G.—loc.

TE KARA DEVELOPMENT SCHEME.—MARAENUI SECTION. (See Plan 30, G.-10.) Wobk done to 31st March, 1933. This section of tie Te Kaha Scheme was undertaken for the purpose of checking, controlling, and if possible destroying ragwort by means of sheep and sodium chlorate. The work was, confined to the fencing and the clearing-up of the badly infested areas so as to enable the control to be more effective. Contracts. Contracts for work estimated to cost £638 6s. 9d. and providing employment for 67 men were authorized, and subsidies totalling £270 17s. lOd. were approved. At the 31st March, 1931, fo^ ntS j° n acoount of work done amounted to £536 3s. Id. and subject to subsidies totalling £213 7s. 2d. The number of men employed was 74—individuals 16. Contracts were outstanding for scrub-cutting, stumping, logging-up, and renovation. These total £106 155., with subsidies amounting to £58 6s. Bd. Scrub-cutting.—The contract was for 100 acres on the north side of the Motu River upon the area known as " Kowhai Flat." Progress payments on 55 acres, amounting to £41 55., were made. Stumping, Logging-up, and Burning.—This work was authorized as a subsequent treatment of the area on Kowhai Flat so as to make available to the sheep as much of the grass and ragwort area as possible. Progress payments totalling £24 10s., were made upon 49 acres done. Discing, Harrowing, dc — The contract for this work is for 100 acres on the south side of the Motu River, where sheep were grazed for a considerable period and the area then treated with a mixture of sodium chlorate and lime. Five acres of this area were renovated in March with very good results, and the balance of the area is undergoing the same treatment. The labour cost in this connection to 31st March, 1933, was £2 10s. Splitting, dc. —Posts 3,670, battens 13,550, and strainers 61, were split on the Whitianga Sections and delivered to the fence-lines at a total cost of £179 9s. 4d., including the labour of constructing 12 flood-gates. Thirty-five men were employed. With the exception of 500 puriri, akeake, and kohai posts for angles and dips, the posts obtained were white manuka. These were cut and charred and the charred end placed in the ground to give them a longer life. Fencing. New fencing totals 601-57 chains, and repairing 193 chains. The cost totalled £288 Bs. 9d., and 30 men were employed. Maraenui North : The fencing on this section totalled 257-57 chains, commencing at the Motu .Bridge and following the road to the sea and the mouth of the river. This enclosed an area estimated at 100 acres. Maraenui South : A—West of main road (1) from bluff near river southwards to the school connecting with good fences ; (2) Haenga's Corner to Waiponahu Stream ; (3) along river to connect with good fences ; (4) Waiponahu Stream to deep water in river. The total length of above lines is 210 chains, and encloses an area of 200 acres of flat land infested with ragwort. B—East of main road (1) from bluff near river south along main road to Oruakoiro ; (2) from Oruakoiro eastwards to eastern boundary, and along eastern boundary northwards to Kumararekareka (Delamere's House) ; (3) Delamere's House, along north side of Saxby's Road to Houpoto Station boundary. These lines enclose an area of 120 acres and total 134 chains in length. Stocking. The place was stocked early in 1932 with 970 old ewes. These were carried through the winter to late spring, shorn, and then moved on to fern at Hinahinanui, Ohope, and finally to the Rotorua schemes, where, I understand, they were disposed of at a profit. They were replaced by 2,000 wethers, which in their turn were also moved along the chain of schemes to Rotorua. It is now carrying 1,500 old ewes (six and seven year old) which appear to be doing quite well on the ragwort. Within the fences the control with sheep was very effective, and the mortality due to poisoning was very low—about 1 per cent. Wool. Five bales of wool resulted from the shearing, and these were placed with Dalgety and Co. for disposal. .

Work as at 31st March, 1933.—Summary of Work done and Relative Labour Cost.

12

Nature of Work Area, Length, T , n dumber of iNature 01 work. or Number. Labour Cost. I Men | employed. Splitting posts, &c., and building floodgates, and delivery— £ s . d. (1) Posts, at various prices .. .. .. 3,670 (2) Battens, and various prices .. .. .. 13,550 (3) Strainers, at various prices .. .. .. 61 f 9 4 35 (4) Flood-gates, at various prices .. .. . . 12 J Fencing— New, at various prices .. .. .. .. 607f chains 266 2 9 19 Repairing, at various prices .. . . .. 193 chains 22 6 0 11 Scrub-cutting, at 15s. per acre .. . . .. 55 aC res 41 5 0 4 Stumping, logging-up, and burning, at 10s. per acre . . 49 acres 24 10 0 4 Renovation—Harrowing, sowing, and manuring, at 10s. 5 acres 2 10 0 1 per acre Totals .. .. .. .. 536 3 1 74