C.—l.

At the end of the year, owing to lack of rainfall, feed was becoming extremely short, and unless early rains are experienced it may be necessary to find outside grazing for the sheep and dry stock. During the year milking-machines were installed in some of the sheds to cope with the increased herds. The following is a summary of the main works carried out during the year : — During Year 1937-38. Total to Date. Number. Number. Artesian bores sunk .. .. .. 1 28 Concrete troughs .. .. .. .. .... 23 Culverts and bridges . . .. .. 54 98 Houses .. .. .. .. . . .... 11 Cow-sheds .. .. .. .. .... 11 Engine-sheds .. .. .. .. 6 6 Milking-machines installed .. .. 8 8 Chains. Chains. Fences erected .. .. .. .. .. 318 1,508 Drains constructed .. .. .. ..979 2,354 (15,861 cubic yards) Acres. Acres. Area harrowed .. .. .. .. .. 144 338 Area sown .. .. .. .. .. 390 584 Harvested for hay .. .. .. 56 Hoe-o-Tainui Block (1,472 acres). —This block has now been subdivided into twelve farms. Development-work was commenced in October, 1935, and six prospective settlers have been in occupation of farm cottages since September, 1936. This year six additional dwellings have been erected and are now occupied. Dairy herds of heifers were established on six farms during the season, and the butterfat produced reached a total of 19,937 lb. In addition to the twelve prospective settlers, from six to men have been employed on the block during the year on general development-work. The following is a summary of the main works carried out during the year : — Chains. Fences erected .. .. .. .. .. .. 928 Drains constructed .. . . . . . . .. 241 (11,546 cubic yards.) Acres. Cleared and cultivated .. .. .. .. .. 66 Swamp cleared and burnt .. .. .. .. .. 200 Top-dressing pasture .. .. .. .. .. 654 Hay cut .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 125 Ft. Water-mains laid .. .. .. .. .. .. 40,904 Number. Troughs constructed .. .. .. .. .. 39 Cottages erected .. . . .. . . . . .. 6 Implement-sheds erected . . . . . . . . . . 12 Milking-sheds erected .. .. .. .. .. 5 Pig-houses erected . . . . . . .. .. .. 17 Henderson's (700 acres). —From seventeen to twenty-two men have been engaged in this block during the year. The main works have been road-construction, drainage, and a considerable amount of development. Much work has been necessary to control the growth of ragwort and other noxious weeds. An artesian bore with electrically operated pump was installed for a water-supply. This block is to be taken over by the Superintendent of Land Development, Te Kuiti, at an early date. The work carried out was as follows :— Chains. New drain constructed . . . . . .. 36 Drains improved .. .. . . . . 198 Road formed and metalled . . . . .. . . 100 Fences erected .. .. .. .. .. .. 283 Number. Pile bridges (hardwood) erected . . . . .. . . 2 Culverts constructed .. .. .. . - .. .. 9 Acres. Scrub cleared . . . . . . . .. . . 133 Ploughing ... . . . • . . . . • 94 Cultivated and sown . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 Stumping .. .. .. .. .. .. 20 Top-dressing .. .. .. .. .. .. 116

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