C.—l.

Patoto Block (721 Ackes). Situated on a blind road not far distant from Mokauiti, this block comprises three abandoned properties which, when taken over for development, had almost completely reverted to scrub and fern. Of the 721 acres, 24-3 acres are in standing bush which it is not intended to touch, while of the balance 380 acres is already in good grass and carrying 570 ewes besides dry sheep and cattle. The land is mostly fairly steep, but good healthy country where stock respond well. Pro Block (5,944 Acres). Piu Block, situated on the main Te Kuiti - Taumarunui Highway, is an amalgamation of Piu Settlement and thirteen abandoned Crown securities surrounding that settlement. The various units are Piu Settlement (1,826 acres), Olson's (184 acres), Zimmerman's No. 1 (181 acres), Brickland's (158 acres), Robertson's (158 acres), Geddes' (838 acres), Arndt's (301 acres), Buchli's (206 acres), Logan's (321 acres), Gillespie's (167 acres), Wall's (603 acres), Orr's (431 acres), Patillo's (411 acres), and Zimmerman's No. 2 (159 acres). The first of these areas was brought under the control of the Small Farms Board in December, 1935, the next four in 1937, and the remainder in November, 1939. Some of the country, and particularly that embraced in the last group, is very rough and broken, but nevertheless with heavy stocking following the burning of the fern and sowing in grass the position of desolate waste which these properties had become can certainly be retrieved. Though work on some of the area is of very recent date, over 2,150 acres is already in grass and will this winter carry 1,500 ewes, 4,800 dry sheep, 100 breeding-cows, and 260 head of cattle. With patience in the handling of this area and a not too early replacement of dry stock with ewes and cows its future should be assured. Pbatt's Block (166 Acres). This area was set aside for small-farm purposes in 1933. It was subdivided into three sections, and three prospective settlers were established. Since that date the area has been developed to the stage where dairying could be carried out, and last spring the one remaining prospective settler was granted a lease over the section of 55 acres occupied by him. The remaining two sections, both of which run a dairy herd, have been farmed by the Department as separate units this season. The results show, despite good management by the occupiers, that further pasture development is essential before either of these areas could return a fair living. This is a matter of good husbandry coupled with age and ample manure. Pururu Block (2,876 Acres). This block is made up of two areas of 2,682 acres and 194 acres. The former area was the first of the development schemes undertaken by the Land Development Branch in Te Kuiti, and work thereon commenced in October, 1933, while the latter area was an abandoned property added in November, 1937. When work commenced in 1933 it was confined to the easy central area of 900 acres, but since that date continued extension has taken place until now two-thirds of the area is in grass and the block is well provided with buildings, roads, water-supplies, and other facilities necessary for the working of the area. This season 130 cows have been milked, with excellent results, and in addition the block has carried 1,100 ewes, 3,200 dry sheep, and 250 run cattle. The milking of the four dairy herds as separate units has, despite the good returns, shown that an ever-watchful eye must be kept on ragwort, for notwithstanding years of sheep control this weed still persists strongly. Raetihi Block (2,958 Acres). Two blocks which until eighteen months ago were being developed by the Public Works Department were amalgamated to form this block. These were Makaranui (1,512 acres) and Raetihi (.1,436 acres). The whole of the Makaranui Sub-block is practically flat land originally in bush which had been milled, while Raetihi Sub-block consists of some 150 acres of steep country, the balance being easy slopes to flat heavily-timbered land. Work has reach a stage where the block can. now winter 3,300 ewes, 2,500 dry sheep, 275 breedingcows, and 165 run cattle. Much work remains still to be done, but extensions of development will be proceeded with in association with the provision of winter feed. As new swede ground is required, areas in poor pasture are gradually absorbed, and following the crop, established in permanent pasture. This it a good block of country and will eventually lend itself to considerable settlement. Rumbles' Block (379 Acres). Situated on the main Kihikihi-Arapuni Main Highway, this block was first started in 1934 under the Unemployment Board's scheme 4c. As in the case of other similar areas, the occupier had insufficient command of stock and essential labour to ever make any real progress, the block was brought under the control of the Land Development Branch in 1936. There is a lot of broken country despite the small area of the block, and development has been limited to approximately two-thirds of the total area. This winter the carrying-capacity will be 350 ewes, 260 dry sheep, 30 breeding-cows, and 25 dry cattle. Mangati Block (631 Acres). Two sub-blocks —viz., Puketotara (201 acres) and Te Tahi (430 acres) —go to make up this block. Puketotara was originally an unimproved Crown section covered with gorse and scrub and was first set aside for small-farm purposes in December, 1937. Work is proceeding most satisfactorily, and

3 —C. 1,

17