C—ll.

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No. 8 Priestman Dredge : This plant was laid up in the Tarawera River throughout the period. No. 9 Priestman Dredge : This plant carried out maintenance dredging in Section 109 Drain, Seccombe's Drain, Section 110 Drain, and a short section of the Awaiti Road Drain during the period. The distance dredged was 344 chains, a total of 74,500 cubic yards of spoil being removed. Work was completed about the middle of the period, when plant was laid up. No. 21 Bay City Dredge : This plant was engaged on the Tarawera Western Drain redredging, and was laid up after completing a short length of the Central Drain and the northern end of the Awaiti Road Drain. The distance dredged during the period worked was 239 chains, a total of 85,620 cubic yards of spoil being removed. Bridges, Flood-gates, &c. —Three single-barrel flood-gates were placed during the period, one steel-girder bridge and four small sill bridges were erected, also two pile bridges lengthened. Drains, Stop-banks, &e. —A length of 1 mile 41 chains of new drain was constructed during the period. A length of 140 chains of stop-bank was erected by the Bay City plant working in the Tarawera Western and Awaiti Road Drains in order to prevent overflow of these drains into the low lands adjoining. Drains in Operation. — The total length of drains constructed is as follows : Dredge canals, 68 miles 28 chains ; main-outlet drains, 107 miles 65 chains ; road-drains, 30 mile 46 chains. Of the hand drains a total of 98 miles is maintained annually by the Department. Roads opened. —The total length of roads opened is 113 J miles, of which 86 miles have been constructed by the Department. Workshop and Smithy. —The workshop and smithy have been engaged during the year on repair work for dredges employed on the Rangitaiki and Waihi works, and ironwork for general construction work. It is proposed to close down the workshop and smithy early in the coming year. Plant and Machinery. —This consists of two Priestman dredges, one Bay City Walker, one Priestman pontoon, two coal-punts, one oil-launch, two-launch-hulls, four small boats, punts, and motorlorry. Summary of Work done: — Miles ch. Cub. yd. Drains constructed .. .. .. .. .. 141 9,180 Drains cleaned .. .. .. .. .. 106 0 Drains deepened and widened .. .. .. 7 37 21,050 Drains dredged .. .. .. .. .. 0 62 15,300 Dredge-cuts cleaned .. .. .. .. .. 6 41 144,770 Fencing .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 38 Willows ring-barked .. .. .. .. 13 15 New stop-banks dredged .. . . .. .. 1 60 Stop-banks repaired and protected .. .. .. 2 40 Levels taken . . .. .. .. 36 0 Traverses run .. .. .. .. 20 0 Number. Flood-gates built .. .. .. .. .. 3 Sill bridges erected .. .. .. .. . . 5 Spoil excavated by dredges .. .. .. .. .. 160,120 Proposed Works. —Maintenance dredging in Reid's Central Canal and Te Rahu Canal; minor construction and improvement; and general maintenance. Rates. —A total of 805 demands for rates were issued during the year, covering a total sum of £8,200, and rates collected totalled £10,400. Works Expenditure. —The total expenditure recorded for the year was £13,253 Is. 6d., day labour accounting for £7,480 18s. Bd. and forty-eight piecework contracts totalling £2,052 16s. 6d. I have, &c, R. G. Macmorran, Chief Drainage Engineer. The Under-Secretary for Lands, Wellington. RANGITAIKI LAND DRAINAGE ACCOUNT. Receipts and Payments Account for the Year ended 31st March, 1930. Receipts. £ s. d. Payments. £ s. d. To Cash in Public Account, Ist April, 1929 .. 6,411 911 By Drainage-works, stop-banks, cleaning channels, Proceeds from sales and transfers of plant, &c, and other expenditure incidental to drainage to other works .. .. .. .. 121 15 0 operations .. .. .. .. 10,597 19 8 Subsidy from Consolidated Eund for main- Engineering and administration expenses .. 509 7 9 tenance of completed works 3,100 0 0 Fuel .. .. .. .. .. 98 14 9 Subsidy from Consolidated Fund short paid, Legal expenses .. .. .. .. 66 10 0 1927-28 .. .. .. .. 1,160 0 0 Material and stores .. ..' .. 429 17 9 Rents .. .. .. .. .. 131 3 2 Plant and machinery .. .. .. 776 16 8 Rates .. .. .. .. .. 10,473 5 4 Refund of rates .. .. .. .. 537 19 7 " Thirds " .. .. .. .. 7178 Interest on debentures recouped to the ConInterest on investments .. .. .. 116 1 1 solidated Eund .. .. .. 1,370 0 0 Temporary advances from other accounts under Temporary advances from other accounts repaid section 40, Public Revenues Act, 1926 .. 7,000 0 0 under section 40, Public Revenues Act, 1926 12.000 0 0 Sundries.. .. .. .. .. 283 18 2 Balance—Cash in Public Account .. .. 2,418 4 2 £28,805 10 4 £28,805 10 4