C.—B.

1940. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. DRAINAGE OPERATIONS IN HAURAKI PLAINS. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1940, TOGETHER WITH STATEMENTS OF ACCOUNTS.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 20 of the Hauraki Plains Act, 1926.

Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, Ist June, 1940 Sir, — I have the honour to present herewith the report of the Chief Drainage Engineer on operations carried out during the past year on the Hauraki Plains in accordance with the nrovkions of the Hauraki Plains Act, 1926. provisions I have, &c., R. G. Macmorran, Under-Secretary for Lands. The Hon. Frank Langstone, Minister of Lands.

REPORT OF THE CHIEF DRAINAGE ENGINEER. Sib, — I have the honour to submit the thirty-second annual report on the land drainage and development works carried out on the Hauraki Plains during the year ending 31st March, 1940." A year-by-year comparison of the production figures given in the Hauraki Plains annual reports for the past ten years shows that the average rate of increase in production of butter and cheese is about 200 tons per annum, comprising approximately 150 tons of cheese and 50 tons of butter. These figures represent the normal average annual increase due to expansion of farming activities in a decade. As the result of the excellent season the factory returns for this year show an advance of 600 tons on the previous highest production record. Returns kindly supplied by firms and individuals handling most of the produce show that the value of the principal dairy and pastoral products of the district during the year under review was over £872,000. This is a new high record for the district, and it can be confidently stated that the time is not far distant when the value of the production from the reclaimed swamp will be £1,000,000 per annum. Production figures compiled from the returns received are given below. The figures in parentheses are the returns for the previous year. Tons. Val £ ue - Butter •• •• .. 3,101 (2,962) 743,795 Cheese .. .. .. .. .. 3,942 (3,079) Number. Kgs 20,882 (18,470) 52,500 Calves •• •• •• •• .. 19,714 (20,782) 8,894 Cattle .. .. .. .. .. 13,637(14,096)1 Silee P •• .. 4,058 (3,528) 67,212 Horses .. .. .. .. .. 100 (104) j £872,401 Cargo despatched and received over the Piako River wharves, 5,908 tons.

I—C. 8.