C.—B.

An analysis of the dairy-factory returns shows a steadily increasing volume of winter production, and this is a satisfactory indication that the initial difficulties inseparable from the development of reclaimed swamp lands are being reduced each year. Production for April, May, and June of 1934 was outstandingly high, but summer production was below the average owing to the detrimental effect of the dry weather on the grass-growth. Beneficial rainfall and warmth in the autumn of 1935 helped to maintain the milk-yield, however, and a plentiful supply of winter feed is assured. The rainfall in 1934 was about the average for the district. There were no severe flood-producing storms, and winter drainage conditions were excellent. Daily rainfall records for Kerepeehi since 1916 are as follows: —

Records of Daily Precipitation, Kerepeehi, Hauraki Plains.

Average annual rainfall over nineteen years is 43 • 11 in. Daily records of stream-flow in the Piako and Waitoa Rivers have been kept for several winters, but as there have been no severe storms for some years, during which time a considerable amount of river-improvement work has been carried out, there has been little opportunity of showing by the aid of these records the actual effect of the works under severe flood-conditions. Because of the storage effect of the natural flood-expansion basin along the middle reaches of the Piako River the channel of the lower reaches is not required to discharge the maximum run-off produced by a storm, and this introduces a complicating time-factor which must be taken into consideration when comparing the effect produced on the river by dissimilar storms. However, hydrographs of the river-discharge produced by two minor storms which occurred in September and October, 1928, show practically identical characteristics to those of two similar storms in June and July of 1934. Comparison shows the effect of the river-improvement works in a very satisfactory light. Improved tidal propagation is the most significant test of the improved regimen of a river, and, with practically the same discharge, the high-tide river-stage at Kaihere in 1934 was 2 ft. lower than 1928, and the low-tide river-stage at the same point was 3 ft. lower in 1934. The exceptionally hot summer was to some extent responsible for the large number of troublesome fires, but the principal cause has been non-observance of the fire district regulations. During the period of six months from Ist November to 30th April permission must be obtained from the Commissioner of Crown Lands before lighting any fires within a defined area of peat land, and before permission is granted reasonable precautions must be taken to control the fire. A large number of fire permits have been issued during the past three years, and it is a significant fact that there has not been one instance where an authorized fire has got beyond control. The fire regulations are for the protection of the settlers, and, under control and regulation, the fire-menace has to some extent been reduced. If these factors are given the consideration they deserve there will be more effective cooperation between the settlers and officers of the Department, and the loss and labour caused by fires will certainly be reduced. Relief-of-unemployment measures have been one of the predominating influences in directing the construction activities on Hauraki Plains for some years past. Eight camps have been maintained throughout this year for the accommodation of workers drawn principally from the ranks of the city unemployed. Because of the seasonal character of some of the work, and other causes, the numbers employed has varied between 171 in October and 230 in February. The average number employed during the year was 190. These figures include all the men engaged on constructional and development works, but do not include the workers engaged on seasonal maintenance operations.

2

Number of Days, with given Daily Precipitation in Inches. OS m A i.l T«-vfal Vp«r lotal lotal Wettest Month. Driest Month. Year. © Daya. Fall. O OOOOOOOOOOQ O o o'oomomoooooo O iOt>OC-l»OI>OiOOOOO © OC'rHtHTHrHCSIWCO'^iOeC' 1916 .. 109 12 9 7 2 3.. 1 .. 1 •• 144 52-19 Nov. 6-65 Feb. 1-05 1917 131 11 4 4 3.. 1 1 1 156 45-61 Feb. 6-26 Jan. 0-65 1918 .. 145 14 6 4 .. 1 .. .. 1 171 44-06 Oct. 7-47 May 2-24 1919 !! 122 9 1 3 2 137 27-36 July 4-52 Deo. 0-89 1920 .. 85' 7 10 3 1 1 3 2 112 43-16 Feb. 6-10 July 1-73 1921 .. 93 12 5 3 2 .. 1 116 34-41 Oct. 5-89 Feb. 0-72 1922 .. 101 17 9 3 1 1 .. 1 133 42-81 Feb. 6-62 April 1-73 1923 .. 151 6 5 4.. 1 1 1 169 47-04 April 9-76 Mar. 1-72 1924 ..132 8 10 5 2 5 1 1 .. 2 166 60-37 April 8-55 July 1-87 1925 .. 142 15 4 2 1 164 37-64 June 6-67 April 0-84 1926 .. 149 15 6 4 5 2 2 183 55-53 May 8-86 Feb. 1-79 1927 .. 159 10 6 5 .. 4 184 45-33 July 6-29 April 2-01 1928 ..125 7 9 2 3 2 2 1 151 47-30 May 7-52 Jan. 0-01 1929 .. 124 19 8 3 1 155 41-05 April 5-09 Feb. 0-74 1930 .. 131 4 2 2 3 .. 2 2 146 37-72 Jan. 6-87 Deo. 0-80 1931 .. 144 10 7 .. 4 2 167 43-23 July 7-80 Mar. 0-98 1932 .. 126 7 5 4 .. 1 143 32-05 Feb. 4-95 Nov. 0-93 1933 .. 152 13 1 4 3 .. .. 1 174 38-93 Feb. 6-54 Mar. 1-20 1934 .. 138 11 6 5 2 2 1 1 166 43-23 June 6-15 Oct. 2-05 1935* .. 24 2 2 .. .. 1 .. 1 30 11-11 Feb. 5-83 Jan. 0-93 * First three months of year only.