C—B.

Statement op Accounts (as required by Section 10 op the Hauraki Plains Act, 1908) for the Year ended 31 st March, 1916. Receipts. Expenditure. 1915—April Ist. £ s. d. £ s. d. 1816—Maroh 81st. £ s. d. To Balance—-Cash in Public By Expenditure— Account .. .. .. 4,2(15 19 4 Drainage-works, stop-banks, clearing 1916 —March 31st. channels, and all expenses incidental To New Zealand Loans Act, thereto .. .. .. 11,594 (I 9 1908; Hauraki Plains Equipment of dredges, repairs, and Act, 1908—Debentures maintenance thereof .. .. 1,031 16 9 issued .. .... .. 11 ,000 0 0 Travelling-allowances and general oxReceipts under section 5, penses . . . . . . 69 19 8 Hauraki Plains Act, Office expenses —Thames .. .. 271 14 8 1908— Sinking artesian wells for settlers .. 701 2 6 Rents .. .. 9,449 14 10 Compensation for land acquired in Land sales .. 1,347 0 0 connection with drainage-works .. 64 13 0 Miscellaneous .. 743 8 8 ■ — 11,540 3 6 14,333 13 10 Interest recouping the Consolidated Fund .. .. .. .. 3,997 10 0 New Zealand Loans Act, 1908 — Charges and expenses in connection with issue of debentures .. .. 0 7 0 Balance—Cash in Public Account .. 8,474 12 0 £26,806 2 10 £26,806 2 10 Loan Account. 1916—March 31st. £ s. d. 1915—April Ist. £ s. d. To Balance .. .. .. .. 160,628 0 0 Bv Balance due to Local Bodies' Loans Account .. .. .. 40,628 0 0 Debentures issued under the Stateguaranteed Advances Act, 1909, and amendments .. .. .. 95,000 0 0 Debentures issued under the New Zealand Loans Aot, 1908.. .. 16,000 0 0 Debentures issued under the Hauraki Plains Amendment Act, 1913 .. 9,000 0 0 £160,628 0 0 £160,628 0 0

REPORT BY CHIEF DBAINAGE ENGINEER. Sir, — I have the honour, in accordance with the provisions of the Hauraki Plains Act, 1908, to report upon the various operations carried out during the financial vear ending the 31st March, 1916. Owing to the war and the necessity for economy the development of the whole scheme has not progressed as fast as in previous years. The main works have been confined to the improvements in the drainage and the roading of the areas previously thrown open for settlement. This was especially necessary last March (1915), when a large area of land, was thrown open before the roads and drains were completed. However, a large number of these works have been completed since that date, and the balance will be undertaken in due course. Naturally, works were undertaken which benefit lands that cannot be thrown open for years to come, and so there is no immediate gain to the Department. This refers particularly ro Waikaka, where long- outlets have been and are being constructed, and so far the areas on the upper portions only have been thrown open for selection. The maintenance of the roads and drains is a big undertaking now, especially since it was proved that a large number of the drains require to be cleared of weeds, &c., twice per year. In most drainage-areas once per year suffices, but with a small fall per mile and a mild climate the weeds flourish so luxuriantly that one clearing is insufficient. As years go by new aquatic weeds make their appearance in the drains, and it is very hard to keep all the drains in an efficient state. During the year there was a special grant of ,£2,000 to assisl in maintaining the drains, &c, but this did not cover all the expenditure under this heading, the balance being charged up against the Settlement Account. As was anticipated in my last report, there has not been a ballot for sections on the plains during the past year: therefore the area under occupation is still 38,994 acres, subdivided into 294 sections, exclusive of town sections. The pursuits followed have been dairying and grazing, cropping being confined to a few patches of maize for autumn feed, and a few patches of turnips at Waikaka and Tahuna. The season, which was extremely wet in the spring and then became very dry, was not as profitable per cow as the previous season. Home separation is still in vogue; in fact, this is the only method of disposing of the cream, which is collected by launch and taken to the factory at Ivopu, or transhipped to Frankton.

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