o.—l.

Blackshaw's (250 acres). —Four men were engaged from April to July in cleaning drains and erecting 116 chains of fence. From January to March, 1938, ten men were employed grubbing and burning gorse and blackberry on an area of approximately 70 acres of swamp. Wharere (930 acres). —Steady progress has been made with the development of this block during the year, and the gradual improvement effected by dewatering and stocking is becoming more apparent. A flood-pump was installed for the northern area during the year, and all the main drains in the block of 400 acres which it serves deepened. The benefit from the lowered water-level on the pastures has been most satisfactory, and a continued improvement will take place as the previously waterlogged land dries out and consolidates. The raising of the stop-banks to protect this area will be carried out as soon as a plant is available. The work carried out has included the deepening and widening of drains, maintenance of drains, fencing, harrowing of pastures, top-dressing, and the incidental work in connection with farming operations. The stock on the area have done particularly well, and some excellent drafts of bullocks of chilling weight have been disposed of during the year. The returns from the five dairy-farms have been satisfactory, and a further farm will be ready for dairying next season. Further stock purchases will be made for this area, during the coming year. Summary :— Total for Year. Total to Date. Chains. Chains. New drains .. .. .. .. .. 16 1,827 (37,404 cubic yards) Deepening drains .. .... .. .. .. 782 1,124 Widening drains .. .. .. .. .. 302 356 Clearing drain-lines . . , . . . ■. . 36 1,358 Cleaning drains .. .. .. . .. 1,276 3,572 Road-formation . . . . . . . , . . .. 301 Fences .. .. .. .. ~ .. 764 4,437 Acres. Acres. Clearing scrub .. .. .. .. .. 9 747 Grassing .. . . . . . . . . . . .. 738 Stumping .. .. .. .. .. 27 223 Grass-harrowing .. .. . . . . . . 304 390 Ploughing and cultivation .. . . . . . . 17 105 Disking for grass .. . . .. .. .. .. 35 Top-dressing .. .. .. .. .. 678 1,967 Sowing swedes .. .. .. .. .. 18 18 Number. Number. Erection of flood-pump .. .. .. .. 1 1 Store-sheds .. .. .. .. .. .. 13 Bridges, permanent .. .. .. .. 10 49 Culverts .. .. .. .. .. .. 7 23 Cottages .. .. . . .. .. .... 7 Cow-sheds .. .. .. .. .. .. . 8 Farms equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Tarawera No. 1 (900 acres). —Except for an area of 134 acres, and as reported last year, the development of this block was completed and ten fully equipped farms were handed over to the Commissioner of Crown Lands. The remaining 134 acres, together with buildings and farm implements, has been transferred to Tarawera No. 2 Block. Tarawera No. 2 Block.—When development-work was commenced on this block in July, 1937, a gang was employed in preliminary clearing operations. The unsettled grass area on Tarawera No. 1 Block, together with stock and equipment, was transferred to No. 2 Block, and a cottage was erected on this area. Together with the clearing operations, the work of draining the swamp was put in hand, and drains to a total length of 212 chains constructed. These have effected the almost complete unwatering of the swamp, converting it into a very considerable asset to the block as a whole. The grassed area of 90 acres, formerly part of Tarawera No. 1, was top-dressed in August, 1937, and again in February of this year. This area is showing an excellent growth of pasture, and stock on it are doing very well. Throughout the year the work of clearing was carried out as opportunity offered, and in February firebreaks were constructed along the boundary of the block preparatory to burning operations, which were carried out in March. The burn, which, including the swamp, extended over an area of about 600 acres, was quite satisfactory, and to the end of the current year approximately 300 acres of the area have been sown in grass, some of which is already sufficiently advanced to give an indication of a very good take. At the earliest possible opportunity the work of top-dressing this area will be undertaken, and it is hoped that the new pasture will be well established before the winter.

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