G.—lo.

Tautoro Bush. The scheme, comprising mostly easy-lying hills of clay loam on a sandstone formation, intersected by wide valleys, contains a considerable area of flat and very slightly undulating country, about 100 acres of which is medium to poor quality, being fairly steep and mostly in fern and tea-tree with light bush in the gullies. Prior to the commencement of development in 1931, when this area of 1,607 acres was taken over from the Lands Department, there were roughly 1,050 acres of green bush, with dry timber standing thick in places, with fern, makomako, and second growth in parts, besides 150 acres of old pasture of indifferent quality, 160 acres in tea-tree and fern, and 100 acres of swamp land. The property is watered by creeks, but this supply is poor in summer; the hill country is inclined to revert quickly to fern and requires a large number of cattle to be carried during the summer; and many of the ridges are poor and the better grasses soon disappear. The work undertaken during the year is included in the Bay of Islands scheme figures. It is estimated that the block will carry one sheep to 1J acres, together with one cattle beast to 2 acres to 3 acres. The live-stock on the property at 31st March, 1937, was 768 ewes, 1,048 wethers, 140 heifers, 84 three-year-old steers, and 34 calves. Up to the present no proposals for the subdivision of this block have been considered, and the present intention is to continue to run it as a station. In the past, apart from being a valuable contribution towards the general development of the district, Tautoro Bush has absorbed the energies of many unemployed Natives, and it will continue to do so for some years to come, as much general work remains to be carried out on the block. Waima. This farm of 1,414 acres is situated on the main Kaikohe-Rawene highway, approximately fourteen miles from the nearest railway-station (Kaikohe) and the same distance from the nearest port (Rawene), whilst it also has access to the Waima Valley Road. The land comprises mostly rideable clay hills, with approximately 100 acres of flats, inclined to be stony, fronting the main road. On the Waima Valley frontage are approximately 90 acres of flat semi-volcanic with clay subsoil and with occasional water-worn boulder ridges. It is sufficiently watered to be run as a station, but on subdivision a supply will need to be established. Prior to development a portion of the land was in bush, chiefly taraire with scattered puriri, an extensive area of which was felled, but logging-up remains to be carried out, and in this connection developmental activities have during the year been confined to this work with the assistance of unemployed labour, pending a definition of future policy on the farming of the area. By virtue of previous arrangements made with the Native owners the block was to be handed back to them in February, 1937, when, under land-tenure consolidation arrangements, the area would be subdivided into small holdings of from 40 acres to 60 acres. The Department has always been anxious to honour its undertaking, but realizing the unsuitability of the block in its present condition for dairying, owing to lack of water and the need of consolidation of pastures, an endeavour has been made to obtain an agreement to the continuation of the control by the Negotiations to that end are still in progress, and it is hoped that they will be shortly concluded, but meanwhile progressive development has been to a large extent suspended. It will ultimately be to the benefit of the Natives for the Department's efforts to be resumed and extended to those portions of the block which are at present undeveloped. Live-stock, which is in good condition, grazing on the property at 31st March, 1937, comprised 622 ewes, 80 steers, 397 lambs, and 477 wethers. The work carried out during the year under review has been included in the Hokianga scheme figures. To leer an (North Auckland) District. Details of works subsidized from the Employment Promotion Fund on Native properties not yet under development. (Note. —Such properties are usually described as belonging to non-units) : — Bushfelling .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,222 acres. Clearing 9,003 acres. Other cultivations .. .. .. .. .. .. 698 acres. Fencing— New •• •• •• •• •• .. .. 8,993 chains. Repairs.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,099 chains. Splitting— Posts . . .. .. ... .. .. .. 22,130 Strainers .. .. .. .. .. .. 147 Battens.. .. .. .. .. .. ..71 600 Draining— New •• •• •• •• .. 7,462 chains. Cleaned. . .. .. .. .. . . ■ • 1,914 chains. Reading 502 chains. Cottages (new) .. .. .. .. .. .. 21 Cow-sheds (new) .. .. ~ ~ .. .. 2

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