C.—B.

To recondition 2 miles 77 chains of drain, 3,419 cubic yards of material was excavated, and 1846 cubic yards in the construction of 54 chains of new drains. Area cleared of heavy swamp growth was 190 acres, and 50 acres was sown in grass and 172 acres of swamp harrowed. The drainage pump serving the Kerepeehi Block operated intermittently during the months of June, July, and August for a total period of 403 hours. The longest period of continuous operation was 62 hours. The Piako River ferry service has been in continuous operation at Kaihere. Kerepeehi is the headquarters, workshop and stores depot for extensive works within and beyond the boundaries of the Hauraki Plains. Patetonga-Tahuna Districts. Good progress has been made with the work of clearing the banks of the Piako and Waitoa Rivers. The Waitoa River has now been cleared of willows from the Whakahoro Road to its junction with the Piako, and the banks of the Piako River have during the past three years been cleared of willows from the Whakahoro Road to a point 2 miles 40 chains below the Waitoa Junction. Two working parties have been employed on this work with tractor and log-hauler during the summer, and work in the lower reaches of the Piako River is now being carried out with No. 11 Priestman Dredge. One hundred and twenty-four logs required for construction works were cut and hauled from the bush on the Waitoa River and 4,300 sleepers cut for tramway. Drain-maintenance work in the Patetonga District included cleaning 21 miles 6 chains of drains and the excavation of 10,292 cubic yards of spoil to widen and deepen 6 miles 9 chains of drains. During the past three years all main drains in the peat area at Patetonga have been reconditioned. Summary. The total length of main and subsidiary drains constructed on the Hauraki Plains since the inception of the Scheme is now 889 miles 42 chains. The principal works carried out during the year under review on the Hauraki Plains are summarized in the following schedule : — Length. Excavations. Drains: General, &c.: Miles. Ch. Cubic Yd. Drains cleaned by manual labour .. .. .. 100 14 Drains widened and deepened by manual labour .. 23 2 44,268 New drains constructed by manual labour .. .. 33 63 55,298 99,566 Drains cleaned by weed-cutting launch .. ..70 Drains improved by machines .. .. •• 051 5,400 Rivers, canals, and stop-banks improved by machines 4 9 137,117 Ballast. Clay ballast delivered on peat roads .. •• 4 0 23,668 Road-formation .. .. •• •• 1 73 Metal. Cubic Yd. Road-metalling: Base-course only .. .. 173 2,404 Acres. Area swamp harrowed .. .. ■■ •• •• 172 Area cleared of scrub .. .. • • • • • • 955 Area sown in grass .. .. ■ ■ ■ • ■ ■ 991 River-banks cleared of willows .. .. 4 45 N umber. Sleepers cut for light tramway .. .. .. •• 4,300 Fences erected .. .. • • • • .. 17 8 Field ancl Office Work. —Land and engineering surveys carried out during the year involved 4,887 chains of traverse, 3,558 chains of levels, 650 acres of topographical survey and 40 river or canal crosssections. The number of men employed on the works controlled from headquarters at Kerepeehi varied throughout the year between 108 and 137. These figures do not include extra labour engaged for seasonal drain cleaning work. I have, &c., R. L. Innis, The Under-Secretary for Lands, Wellington. Chief Drainage Engineer.

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