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APPENDIX lII.—LAND-DRAINAGE AND LAND-DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONS. (R. L. Innis, Land Drainage Engineer and Superintendent of Land Development.) In accordance with statutory requirements, separate reports deal with (1) Hauraki Plains, (2) Rangitaiki, and (3) swamp land drainage districts—viz., Kaitaia, Hikurangi, Waihi, and Poukawa drainage-works. Land-development operations have been carried out on thirteen areas under the Small Farms Act, whilst development operations on the Galatea Estate, purchased under the Land for Settlements Act, have been steadily pushed forward. The number of development blocks has increased by three during the year, and proposals in detail have been prepared for commencing on two further blocks — viz., Tokoroa, and Whirinaki, an area adjoining Ngakuru Block. The Tokoroa Block, in the vicinity of Putaruru, is situated in a bush-sick area, but it is confidently anticipated that the use of licks and prepared manures will overcome this trouble. Two further completed farms were handed over to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland, during the year, and the following schedule shows the number of completed farms handed over in the respective blocks : — Mangatete .. .. .. .. .. . . ... .. 5 Wharere . . .. . . .. .. . . ... ... 5 Tarawera .. .. .... .. .. .. .. .. 10 Murupara .. . . .. . . . . . . . . .. 12 Broadlands .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 8 Dairying was carried out on all these farms under the control of the Commissioner of Crown Lands, whilst on another twelve farms milking was carried out on a wages basis. The available returns of butterfat from the blocks for the year are :— lb. Kaitaia .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 46,908 Mangatete .. .. .. .. .. .. 43,710 Wharere .. . . .. .. .. . . . . ..29,118 Tarawera .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 73,343 Murupara .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 58,389 Broadlands .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 47,577 299,045 These returns show a considerable increase over last year's figures. This is especially noticeable on the Kaitaia Block, where, however, the sizes of the herds were increased. The highest return was from the farm occupied by A. T. Doidge at Tarawera, with 9,548 lb., whilst the next was that of R. W. Hogg, on the same block, with 8,635 lb. The following schedule shows the stock on the blocks at the end of the year : —

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Cows. Dry Stock, j Heifers. Calves. Horses. Sheep. Bullocks. Kaitaia— Department . . . . . . 192 73 31 55 5 Settlers .. .. 281 21 77 26 13 65 Mangatete — Department .. .. .. 55 5 6 9 Hoe-o-Tainui— Department .. .. .. 6 11 273 29 13 629 Wharere— Settlers .. .. 172 8 29 43 5 Department .. . . . . 37 1 .. .. 5 502 364 Tarawera No. 1— Settlers .. .. 347 18 80 92 13 Tarawera No. 2— Department .. .. . . 10 27 50 4 .. 78 Mnrupara— Settlers .. .. .. 450 12 62 97 12 Broadlancls— Settlers .. .. 296 10 42 76 8 Puriri — Department .. . . .. . . 54 .. .. 2 822 Edgecumbe—■ Department .. . . . . .. 3 . . .. 4 Grand total .. .. 1,846 243 650 431 80 2,096 364 Department total .. 294 174 360 97 29 2.031 364