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The following table shows the amount of spoil dredged and cost per cubic yard for the last eight years Cubic ('out per Yards. Cubic Yard. 1917-18 .. .. .. .. 55,538 4-57 d. 1918-19 .. .. .. .. 20,780 7-67 d. 1919-20 .. .. .. .. 44.250 9-29 d. 1920-2 1 . .. .. .. .. 63,495 7-77 d. 1921 22 .. .. .. .. 77,535 6-17 d. 1922-23 .. .. .. .. 184,527 6-97 d. 1923-24 .. .. .. .. 241,504 7-54 d. 1924-25 .. .. .. ..252,618 6-90 d. Roads. -The Wharere East Bank Road was formed lot a distance of 53J chains with a top width of 20 ft., and the spoil-banks on either side of the Pongakawa Stream were, spread to a top width of 12ft. for a distance of 98 chains from the Main Road. No other roadworks were carried out during the period. Drainp. A new drain was formed from the Wharere Canal in a south-westerly direction through the block of country lying between the Wharere Canal and the Kaikokopu Stream, which block was recently leased for flax-cultivation, and most beneficial results have been obtained. Another drain, running parallel with the central drain, was formed from the Pongakawa Stream southwards to the Main Road, and materially assisted in carrying away the water from the hill country south of the railway. The deepening and widening of the central drain is well in hand, and should be completed early irr the coming period. A drain and stop-bank was constructed from the Wharere Canal to the Pongakawa Stream close to the Waihi Estuary, and when No. 25 dredge (American Steel) completes the banks down the Pongakawa Stream the tide will be kept out of a block of approximately 300 acres, which will be drained by means of a flood-gate. The outlet to the sections already thrown open for selection (Sections 35-38 drain) was widened and deepened, and ample fall for drainage purposes is now available for the settlers. In the Waewaetutuki Block the widening and deepening of Mend's and Wilson's drains was completed, and a large area of swampy country derived direct benefit. An incredible amount of timber was encountered in Wilson's drain, necessitating a continual use of explosives. No. 2 drain in this block was also constructed, but will not be finally deepened at the eastern end until the widening and deepening of the Kaikokopu Stream is completed. Towards the end of May the whole district was swept by a severe storm lasting nearly a week ; I I in. of rain fell, and a tremendous amount of water had to be carried off by the drainage system ; yet, despite the severity of the test, good results were obtained, and although many of the drains were running bank-high only in one or two isolated places were they overflowing across the surrounding country. Bridges—During the year three sill bridges were erected on the works. The following is a summary of the various works performed during the year M. Ch. Cub. Yard. Canals dredged .. .. .. .. ..5 46 J 252,618 New drains .. .. .. .. ..3 77" 21,752 Drains widened and deepened .. .. ..9 39 29,407 Cleaning drains .. . . .. .. 19 22 Road-formation .. . . .. .. 3 9| Sill bridges erected (number) .. .. .... .. 3 The major works to be carried out during the coming year are (1) widening and deepening of the Kaikokopu Stream, (2) completion dredging Pongakawa Stream, (3) stop-banking Waihi Estuary. The total expenditure for the year was £11,860; of this amount £4,137 was expended in daylabour (including dredge crews) and £3,583 in piecework contracts. The officer in charge is Mr. 1). S. B. Heather, Acting Engineer, whose headquarters are at Pongakawa. Poukawa Drainage Area (13,567 Acres), Hawke's Bay County. Operations have not been commenced on this area, as no decision has been reached with regard to the Native lands included in the drainage area. A dredge at the Rangitaiki works has been dismantled, and when overhauled will be available for t his area when required. The dredge pontoon was inspected recently, and was found to be in fair order, although the caulking will require renewing, and some of the timbers for the foundation have warped and will need to be replaced. The rainfall for the year was 26-57 in., rain falling on ninety-seven days, and the average for the past eight years was 28-93 in. The expenditure for the year was £103~35. 9d. Hikurangi: Dkainage Area (50,000 Acres), Whangarei County. Although an extremely bad winter was experienced (during which there were two disastrous floods), followed by a very wet early summer, the various operations have been vigorously prosecirted, and the progress made has been satisfactory. During the year rain fell on 160 days, the total fall being 54-53 in. April, 1924, was the wettest month, with a fall of 14-12 in., spread over seventeen days. January, 1925, was the driest month, with a fall of 0-86 in., spread over seven days.