D.—l.

North New Brighton Sand-dune Reclamation. —The Christchurch City Council is erecting scrub fences and planting marram-grass to reclaim a large area of sand-dune country with a view to extension of the Council's afforestation work. SMALL-FARMS SCHEMES. Whangabei District. Otaneroa Block. —Considerable development work was carried out on this block during the year, and comprised bush clearing, burning, and grassing of 40 acres, 60 ch. of fencing, and the application of 26 tons of fertilizer. Two new cottages were erected and one was completely renovated, while one new dairy is being built. Live-stock, consisting of 150 head of cattle and 400 ewes, were grazed during the year. Onekura Block. —Repairs and renovations to the original homestead were carried out during the period. Additions and alterations were Completed on one cottage and commenced on another, while repairs in the water-supply main have been given attention. Tutamoe Block.—During the year settlers erected 51 ch. of boundary fencing, and repairs and renovations were carried out on three new cottages, and two new dwellings were erected. One standard two-bail dairy has been built. Auckland Disteict. Mangawai Kauri-gum Reserve. —Good progress has been made during the year with the continued development of this block. In addition to roading, which has been reported elsewhere, 263 acres were cleared of scrub ; gum-holes were filled in and moulds levelled over an area of approximately 100 acres ; 100 acres were ploughed, and this area is now in permanent pasture; 105 acres were worked up and sown in grass. The main drain through the block, which is 18 ft. by 15 ft., has been deepened 6 ft. over a length of 1 m. 13 ch. ; 3 m. 36 ch. of interior drains, averaging 3 ft. by 3 ft. 6 in., were excavated, and 6m. 18 ch. of standard and 3m. of temporary fencing erected. Two hundred and two head of stock are now on the block. Kaipara Harbour Mangrove Reclamation (Glorit Section), (Peterson's Block). —The reclamation of this block, embracing 730 acres, has been continued during the year. Im. 30 ch. of road was formed and metalled, and one 25-ft.-span timber bridge constructed, this work completing the roading of the block. The stop-bank has been planted with buffalo-grass, which is now well established. Four hundred acres have been cleared and stumped, and of this area 300 acres have been burnt off ready for cultivation. All boundary and lateral drains are in good order and are functioning well. Kaipara Harbour Mangrove Flat Reclamation (Kukutango Block). —The de-watering of this block has been in progress during the period. The main drain has been excavated and the necessary stopbanking almost finished. De-watering is expected to be completed shortly. Seventy-eight chains of access road have been formed and metalled. Blocks V, VI, and IX, Maungatautari Survey District (Ellicott's Block). —The development of this block of 2,900 acres was continued until the end of January last, after which the Lands and Survey Department took over control. In addition to maintaining the farming operations of the area previously developed and stocked, a further 40 acres were ploughed and 10 acres reploughed, 130 acres were permanently grassed, 1,060 acres harrowed and top-dressed, 151 acres cleared of scrub and fern, and ragwort dealt with over 66 acres ; 8 m. 3 ch. of new fences erected ; 25 acres sown in swedes and rape ; 337 acres cultivated ; 82 acres of hay cut and harvested ; 60 acres of ensilage cut; 4,000 pine-trees planted and 5,000 planted in nursery. Fencing materials were cut and split as follows : Posts, 18,275 ; strainers, 2,335; stays, 2,029; battens, 124,250 ; stock-yard rails, 104; houseblocks, 5,161 Ift. to 2 ft. ; survey pegs, 2,120. One permanent cattle-yard was erected during the period. Section 255, Blocks XI and XV, Maungatautari Survey District (late Property of W. L. Foss). — This block was also taken over by the Lands and Survey Department at the end of January last, and previous to that date good progress was made with the development of the property of 438 acres. During the period 66 acres of ragwort were dealt with, 16 acres of scrub cut and cleared, 15 acres ploughed, 38 acres reploughed, 150 acres cultivated, 38 acres sown in swedes and rape, and 9 acres in permanent grass ; Im. 53§ ch. of permanent fences were erected, 54 acres of pastures harrowed and top-dressed, 14 acres of hay harvested ; boring for water-supply was carried 67 ft. to 307 ft., 80 ch. of pipes were laid, and tanks erected. One permanent sheep-yard was constructed. Lot 2of Section 1, Block XV, Maungatautari Survey District (late L. S. Langdon's Property).— The work of developing this block of 456 acres was continued until the end of September, 1937, when it was handed over to the Lands and Survey Department. Prior to that date 42 acres of ragwort were dealt with, 14 acres of scrub cleared and stumped, 18f acres ploughed, 23 acres reploughed, 160 acres cultivated, 37J acres sown in swedes and rape, 1 m. 67|ch. of rabbit-proof fences erected, 27 acres permanently grassed, 49 acres of pastures harrowed and top-dressed, and 15 acres of hay harvested. In addition, 272 ft. of boring for water-supply was carried out, 73 ft. of pipes laid and tanks erected, and one permanent sheep-yard constructed. Section 8, Block VII, Wharepapa Survey District (late P. Anderson's Property).—The Lands and Survey Department took over this block at the end of September, 1937, and, in addition to that previously undertaken, the following development work was carried out during the period : 9J acres of scrub cut and lightly stumped, 2 acres ploughed, 4 acres reploughed, 11 ch. of permanent fences erected, 55 ch. of fences renewed and repaired, and 8 acres of pastures harrowed and top-dressed. In addition, two farm bridges were constructed.

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