G.—lo.

The butterfat production from 260 cows was : Superfine, 14,396 lb. ; first grade, 26,861 lb. ; second grade, 887 lb. ; or a grand total of 42,144 lb., valued at £2,052, and averaging 153 lb. per cow. This is considered satisfactory, as it shows an improvement of 5,7501b. on last year's figures. The sale of wool amounted to 7,201 lb. at a total gross value of £411, which averages out at Is. l'9d. per pound and 7 lb. per sheep. Besides the general farm work the following operations were completed :— Mangaora. Units. Bushfelling and clearing . . .. .. 69f acres. 392 acres. Draining— New .. .. .. ~ .. 236 chains. Cleaning .. .. . . . . .. 26 chains. Fencing— New.. . . . . .. 18 chains. 255 chains. Repairs . . . . .... .. 80 chains. Splitting— Posts .. .. .. ..500 1,600 Battens . . . . .. . . 380 10,500 Strainers .. .. .. 63 100 Cultivating and ploughing .. . . . . .. 31 acres. Building . . . . . . . . 1 whare 2 cow-sheds. In addition to 12 units and 15 workmen on Mangaora, the «cheme provided assistance for 14 unemployed Natives, the total dependants numbering 156 persons. Te Kuiti Base Farm. Formerly acquired by the Waikato-Maniapoto District Maori Land Board as mortgagee in possession, this property, comprising 617 acres and situated approximately four miles from Te Kuiti Railwaystation, was taken over as a central stock base farm in 1932. The sum of £8,000 is still due to the Board. The area comprises good papa country and is well watered by running streams. Out of the total area of 588 acres_ suitable for development, 455 acres are in good grass, 120 acres in fair to poor grass, and the balance is in gorse and patches of bush. This country is ideal sheep land and will carry four sheep per acre, or with mixed stock it will carry two sheep per acre and one beast to 3 acres. Two hundred and three head of cattle were on hand as at 31st March, 1937, as well as 1,093 sheep. The farm wintered 1,000 ewes, which produced 1,103 lambs, an average of 110 per centum.. The season's activities carried out by two permanent farm hands and by unemployed Natives embraced 80 chains of new fencing and 50 chains of fencing repairs ; 40 acres of grubbing and clearing ; 20 chains of roadmaking ; 150 acres of grass-harrowing ; 50 acres of ploughing, cultivating, and grassing ; and 260 acres of top-dressing. The farm has mainly been used as a distributing centre for live-stock for schemes in the Maniapoto district. It has been carefully and efficiently managed, and a perusal of the farm accounts will disclose the fact that the venture has been highly successful. The revenue from the sales and transfers of live-stock and wool for the year ended 31st March, 1937, amounted to the sum of £3,615, made up as follows :— Cash Transfers to Receipts. other Schemes. £ £ Wool .. .. .. .. .. 623 Cattle .. .. .. .. 532 765 .. .. .. .. .. 1,426 259 Sundries .. .. .. .. .. 10 £2,591 £1,024 The proceeds from the sale of 10,373 lb. of wool realized £623, giving an average of Is. 2-3 d. per pound, and 9-8 lb. of wool per sheep. Considerable improvement has been achieved during the past season through both heavier stocking (up to capacity) and top-dressing. This improvement is reflected not only in the farm returns, but is also visible even to any visitor to the property. Mahoenui. Located about thirty-eight miles south of Te Kuiti, and lying on both sides of the main New Plymouth highway, Mahoenui scheme comprises a compact area of 6,076 acres. The scheme embraces the hapu of the Ngati-Rungaterangi, a buffer sub-tribe in the eventful past history of the Maniapotos and Taranakis, of which the Wetere family are the recognized leaders. It is looked upon as one of the pioneer development schemes in the King-country district.

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