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1925. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. RANGITAIKI LAND DRAINAGE. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH, 1925, TOGETHER WITH STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly in pursuance of Section 10 of the Rangitaiki Land Drainage Act, 1910.

Sib,— Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, 12th June, 1925. I have the honour to submit herewith the report upon drainage operations in the Rangitaiki Plains for the year ended 31st March, 1925, pursuant to the provisions of the Rangitaiki Land Drainage Act, 1910. The accompanying statement of cash transactions and balance-sheet shows the financial transactions for the year, and the position of the account as at the 31st March last. A plan showing operations is attached. I have, &c., The Hon. A. D. McLeod, Minister of Lands. J. B. Thompson, Under-Secretary.

REPORT OF CHIEF DRAINAGE ENGINEER. SiR, — In accordance witli the provisions of the Rangitaiki Land Drainage Act, 1910, I have the honour to submit my annual report for the year ended 31st March, 1925. The period under review has witnessed the completion of practically all scheduled construction and improvement works. The area which will benefit from the further authorized construction works has been reduced to a minimum, and work under this heading will be completed during the coming period. As is universally the case with all land-development undertakings, there is no finality to possible improvements, and consequently additional works will become desirable from time to time ; and, as the country develops and progresses sufficiently to warrant the further expenditure, provision will have to be made for carrying out these improvements. In certain localities the drained swamp has not come up to full expectations as regards quality of soil, and in others, after consolidation, sufficient freeboard has not remained for wholly successful cultivation. Dairying is gradually becoming the premier industry, and smaller holdings are tending towards more intensive cultivation. The amount of butter manufactured by the new Rangitaiki Dairy Company was 776 tons, an increase of 143 tons over last year's production. The amount paid to suppliers was approximately £90,500. The Tarawera Cheese-factory's output for the year was 300 tons of cheese and 9 tons of whey butter, the amount paid to its suppliers being approximately £24,000.

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