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Wellington Land District. Raetihi Block (2,937 Acres). (Control : Superintendent of Land Development, Te Kuiti.) Two areas have now been amalgamated to form this block—namely, Raetihi and Makaranui. A control depot has been established on the block and new buildings erected. As a whole the development has been confined to stumping and cultivation for crops. Some excellent turnip and swede crops are at present established, and the permanent grass areas are satisfactory but require further top-dressing and consolidation. On the Raetihi area work is approximately 80 per cent, completed. On the Makaranui area development work is approximately half-completed. With the planting ol shelter-belts and good pasture establishment this area should subdivide into good mixed-farming units, Ohakune Block (1,087 Acres.) (Control: Superintendent of Land Development, Te Kuiti.) At the present time there are 365 acres in new grass and 210 acres in crops. A further 120 acres have been logged and burnt and are now ready for ploughing. Good crops have been grown, and the new grass pastures are most promising. The work is approximately 60 per cent, completed.

Blocks in Course of Development in the Wellington Land District.

Hawke's Bay Land District. Ahuriri Lagoon (7,153 Acres). Development operations have been progressing steadily during the year. Owing to a very dry spring, summer, and autumn, there was a very large surface of salt deposit which adversely affected both the grassed land and the crops. It is anticipated than when the rains come there will be a very large quantity of salt quickly removed. However, the effect of the salt has been to decrease the area and quality of grass, and this will necessitate a slightly reduced wintercarrying capacity. A pea crop of 5 acres was successfully grown for canning, and yielded nearly 20 tons and returned a profit of approximately £22 per acre. It is intended to grow another 6to 8 acres of peas for canning this coming season. There was a satisfactory mangel crop, but the other crops were adversely affected by dry weather, so that it has been decided during the coming season to concentrate on producing crops such as mangels and pumpkins for stock fodder rather than the growing of crops for sale. Barley has again proved to be a reliable winter fodder, 180 acres wore grown and gave valuable grazing. This area will be laid down in permanent pasture. Approximately 700 acres of grass were top-dressed with superphosphate.

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Number Stock carried. Block. Area. of Men employed. Dairy CoWB _ 1{ _ un battle. Pigs. Sheep. Horses. | " ~ ' Acres. Ohakune .. .. 1,087 11 1 278 .. 1,688 7 Raetihi .. ..2,937 30 4 294 .. 5,308 16 Totals.. ..4,024 41 5 572 .. 6,996 23 Sales. Butterfat. Wool. Cattle. Sheep. Pigs. Block. Pounds. Value. Bales. | Pounds, j Value. Number.' Value. Number. Value. Number. Value. £ £ £ £ £ Ohakune .. .. .. .. 10 0,083 218 215 937 4,047 4,233 Raetihi .. .. .. .. 126 46,690 1,908 400 1,013 4,079 3,280 ' T °tols •• .. .. 142 52,773 2,126 615 1,950 8,126 7,513 |