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1930. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. DRAINAGE OPERATIONS IN HAURAKI PLAINS. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1930, TOGETHER WITH STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 20 of the Hauraki Plains Act, 1926.

Sir, — Department of Lauds and Survey, Wellington, Ist July, 1930. I have the honour to present herewith the report of the Chief Drainage Engineer on operations carried out during the past year on the Hauraki Plains in accordance with the provisions of the Hauraki Plains Act, 1926. I have, &c, J. B. Thompson, The Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister of Lands. Under-Secretary for Lands.

REPORT OF CHIEF DRAINAGE ENGINEER. Sir, — I have the honour to submit the twenty-second annual report on. the land reclamation and development works carried out on the Hauraki Plains during the financial year ending 31st March, 1930. It has been an active year of construction by the Department, and a period of exceptional production by the settlers on the reclaimed area. Increased dairy-production from the district has been more than proportionate to the Dominion's record production for the season. Though this satisfactory position is mainly due to the well-maintained condition of the pastures, as the result of a mild winter and well - distributed summer rainfall, there is no doubt that increased productive capacity has been created by farm-development, increased used acreage, and drainage-improvement. Produce returns are furnished hereunder and for comparative purposes the returns for previous year are given in parentheses : — Tons Estimated Value. Butter produced .. .. ... .. 2,584(2,405) 382.054 Cheese produced .. .. .. .. 1,686(1,331) 129,160 Fibre and tow .. .. .. .. .. 969(1,000) 23,200 Estimated value of stock sold .. ... .. .. 60,762(61,100) £595,176 Freights, including metal, 31,971 (11,426) tons. A fact of importance in the general development of the district is the opening of part of the Kerepeehi Block for selection. Eleven sections, comprising 820 acres, were disposed of during the year, and an area of 1,371 acres subdivided into twenty-three sections is being offered for selection in May, 1930, under conditions which promise good prospects for the successful applicants. , ~