C.—l.

stock and chattels have been approved also. A total of 488 tenants have now been assisted, loans approved totalling £210,546. The arrears of interest outstanding as at 31st March, 1935, amounted to £7,830, which can be regarded as satisfactory, especially when it is remembered that markets have been adverse for primary products, and that the land was in an undeveloped state prior to the loans being granted. Pursuant to section 10 of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1929, the following summary of operations up to 31st March, 1935, is recorded (a) The several Areas of Unoccupied Crown Lands in respect of which Development Works have been undertaken during the Year. Auckland Land District: — Ngakuru Block, of 14,755 acres of light pumice land, fifteen miles from Eotorua : Ihis block, of which 4,325 acres are being developed, will provide about fifty dairy-farms. Twelve share milkers are established and a demonstration farm has been operated by the Department, but it is now proposed to close this farm and install a share milker on it. A scheme is in operation to collect from the share milkers out of milk proceeds over a period of three years sufficient funds to enable them to acquire permanent leasehold titles to the areas which they are now farming. During last season the butterfatproduction from the demonstration farm, containing 89 acres of grass and running sixty cows, was 14,750 lb., representing 245 lb. per cow or 165 lb. per acre. On the main Ngakuru Farm 1,550 ewes were run last year. The results were so encouraging that it is intended to increase the flock to 3,000. Galatea Estate, of 22,326 acres, near Murupara : Ten share-milking farms and one demonstration farm are being run on this estate, and detailed records are being kept to illustrate the possibilities of the'land for dairying. The remainder of the block is being successfully run as a sheep and cattle station. The stock on the estate is approximately 18,000 sheep, 970 dairy cows, heifers, and calves (including the share-milking herds), 2,600 run cattle, 25 horses, 270 pigs. Full particulars of the extensive developmental work that has been undertaken are given in Appendix 111 in the report of the Land Drainage Branch of the Department. Hawke's Bay Land District: — Kakariki Estate, a purchased estate of 17,688 acres at Kotemaori: This block is intended to provide ten holdings for sheep-farming. Developmental and farming operations have been continued on this block, 7,780 acres of new grass having now been established. Live-stock comprise 11,600 sheep, 984 cattle, and 23 horses. After charging interest on all capital invested a loss of £1,390 was made last season, but this was recouped from the net profit resulting from the previous year's farming. Taranaki Land District: — Tapuwae Estate, of 3,350 acres, a purchased estate in the King-country : This block is estimated to provide approximately eleven mixed farms ; 2,260 acres are being developed. Farming-operations have been continued, a net profit again resulting from the year's working. Stock comprises 4,630 sheep, 822 cattle, and 5 horses. This block was originally subject to bush sickness, but remedial measures have been successfully instituted and the stock on the property is now thriving.

(b) Total Cost of Development Works carried out to 31st March, 1935.

4

„ Expenditure on Total Expen- Net Expenditure on D eve i 0 p men t diture on Expenditure on Block. during Year Development Live-stock as to 61st Ma h, en( jed 31st to 31st March, at 31st March, lyd4 " March, 1935. 1935. 1935. North Auckland Land District. £ ! £ j £ | £ Wharekohe Block .. •• ■■ 9,815 J Or. 21 | 9,794 J Auckland Land District. Ngakuru Block .. .. •• •• 82,071 1,680 83,751 5,631 Te Kauwhata Block .. •• 32,537 Cr. 361 32,176 Onepu Block* .. .. ■ • • • 20,768 Or. 687 20,081 Koromatua Block .. .. •• 4,120 .. 4,120 Galatea Estate .. .. •• •• 55,772 18,538 74,310 5,896 Whangamarino Block* .. •• •• 8,726 Cr. 281 8,445 Mangatutu Block .. ■. • • 3,715 .. 3,715 Pongakawa Block* .. •• •• 933 2,831 -3,764 943 Hawke's Bay Land District. Kakariki Estate .. .. I 22,370 | 4,310 | 26,680 J 2,513 Taranaki Land District. Tapuwae Estate .. .. .. •• 1 13,199 j 235 [ 13,434 j 6,060 Nelson Land District. Easterfield Block .. .. •• 1,375 13 1,388 64 255,401 26,257(net) 281,658 21,107 * Whangamarino, Pongakawa, and part of Onepu Blocks taken over by Small Farms Board.