C.—l.

APPENDIX lII—LAND-DRAINAGE AND LAND-DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONS. (R. G. Macmorran, Chief Drainage Engineer.) As laid down by statute, separate reports have been prepared dealing with (1) Hauraki Plains Drainage Works, (2) Rangitaiki Drainage District, (3) Swamp Land Drainage Districts —viz., Kaitaia, Hikurangi, Waihi, and Poukawa Drainage Works. Hereunder please find a short report on general work carried out by the Land Drainage Branch, comprising mainly land-development operations. Galatea Estate.—Development work was carried out on this area mainly by relief workers whose wages were subsidized by the. Department. A summary of the operations is given hereunder. Clearing : A total area of 767 acres was cleared, stumped, and burnt in readiness for cultivation or surface sowing. Fencing : A total of 25 miles 16 chains of fencing was erected by co-operative contract workers. Buildings : Ten huts (two men) and two small store-sheds were erected and camp cook-house also enlarged. Contracts were let for erection of eleven farm cottages, and these were completed, or practically completed, at the end of year. Each cottage has a kitchen, sitting-room, two bedrooms, bathroom, larder, and laundry. The designs vary, but hot-water installation, built-in wardrobes, and plenty of cupboard-room has been made a feature of each one. Water-supply : A gravity water scheme was prepared for supplying some 6,000 acres, of the southern portion of the estate. The mains consist of 70,000 ft. of water-pipes, varying from 4 in. to H in. diameter, and the sections are to be served with 1,000 ft. to 2,000 ft. of service piping connected to cottage, milking-shed, and troughs. The intake consists of a concrete dam at a branch of the Mangamate Stream. The service reservoir will be a reinforced-concrete tank, 40 ft. in diameter by 10 ft. deep, with a capacity of 78,500 gallons. To date a total of 28,000 ft. of mains have been laid, eight sections reticulated, and the headworks and the dam completed. Draining : A total length of 997 chains of drains were cleaned and 131J chains new drains constructed. Plantations : The failures in the previously planted plantations were replaced, and, in addition, two new main plantations were planted in poplars and Pinus radiata, some 20,000 trees being planted. General: Maintenance and repairs to roads, bridges, and culverts were carried out as required. Onepu Block Development (Area, 2,500 acres). —Development work is now practically finished, as grassing of the balance of the area was completed early in the year, and the top-dressing of 980 acres of the undisposed grass land was carried out in the early autumn. The land has been grazed with young dairy stock, and, although prices have fallen, a reasonable profit will be made. At the end of the year the undisposed portion of the block was still carrying 560 heifers and twenty-three pedigree bulls. An area totalling 200 acres was subdivided and prepared for occupation as three small farms. Cottage, cow-shed, and water-supply were provided in each case, together with material for erection of internal fences. These small farms were prepared in time for last milking season, and returns for the season averaged 5,800 lb. butterfat, with portion of the season still to run. Of the nine sections opened for general selection, all but one are dairying, and the total butterfat production from these eight settlers for last season was 90,000 lb. Work is well in hand with the erection of dwellings, milking-sheds, and subdivisional fencing of the further nine sections set aside for small farms, and tenants will be selected in ample time to prepare for the coming season. Additional work carried out comprised maintenance and improvement of drains, clearing ragwort, erecting 609 chains standard and 232 chains temporary or drain-side fences. Pongakawa Block Development (930 acres). —An area of abandoned flax-lease lands on Waihi Swamp, on which draining and clearing works were in operation by means of single-men's relief camp. In the main this area is good-quality peat swamp, but portions are at too low a level to be definitely classed as suitable for dairying. Difficulty was experienced in keeping the camp fully manned, but authority has now been obtained to procure married relief men, and it is anticipated that good progress will be made in future. To date 4 miles 68 chains new drains have been constructed, 2 miles 5 chains drains deepened, and 122 acres scrub cleared. Broadlands Block Development (1,000 acres). —This area was given to the Crown by Mr. E. Earle Vaile for development under the Small Farms Scheme. Labour-costs are being found by the Unemployment Board. The area varies between fair-quality swamp and lighter pumice land covered with a fairly heavy growth of manuka and manaoa. Work was commenced in September and the necessary buildings erected for accommodating relief workers, who will have preference when the area is offered for small farms. Clearing and cultivation were commenced in October, and an area sown in grass in early autumn. A Pin-us insignis plantation was placed on the southern and western boundaries, and when at all suitable the natural shelter has been "left standing. Fences and permanent buildings are being erected as the work proceeds. Young stock has been purchased and will be available as soon as the land is ready for dairying.

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