C.--4.

Two idle sections of land, aggregating 100 acres, were surface-sown following a fire, and resubdivided, for disposal to three adjoining owners. Drainage outlets of a total length of 87 chains and 1,914 cubic yards capacity were constructed for this area. Flax Leases.—An excellent growth of flax has been maintained over the flax-lease area east of the Wharere Canal, but unfortunately the state of the' market has been unfavourable to the recommencement of milling. Flax-culture on the smaller leases west of the Wharere Canal was not proceeded with during the year, due to the depressed state of the market. Rates.—Rates struck totalled £2,397 6s. 7d., with eighty-nine demands issued ; £229 Bs. was collected. Poukawa Drainage Area (13,567 Acres), Hawke's Bay County. In the early part of the year the levels of the swamp and outlet were re-run in order to determine the extent of the disturbance due to the Napier earthquake. This relevelling showed that the earthquake had caused a general subsidence, but in such a way that the available fall in the valley was slightly increased. The swamp area subsided somewhere between a few inches and 1 ft., whilst at the lower end near Pakipaki the subsidence was some 2 ft. or over. The main channels through the swamp were badly affected by the earthquake as the shakes caused the spoil-banks to subside, and this brought up the bottom of the channels in places as much as 6 ft. At a later date these will require redredging. The downstream outlet channel suffered slight damage only. A new control-gate was constructed to replace the temporary one that failed in 1930. The new gate is a steel-sheet-pile structure consisting of long double wings and cut-off walls with a centre passage 12 ft., with concrete floor and water cushion. The water-level of the lake and outlet and the quantity of water flowing downstream are controlled by removable weir boards. Some 124 steel-sheet piles were driven and 11 cubic yards reinforced concrete placed. Two new drains were constructed from the canal at the southern end of the swamp through the Crown land to the new Pukekura Settlement. These drains will greatly benefit the Crown and settlement land, and entailed constructing 1 mile 51 chains new drain and enlarging 75 chains old drain. Expenditure totalled £3,048 4s. sd. I have, &c., R. G. Macmorran, The Under-Secretary for Lands, Wellington. Chief Drainage Engineer.

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