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Results. The results of the drainage-works already undertaken are so satisfactory that a strong body of surveyors, under Mr. J. B. Thompson, District Surveyor, have started to survey the main road-lines, and the scheming-out of the sections will shortly follow ; and it is hoped that fully 30,000 acres will be ready for closer settlement within eighteen months, and also that by the autumn a very considerable area will be open for. settlement. There is now no question but that the drainage of the Hauraki Plains will give a handsome return to the State for all its expenditure, besides converting profitless lands into rich settlement lands capable of carrying a large population. Statement op Accounts for the Year ended 31st March, 1909. Receipts. Expenditure. 1909. £ s. d. 1909. £ s. d. Mar. 31. To Advances from Government Mar. 31. By Expenditure— Loans to Local Bodies' Ac- Engineer—Salary .. .. 187 10 0 count, under section 4of " The Paymaster—Salary .. 7 7 10 Hauraki Plains Settlement Act, Travelling allowances and ex--190 8" .. .. .. 12,000 0 0 penses, camp allowances, and general expenses of administration ..... 04 2 4 Purchase and equipment of dredges and launches, maintenance and working-ex-penses.. ... .. 4,052 9 9 Buildings — Erection and maintenance .. .. 103 2 9 - Drainage works, clearing channels, building stop - banks, tramways, and all expenses incidental thereto 7,257 12 10 11,672 5 (i Balance—Cash in Public Account .. .. .. 327 14 6 £12,000 0 0 £12,000 0 0 Advances from Government Loans to Local Bodies' Account. 1909. £ s. d. 1908. Mar. 31. To Balance .. .. .. 12,125 211 By Advances from Government £ s. d. Loans to Local Bodies' Account, under section 4 of " The Hauraki Plains Settlement Act, 1908 "— Oct. 30. First advance .. 5,000 0 0 1909. Jan. 25. Second advance .. 5,000 0 0 Peb. 22. Third advance .. 1,000 0 0 Mar. 18. Fourth advance .. 1,000 0 0 12,000 0 0 Interest on above to 31st March, 1909 .. .. 125 2 11 £12,125 2 11 £12,125 2 11

REPORT UPON HAURAKI DRAINAGE OPERATIONS BY WILLIAM C. BREAKELL, CE, FOR YEAR ENDING 31st MARCH, 1909. In my last annual report I stated that I had left Wellington in the previous August, and had reported to you on the 11th September following. In said annual report I stated that I had had time and opportunity to explore the property, and had verified to a great extent the opinions I had previously expressed. I have now great pleasure in informing you that after another year's experience, and after due consideration of all matters brought before me during that period, I am satisfied that my opinion as then expressed was not too optimistic, and I have considerable gratification in being able to inform you that the result of the operations has exceeded my most sanguine anticipations. I then informed you that the principal causes of the submergement of a large area of the plains was due to the incapacity under the then existing circumstances of the Piako and Waitakaruru Rivers to discharge the waters forced upon them. As to the Piako River, the kahikatea logs referred to in the report have been removed, partly by the millers, but to a greater extent by the Department; but the expenses incurred by the latter in this operation is chargeable to the millers under the Floatage Act, and I hope to recover from them the amount thus expended. All the known snags have been removed from the river for its full width between its mouth and its junction with, the Waitoa. Thence up to the old mill-landing near Tahuna (about three miles above its junction with the Waitoa) the river-bed has been entire y cleared of logs for a width of 25 ft. Also all the logs in the bed of the Waitoa River for a distance of about three miles have been removed. The willows in the Piako, which con-