C.-4

1931. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. SWAMP DRAINAGE. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1931, TOGETHER WITH STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 13 of the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915.

Sir, —■ Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, Ist July, 1931. In pursuance of section 13 of the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915, I have the honour to forward the report of the Chief Drainage Engineer covering operations on lands proclaimed under the Swamp Drainage Act and amendments. . I have, &c, W. Robertson, The Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister of Lands. Under-Secretary for Lands.

EEPORT BY CHIEF DRAINAGE ENGINEER. Sir,— I have the honour to submit my annual report on the areas proclaimed under the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915, and amendments. Kaitaia Drainage Area (61,430 Acres), Mangonui County. The principal works carried out comprise : (1) Completion of excavation, Whangatane spillway and school cut; (2) improving Awanui River ; (3) installation of flood-gates ; (4) shaping stop-banks and maintenance of drains. Classification and Rating. —ln terms of sections 44 and 45 of the Finance Act, 1930 (No. 2), the capital expenditure, chargeable against the Kaitaia Town District subdivision was assessed at £8,200. The rural subdivision capital expenditure was assessed at £60,000, reduced to £40,000 for 1930-31, and increasing by £2,000 for each financial year until 1939-40, when the capital rate on the full £60,000 will be struck. Previous capital rates were cancelled, and a subsidy of 18s. in the £1 on maintenance rate was provided by the Government. During the year 557 rate notices were sent out, and rates struck totalled £3,813 12s. 4d. Rainfall, &c. —Rainfall and river-gauge readings have been recorded daily at Kaitaia. The year was a particularly dry one, and the total rainfall (39-27 in.) is the lowest recorded for eleven years. The 6th June, 1930, was the only occasion on which the Awanui River overflowed its banks, following 2-53 in. of rainfall in twenty-four hours. During the remainder of the year only small floods occurred, which did not overtax the channel capacity. The following table gives details of rainfall for the past thirteen years :— _ _ — ■ ■ -- ■ — * —— —— ■ - _— _ - -, , . I . '."'\ 'A '—.

Year. Wettest Month and Rainfall. Driest Month and Rainfall. Inches. Inches. , , . .. Inches. 1918-19 .. 47-30 Oct., 1918 .. .. 9-06 Aug., 1918 .. .. 1-39 1919-20 .. 31-71 July, 1919 .. .. 7-37 Dec., 1919 .. .. 0-62 1920-21 .. 53-11 May and Aug., 1920 (each) .. 8-02 Mar., 1921 .. .. 1-13 1921-22 . . 4942 Mar., 1922 . . .. 5-84 Jan., 1922 . . .. 2-24 1922-23 .. 44-81 Oct., 1922 .. .. 7-46 Jan... 1923 .. ..2-02 1923-24 .. 49-23 Oct, 1923 .. .. 7-92 Dec., 1923 ... 1-38 1924-25 .. 48-89 May, 1924 .. . . 10-34 Mar, 1925 ... .. 0-51 1925-26 .. 57-90 May, 1925 .. .. 10-43 Feb, 1926 .. ,.0-88 1926-27 .. 64-91 Oct, 1926 .. .. 9-62 Dec, 1926 .. .. 1-51 1927-28 .. 55-97 July, 1927 .. .. 11-35 Jan, 1928 .. .. 0-22 1928-29 .. 58-21 June, 1928 .. .. 9-13 Feb, 1929 .. .. 0-28 1929 30 .. 51-11 May, 1929 .. .. 6-30 Mar, 1930 .. .. 0-98 1930-31 .. 39-27 June, 1930 .. .. 7-55 Dec, 1930 .. .. 0-68