C.-1.

The expenditure on stock to date has been £23,867, and the total returns for last year from all sources, excluding pigs, were as follows £ Butterfat .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 17,450 Fat cattle .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5,755 Sheep and lambs .. . . .. .. .. . . 1,853 Wool .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 236 25,294 At the close of the year the value of departmental stock on hand was £10,970, and in all cases the values are on a conservative basis. Mangatete (1,270 acres). —The development of this block was completed during the year, and there are now on the block nine settlers, two of whom are still on a wages basis. The following schedule shows the principal works carried out during the year, together with the totals to date During Year 1937-38. Total to Date. Number. Number. Posts and stays .. .. .. 2,505 23,989 Strainers .. .. .. .. 86 836 Battens .. .. . . . . 3,400 10,669 Gates constructed .. . . .... 195 Cow-sheds erected ...... 1 9 Cottages erected ...... 2 7 Pig-shelters erected .. .. .... 14 Square Feet. Square Feet. Timber felled and crosscut .. .. .. 100,491 Timber milled .. .. .. .. 20,824 89,652 Chains. Chains. Fences erected .. .. .. 308 1,089 Fences repaired .. .. .. .. 181 Acres. Acres. Area top-dressed .. .. .. 200 680 Clearing fern and wiwi .. .. . . .. 235 Stumping and logging up .. . . 25 245 Puriri Block (1,400 acres).—The development of this block has been continued during the year. An average of twenty-three men have been employed. The felling of approximately 750 acres was completed, and the timber, posts, and strainers removed and stacked. The bush was fired on 3rd March and a very satisfactory burn ensued. The prolonged dry season has delayed the sowing of grass-seed, but this will be done at the first opportunity. The following schedule shows the principal works effected to date on this block : — Number. Posts and stays .. .. .. .. .. .. 11,402 Strainers, rough .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,252 Strainers, squared .. .. .. .. .. 1,212 Battens split .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,000 Puriri-trees felled .. .. .. .. .. 1,203 Sheds erected .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 Chains. Fences erected .. .. .. .. .. .. 196 Bush felled .. .. .. .. .. . . 881"' Grass sown .. .. .. .. .. .. 112 Stumping .. .. . . .. .. .. 9 Ploughing . . .. .. .. .. .. 18 Turnips sown .. .. .. .. .. .. 12 Square Feet. Timber crosscut .. .. .. . . . . 71,638 Timber milled .. .. .. .. .. .. 32,427 Kaitaia (1,000 acres). —The work on this area has consisted of the continuation of the works previously carried out and the extension of operations to portion of the adjoining peat lands. This country is very wet, and it has been found necessary to construct small surface drains to dry out the ground before sowing. Thirty-three men were employed on the block for most of the year, the majority being employed on drainage-works. The opening-up of the Waipapakauri Outlet should have a beneficial effect on this area, but this will not be completed for some time to come. Minor floods only were experienced during the year, none being of a longer duration than thirty-six hours. The milkers on this block are employed on wages, and have carried out the ordinary farm operations over the area. Owing to the very dry summer the growth has not been as heavy as last year, but although the quantity of hay saved is less the quality is excellent,

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