C.—4.

1933. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. SWAMP DRAINAGE. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1933, TOGETHER WITH STATEMENTS OF ACCOUNTS.

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

Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, Ist August, 1933. 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, Under-Secretary for Lands. The Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister of Lands.

REPORT OF CHIEF DRAINAGE ENGINEER. I have the honour to submit my annual report on the areas proclaimed under the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915, and its amendments. Kaitaia Drainage Area (61,430 Acres), Mangonui County. Maintenance of completed drains, stop-banks, and flood-gates comprised the principal work carried out in this area during the year, as, apart from maintenance, only a few small jobs were undertaken. General. The principal industry in the area affected by drainage operations is the production of butter. Returns covering a period of years are given hereunder Year ending 30th June, wis 1920 213 1925 j So 1930 'g0 1932 \f 2 1933 .. • • • ■ • • • • • ■ ' (Close estimate}. These figures include production from a wide area of adjacent hill country, not directly affected bv our drainage operations, which produces over 50 per cent, of the total. _ _ Improvement of herds and pastures by testing and top-dressing has been carried out extensively during the past eight or ten years, and accounts for a large increase, but much of the flat land now used for dairying was previously undrained and subject to floods.