : Maintenance. Pukehina Kaikokopu Central Pukehina Kaikokopu Ward Ward. Ward. Ward. Ward. Ward. Dr £s. d. £s. d. £ s. d. Cr. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. To Cost of maintenance .. 15 9 0 329 15 6 255 30 By Balance .. .. 655 3 8 604 13 1 209 15 2 Remissions .. ■ • • • 22 3 451 11 7 .Rates levied .. 122 4 4 290 12 10 364 18 8 Balance " .. 774 3 6 585 911 . • Penalty, 10 per cent. lmCe •' unpaid rates .. 12 4 6 22 1 9 26 811 Balance .. . ■ • • • • 105 11 10 £789 12 6 £917 7 8 £706 14 7 £789 12 6 £917 7 8 £706 14 7 * Poukawa Drainage Abea. Special Rate Account: Capital. r) r . £ s. d. Cr. £ s. d. To Remissions .. •• •• •• J? By Balance .. .. . • •• •• 131 13 3 Transfer to Reserve Fund 122 15 11 Rates levied .. .. .. .. 1,233 3 10 Interest charge .. ' •• •• .. 1,062 9 1 Penalty, 10 per cent, unpaid rates .. .. 55 5 0 Balance .. • • • • • • • • 215 1 3 £1,420 2 1 £1,420 2 1 General Rate Account: Maintenance. £ s. d. Cr. £ s. d. To Remissions 2 3 6 By Balance 150 16 6 Balance .. • ■ • • • • 290 10 9 Rates levied .. • • ■ • ■ • 135 17 2 Penalty, 10 per cent, unpaid rates .. .. 6 0 7 £292 14 3 £292 14 3

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SWAMP LAND DRAINAGE SCHEMES—continued. Receipts and Payments Account foe the Year ended 31st March, 1935. Receipts. i Payments. Public Consolidated Public Consolidated Works Fund. Fund. Works Fund. Fund. To Rents from national-endowment £ s. d. £ s. d. By Kaitaia Drainage Area— £ s. d. £ s. d. land in Waihi Drainage Area .. . . 335 15 0 Drainage-works, &c. .. 31 4 0 Special rate for interest and sink- Maintenance, completed works .. 1,277 8 6 ing fund — Waihi Drainage Area— Waihi Drainage Area .. .. 217 19 4 Maintenance, completed works .. 521 18 4 Kaitaia Drainage Area .. . . 1,453 14 6 Poukawa Drainage Area— Poukawa Drainage Area .. .. 792 19. 9 Drainage-works, &c. ... 117 5 6 General rate for administration Management and engineering and maintenance — expenses .. .. 15 7 8 Waihi Drainage Area .. .. 427 8 7 Hikurangi Drainage Area— Kaitaia Drainage Area .. .. 458 13 7 Drainage-works, &c. .. 3,137 3 8 Poukawa Drainage Area .. . . 89 2 4 Management and engineering Subsidy from Consolidated Eund: expenses .. .. 390 16 11 Maintenance, Kaitaia Drainage Fuel and stores .. ... 777 16 3 Area .. .. • • .. 465 0 0 Transfer, receipts to Treasury Thirds .. .. . . .. 129 0 3 Adjustment Account .. .. 4,714 5 11 Sundry rents .. .. .. .. 30 16 10 Transfer, receipts to Public Works Miscellaneous .. .. .. 313 15 9 Fund .. .. .. 1,293 1 5 Credits in reduction of expenditure 1,293 1 5 Transfer, expenditure to Treasury Adjustment Account .. .. 1,799 6 10 Transfer, expenditure to Public Works Fund .. .. 4,469 14 0 £5,762 15 5 £6,513 12 9 £5,762 15 5 £6,513 12 9

