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addition to the re-forming of If miles, are in course of construction, but no portion has been finally completed. Ploughing operations for the eradication of the fescue are being pushed on, and our two tractors have handled the work, which is particularly heavy, most efficiently. Contracts were let to two ploughing contractors with tractors, with a view to further expediting this side of the work, but they have been most unfortunate and have done practically no work, largely on account of their not taking the advice of the Department's experts in selecting implements. To date 380 acres has been ploughed, of which 110 acres is second ploughing. The area of 270 acres has been disked and harrowed, and is ready for grassing. The whole settlement has been subdivided into forty-two sections, of which eleven have already been disposed of, and another fourteen will be ready for selection early in the coming year. Tin; remainder will be dealt with as the reading, ploughing, and grassing is completed. Expenditure for the year, £13,555 14s. 6d. Reynolds Settlement. —Some 4 miles of drains in this settlement have been* cleaned and deepened to give efficient drainage facilities for that portion of the area already disposed of. An area of 20 acres of the unsold portion has been ploughed, harrowed, and treated with lime at the rate of 6 cwt. per acre for experimental purposes. This will be sown with temporary grasses in the early winter, and the results will largely determine the future action with this unselected area. The land is semi-consolidated raw peat, inclined to be sour, and it is questionable if it will take grass without further burning and consolidating. Expenditure, £250 15s. 9d. Upper and Lower Kawakawa Swamps. —An engineering survey of the Upper Kawakawa Swamp has been completed, and that of the Lower Kawakawa Swamp is well in hand. Some 15 miles of levels have, been run in this connection, and the preparation of the plans and estimates are in hand. Total cost to date, £211 10s. lid. Koremoa Settlement. -Preliminary work in connection with proposed scheme of drainage was carried out, and report on project supplied. Expenditure, £53 6s. 3d. Reporoa Settlement. —The actual construction-work on this settlement was commenced in May of last year, and, as anticipated, there has been a difficulty in obtaining the labour for carrying out the works. Up to the end of March the following works have been carried out: Drain-construction, 17 miles 60 chains ; road-construction, 14 miles 40 chains. In addition some 35,000 ft. of timber has been carted on to the ground from Oruanui Mill, 27 miles distant, and the greater part has already been used for the construction of bridges and culverts. So far, eight sill bridges, ten culvert and five pile bridges have been completed, whilst several more pile bridges are either partly completed or in course of erection, but such completion is delayed on account of the shortage of timber. Unfortunately, the supply of timber has not met the demand, and consequently the roads have not been connected up as fast as was anticipated. In no case has the work of the settlers been hampered through the lack of roads or drains. The roads have mainly been formed by a grader, drawn by a tractor, whilst during the last month of the year an additional grader has also been utilized. The heaviest works still to be carried out consist of the ballasting of certain peat roads with pumice, the construction of bridges, and improvements to the Waiotapu Stream. The expenditure during the year was £6,348 3s. Lake Waikare. —The field-work in connection with this scheme was commenced in September, 1919, and was finished in June, 1920. Since last report 20 miles of levelling has been carried out and checked, whilst 4 miles of the lake-edge has either been traversed or trigged in by cross-bearings. In addition 6 miles of swamp edges was compass-traversed. This scheme, which aims at benefiting the low-lying swamp country round the lake, will not be a cheap proposition, as stop-banks would have to be erected along the Waikato River for 6 miles, whilst a canal of 5 miles would have to be dredged, in addition to the internal drains. The area of swamp round the lake is 7,190 acres, of which 1,718 acres is Crown land. At jiresent an area of 6,000 acres of this swamp is practically useless, as it cannot possibly be drained satisfactorily and laid down in good grass, on account of the continual rises in the Waikato River, which cover the swamps for a good portion of each year. A report accompanied by plans has been prepared and is now awaiting further action. This swamp is one of the areas that will be affected by the Waikato Inland Waterways Commission, at present investigating the Waikato River. Should the Commission decide that Lake Waikare is not necessary as a relief to the Waikato River, then the way is cleared. It is, however, felt that the closing of Lake Waikare must assuredly result in increasing the peak of floods at Mercer. The total cost during the year was £277 Is. lid. Whamjamarino Swamp.- --Some £58 13s. 4d. was spent in obtaining further information about this area, and after this a report was prepared on this particular area. This swamp acts as an overflow area for the Waikato River during floods, and as this also comes within the scope of the Inland Waterways Commission further action has been delayed until their report is available. Maluku Settlement. —During the year a 20 ft. road was formed for a distance of 127 chains through the settlement. At the northern corner, where the road turns towards the east, a good deal of filling was required, but, plenty of material being available, a very good road was made, and it is now in first-class order. Drains were cut alongside same where required, and pipe crossings put in for the settlers. Expenditure, £688 14s. lid. Seaward Moss Engineering Surveys. —Work during the year consisted of running levels and traverses along Curren's Creek, Moffett's Creek, and Waituna Stream. A total of 56j miles of traverses and 53J miles of levels was run, 30 miles of levels being run twice for check purposes. Expenditure, £803 4s. 4d. Waimana Protective Works. —During the year the following works were undertaken : 47 chains of willows were planted along the bank of Whakatane River (these willows arc growing well, and effectively protecting the river-bank) : 19 chains of scooped diversions were put in, and four groynes constructed ; one groyne previously erected at Addison's was repaired. The works were closed down in September, 1920. Expenditure, £1,302 Is. 3d.