Q—4,

Trucks and Cars.—One 30 cwt. truck and two cars have been used and serviced through the year. Workshops. —These have been staffed, as occasion has demanded, to facilitate bucket and machinery repairs, &c. Other Works. Survey Work.—Levels, cross-sections, &c., have been taken as required. Relief Works.—For the first few days of the year some sixty Hikurangi men were still on the Otonga, Riponui, and Okarika areas. Arrangements have recently been completed for some twelve No. 5 Scheme Hikurangi men to commence improvements to the stream that traverses Storrar's, Palmer's, and Munro's, near Hikurangi Mountain. Closing-down of Works. —All items of plant and tools, save boats and punts, which are moored in the river, have been returned to Apotu Camp for storage. Some workmen's quarters have been dismantled and all usable corrugated iron transported to Kaitaia for use on small-farm buildings. Comprehensive lists of all plant and stores have been compiled for the purposes of possible disposal of these items. Works Expenditure. —The expenditure for the year totalled £4,182 os. 6d. Waihi Drainage Area (20,000 Ackes), Tauranga County. Work in this area was again confined exclusively to the maintenance of existing drainage outfalls, stop-banks, and flood-gates. A Monighan dredge was employed for a short period removing an accumulation of silt from the southern portion of the Wharere Canal, sufficient depth being dredged to provide a basin to trap the silt from the higher reaches. The distance dredged was 12 ch., and 5,280 cubic yards of spoil was moved. The hand drains, totalling 37 m. 73 ch., were cleaned during the year, and the growth was removed from several lengths of dredged canals. A short length of stop-bank on the west bank of the Wharere Canal was raised. Improvements to the drains and the clearing of growth was proceeded with by the flax company leasing the area east of the Wharere Canal, but no milling was done during the year. Development work was proceeded with by the Department on the areas of surrendered flax lease west of the Wharere Canal, totalling 930 acres. The progress made in grassing these areas is very encouraging. A total of 402 acres has been grassed, and these farms are being fully equipped for dairying in the coming season. Stock to assist consolidation are being grazed on the balance of the area. Expenditure for the year totalled £536 14s. 2d. Drainage rates struck totalled £1,537 Is. 4d., and £745 Bs. 2d. was collected. Pottkawa Drainage Area (13,567 Acres), Hawke's Bay. The work for the past year was confined to the completion of deepening the formed outlet from the lake, and, late in the period, the cleaning of drains at the south end of the lake was commenced. Expenditure was £176 10s. Bd. Rates struck totalled £1,389 Is., and £882 2s. Id. was collected by the District Office, Napier. I have, &c., R. 6. Macmorran, The Under-Secretary for Lands, Wellington. Chief Drainage Engineer.

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