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SWAMP LAND DRAINAGE SCHEMES —continued. Balance-sheet as at 31st March, 1935. Liabilities. £ s. d. L Assets. Capital Account, Public Works Fund .. ..689,541 9 2 Kaitaia Drainage Area— £ s. d. £ s. d. Reserve : Repayment capital costs— Allocated cost of works on which Kaitaia Drainage Dis- rates are levied— £ s. d. £ s. d. Rural subdivision .. .. 60,000 0 U Rural subdivision 1,657 14 3 Town subdivision .. .. 8,200 0 0 Town subdivision 226 11 1 , 0 0 1,884 5 4 Excess cost of works not recoverWaihi Drainage Dis- able •• •• .. 155,518 9 1 trict— Interest Account : Proportion Pukehina subdivi- chargeable to district ..123,145 8 9 sion .. .. 170 1 0 — 278,663 Kaikokopu subdivi- Waihi Drainage Area gior| _ _ 255 1 7 Allocated cost of works on which 425 2 7 rates are levied-*-Poukawa Drainage District .. 343 13 8 Pukehina subdivision .. 5,W 0 0 2,653 1 7 Kaikokopu subdivision .. 7,500 0 0 Rate Accounts- Central subdivision .. 50,000 0 0 Special Rate Accounts : Capital— o/,ouu Kaitaia Drainage Excess cost of works not recoverDistrict— £ s. d. able .. .. .. 23,809 3 1 Rural subdivision 786 9 4 Interest Account : Proportion Town subdivision 25 7 2 chargeable to district .. 39,058 14 3 811 16 6 62,867 17 4 Waihi Drainage District: Puke- Poukawa Drainage Area— hina subdivision .. .. 743 14 1 Drainage works .. .. 15,87., 8 5 Poukawa Drainage District .. 215 1 3 Interest Account : Proportion 1,770 11 10 chargeable to district .. 2,868 15 11 General Rate Accounts: Mainten- 18,741 4 4 anoe Hikurangi Drainage Area — Kaitaia Drainage Dis- Drainage works .. ..245,656 5 10 tr j ct £ s . d. Interest Account : Proportion Town subdivision . . 102 14 4 chargeable to district ..110,434 18 10 Rural subdivision .. 109 14 7 j ' 356,091 4 8 _ 212 8 11 Mangawai Drainage Area — Waihi Drainage Dis- Drainage works .. .. 1,877 19 3 Interest Account : Proportion Pukehina subdivi- chargeable to district .. 1,206 7 0 77 A Q 0,084 O 6 Sion . • • • 774 6 t) Kaikokopu subdivi- Hanhan Dramage Area— aion .. .. 585 911 Drainage works .. .. 4,355 211 1,359 13 5 Interest Account: Proportion Poukawa Drainage District .. 290 10 9 chargeable to district .. 2,441 6 5 1,862 13 I M 96 9 4 Snn<W prprlit.nrs Buildings .. .. •• •• 1,505 0 0 Miscellaneous 381 12 7 Wharves " v 29 779 15 '"l Departmenta l g g ;; ;; A Rents charged in advance .. •• 223 0 0 Live-stock 11 in S Payments in advance — -Fuel ■ • ■ • • • * • " . 9Qfl „ 9 R en t.. .. .. .. 2 0 3 Stores on hand .. .. •• 4,290 6 2 T> nt '' . 312 2 Sundry debtors for rates — ' " " 5 12 5 Drainage District. Capital. Maintenance. Suspense Account 0 6 0 10 , 323 3 9 3,095 15 7 13,418 19 4 Writmgs-off m Suspense . .. •• 1/11 u WaiM _ .. 4,11519 3 5,908 17 3 10,024 16 6 Treasury Adjustment Account .. .. -dl,y/lia 4 p oukawa _ 1,619 18 8 176 9 0 1,796 7 8 Sundry debtors — Rent under section 4 (2), Swamp Land Drainage Amendment £ s. d. Act, 1926.. .. 1,015 18 3 House-rent .. .. . • 27 15 10 Law-costs .. .. • • 341 10 7 Miscellaneous .. .. 72 8 6 Departmental .. • • 87 4 10 1,544 18 0 Rate Account — Special Rate Account —Capital — Waihi Drainage District: Kaikokopu subdivision .. •• •• •• 40 16 10 General Rate Account —Maintenance— Waihi Drainage District: Central subdivision 105 11 10 Postponed rent .. . • • • • • 17 19 10 Premiums on conversion . • .. • • 204 0 0 Revenue Account : Waihi Drainage District, central ward .. .. •• •• 8,314 6 5 Losses in Suspense .. .. . ■ • • 171 1 0 Cash in transit from Post-office .. • • 13 7 4 £928,582 19 10 £928,582 19 10 W. Robertson, Under-Secretary for Lands. Wm. E. Shaw, Accountant. I hereby certify that the Rate Accounts 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, subject to the comment that no charge for the cost of exchange on payments made in London is included m the Account, and to the accounts of the Auckland Office and Chief Drainage Engineer, the audit of which has not yet been completed by the local Audit Inspector, being in agreement with the Head Office books.—J. H. Fowler, Deputy Controller and Auditor-General. Approximate Cost of Paper— Preparation, not given; printing (650 copies), £7 10s.

By Authority: 6. H. Loney, Government Printer, Wellington. —1935.

Price fid.]

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