Gr—lo,

Ragwort is a menace on the cleared parts, and good results are being secured by crushing with sheep and cattle. The scheme now has a communal sheep-dip, shearing-shed, and yards, which have facilitated the handling of stock. It is interesting to record that the foreman, in his report, states that the health of these Natives has greatly improved since development started. No more bush lands should be cleared in the Urewera, and development is being restricted to the lands already chopped and which have gone back into second growth. A problem to be faced in this area will present itself on the cessation of the Public Works roading activities. The Public Works Department employs a large number of Natives on road works, on completion of which there will be a surplus of Natives who cannot be absorbed by the Native Department on development, and apparently some avenue for settlement of Ruatahuna people in other districts, where lands are more plentiful, will need to be sought. Tokaanu. This scheme, which adjoins the Tokaanu Village, stretches along both sides of the Tongariro River, and there are 2,683 acres under development. The whole of the area is grazed with sheep and cattle' which are being used to consolidate the pastures and clean up the ragwort, blackberry, and other rubbish. During the year 250 acres were cleared and grassed, 800 acres top-dressed, 100 acres sown in turnips for winter feed, 350 chains of drains cleaned, 25,000 trees planted, 200 chains of roads reformed, a cottage erected, sheep-dip built, and riverbank protection-works carried out. At 31st March last, there were 2,937 sheep and 108 head of beef cattle on the property. At present the Department is finding work for the unemployed Natives of the Korohe, TaurangaTaupo, and Pukawa lands. Subsidies from the Unemployment Board materially assisted these Natives in obtaining sustenance work in cleaning and draining land which will be gazetted for developmentthis year. SCHEMES IN THE BAY OF PLENTY DISTRICT. The following information of a general nature relating to lands under development in this district has been compiled from reports and statistical returns :— Acres. Total area of scheme land . . . . . . ~ .. 70 116 Area suitable for development .. .. .. .. 35 067 Area in permanent pasture . . . . . . .. .. 16 318 Area in rough feed .. . . .. .. .. 4 005 Area in crops .. .. .. .. ~ _ _ qq9 The number of schemes and units within the district, together with the number of Maoris deriving benefit therefrom, is as follows :— Total number of schemes .. .. .. .. . . 12 Total number of units .. .. .. . . ~ 279 Total number of adults .. . . .. .. .. 707 Total number of minors .. .. .. .. _ 1,187 Details of live-stock as at 31st March, 1936, are as under :— Bulls .. .. 300 Horses .. .. 441 Cows .. .. 6,292 Run cattle .. .. 688 Heifers •• •• 851 Sheep .. .. 5,160 Calves .. .. 754 Works undertaken during the. past year are summarized as follows : — Area cleared .. .. .. .. .. 3,058 acres. Area ploughed .. .. .. .. .. 1,489 acres. Draining (new) .. .. 3,147 chains. Dram cleaning .. .. .. .. .. 2,000 chains. Fencing (new) .. .. .. .. .. 6,000 chains. Fencing (repairs) .. .. .. .. .. 3,118 chains. Roadmg 266 chains. Splitting posts .. .. .. ..15,700 Splitting battens . . .. .. . , . . 58 080 Cottages erected . . .. . . . . .. 30 Cow-sheds completed . . . . .. . . . , 50 The above work has been carried out both with the assistance of unemployment funds and by units themselves, and is in addition to the general farm and station routine work. The following particulars of sales during the year do not include unit cull stock or farm produce other than butterfat: — Total Value. £ Butterfat .. .. . ... 878,2501b. 34,119 Wool .. .. .. .. .. 28,6161b. 831 Cattle .. .. .. .. 275 1,567 Sh eep 1,535 1,463

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