GL—lO.

During the period under review the following programme of work was carried out : 250 acres cultivated and sown in grass, 770 acres top-dressed, 240 tons hay cropped, 30 acres stumped, 59,000 trees planted, 332 chains subdivisional fencing erected, 120 chains new drains formed, 40 chains watersupply pipes laid, four troughs installed, and one cottage, cow-shed, and yards completed. Tikitere (Waikato Party). Comprising an area of 560 acres, this scheme adjoins the main Tikitere scheme and is being developed by a small party from the Waikato District. Second-growth gorse is a problem here, but the Supervisor reports that with grubbing and stocking it is being kept in check. The grassing has been completed and the pastures are now filling out rapidly and showing good growth. Two hundred and nine beef yearlings and 500 ewes wintered exceptionally well. The following work was carried out during the year : 460 acres top-dressing, 36 chains access-road formation, 200 acres gorse-grubbing, 30,000 trees planted, 160 chains plantation fencing, and 20 chains drains cleaned. In addition, a water-supply was laid on from the main Tikitere scheme, which called for 80 chains of piping and the installation of four water-troughs. Rotoiti. This scheme, which was taken up as an unemployment-relief measure, provides a means of sustenance for the families living on the northern shores of Lake Rotoiti, the majority of whom live at Otarae Marae. The total area is 4,939 acres, 1,113 acres of which are in established pastures and 591 acres recently sown. During the year 500 acres of grass were top-dressed, and a gravitation water-supply with troughs was installed. As it will be some time before the pasture is suitable for close settlement it was stocked from bulk stock, and it will be necessary to similarly deal with it for the next few years. During the winter the following stock was carried : 1,921 wethers, 121 bullocks, 136 breeding-cows, 19 mixed-sex yearlings, and 5 bulls. Taheke. This scheme, which is being utilized for sheep-farming, comprises 9,081 acres, of which 1,000 acres are under development. The property lies on either side of the Kaituna River, and is bounded on the south by Lake Rotoiti and on the north-west by the Hururu Stream. The south-western portion is adjacent to the Okere development scheme and the eastern boundary is the Pokopoko Stream. During the year 40 chains of fencing were erected, 600 acres of grass land were top-dressed, 500 acres were cleared of second growth, 500 acres were burned and surface-sown, and 80 acres of turnips were cultivated. The noxious-weed problem is fairly bad, but this is gradually being checked with stocking and clearing. This country is being developed by clearing, burning off, and surface-sowing, and satisfactory results are being obtained. During the winter the scheme carried the following stock : 700 hoggets, 300 ewes, and 174 bullocks. Stock does well on this property. The living-conditions are good, and the Natives are interested in the development-work. Okataina Bush. This land, which lies to the eastward of the road between Lakes Rotoiti and Tarawera, was brought under development for the purpose of a timber-supply for the development schemes in the Rotorua area and also to provide work for local unemployed Natives. The block contains excellent totara. Some twenty men and their families have been provided with a livelihood during the year. The following material was supplied to the schemes : 1,016 rails for stockyards, 32,158 battens, 23,647 posts, and 1,069 strainers. The climatic conditions are very severe in this locality and difficulty is being experienced in obtaining sufficient workers for the project. An expert bushman, Mr. Colin Hay, was obtained as foreman, and his experience has been invaluable in connection with this work. Maketu. Previously farmed by the Arawa Trust Board, and taken over for development in 1931, Maketu Farm takes its name from that historic spot where, six centuries earlier, the great navigator, Tama te Kapua, and his Polynesian crew, after crossing the sea of Kiwa, landed in the canoe Arawa. The property comprises some 1,277 acres, made up as follows : — (1) Four hundred and forty acres all in grass subdivided into five farms, on which separate herds are milked, the Department taking all receipts and paying the milkers' wages. (2) The balance of the area is under various stages of development and during the year the following work was carried out : 80 acres ploughed and sown in turnips and swedes, 125 chains fencing erected, 15 acres gorse grubbed, 120 chains drain cleaned out, and ragwort controlled. Ragwort, gorse, and blackberry have taken a fairly strong hold in parts, according to the Supervisor's report, and difficulty was experienced in obtaining sufficient men for clearing purposes as large drainage works

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