a—ii

1527. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. RANGITAIKI LAND DRAINAGE. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1927, 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, 30th June, 1927. I have the honour to submit herewith the report upon drainage operations in the Rangitaiki Plains for the year ended 31st March, 1927, pursuant to the provisions of the Rangitaiki Land Drainage Act, 1910. The accompanying statement of accounts and balance-sheet shows the financial transactions for the year, and the position of the account as at the 31st March last. A plan of the drainage district is attached. * I have, &c., J. B. Thompson, The Hon. A. D. McLeod, Minister of Lands. Under-Secretary for Lands.

REPORT OF CHIEF DRAINAGE ENGINEER. Sir, — In accordance with the provisions of the Rangitaiki Land Drainage Act, 1910, I have the honour to submit my report for the financial year ending 31st March, 1927. Apart from the general maintenance of completed works and the completion of the Tarawera stop-banking, the only remaining major works to be undertaken during the period were the diversion of the Kopeopeo lower down the Wbakatane River, and the widening of the Awaiti and Omeheu Canals. It was not possible to commence work on the Kopeopeo diversion owing to the difficulty in finalizing arrangements with the Native owners affected, but a start was made on the Awaiti and Omeheu Canal improvement late in the period, and this work is now proceeding expeditiously. The area experienced a very favourable winter, but unfortunately this was followed by heavy rains in the spring, during which both the Whakatane and Rangitaiki Rivers overflowed their banks, flooding a considerable area in the intervening basin. Despite this setback at the beginning of the dairying season, the area has more than held its own in increased production. This year's returns show that the Rangitaiki Dairy Co. manufactured 1,300 tons of butter, an increase of 315 tons over last year's production. The Tarawera Cheese-factory manufactured 300 tons of cheese, compared with 260 tons for the previous year. Rainfall. —The total rainfall for the year was 58-12 in., rain falling on eighty-four days. The wettest month was October, with a fall of 10-88 in., and the driest January, with a fall of 0-52 in. The average fall for the past nine years was 53-02 in.