C.—l.

Two hundred and fifty-eight bales of wool were sold for £4,616. The supplementary winter feed available is 89 acres of swedes —a good crop—loo tons of oaten sheaves, and 12 tons of hay. Stock on hand at 31st March, 1941, was 11,788 sheep, 936 bullocks, and 16 horses. Kakariki Estate (19,287 Acres). —The farming and development of this block was continued during the year. The stock on hand at Ist April, 1940, was 16,756 sheep, 35 mixed dairy cattle, 998 run cattle, 54 horses, 32 pigs, and 1,439 goats. A further 337 acres of scrub were cleared and 290 acres of new ground stumped and ploughed. Four hundred and eighty-nine acres were cultivated, of which 156 acres were sown in permanent pasture and 38 acres in barley, 3 acres peas, and 5 acres in potatoes, maize, and sugar-beet; 290 acres are growing a good crop of swedes. Eighty-five acres of clover and meadow hay was harvested and baled. One hundred and fifty-nine tons of superphosphate and 13 tons of blood-and-bone manure were used in the top-dressing of permanent pastures and growing of annual crops. No hill country topdressing was undertaken this year owing to the difficulty in securing reliable labour. Two hundred and fourteen chains of new fencing was erected, 195 chains completely reconstructed, and 40 chains repaired. A further 3 acres was planted in timber and shelter trees. A total of 4,181 lambs, 105 run calves, 2 foals, and 58 pigs were bred. Altogether 1,311 fat lambs were frozen, 983 ewes and 164 wethers were sold, and 1,241 ewes were transferred to Kaheka, Lagoon Farm, and Waihau. Three hundred and nine bales of wool were sold for £4,980. The supplementary winter feed on hand is 98 tons oaten sheaves, 143 tons baled hay, and 289 acres swedes. The stock on hand at 31st March, 1941, was 13,636 sheep, 36 dairy cattle, 994 run cattle, 50 horses, 40 pigs, and 1,054 goats. Waihau Block (963 Acres). —Development operations during the year have consisted of fencing, cultivation, and top-dressing. The boundary and internal fencing are now practically completed. The areas felled last year were sown and top-dressed, making a total top-dressed now of approximately 750 acres. The 60 acres stumped last year have been cultivated and sown in turnips,, swedes, and part in grass after turnips ; there are now nearly 100 acres in permanent pasture on cultivated land, and this will make it possible to harvest hay on the older portion this next season. The pastures have responded very well to manure, and this in turn is reflected on better framed and conditioned stock. No lambs have been killed, and the flock now includes some ewes bred on the place. It will be possible to double the breeding-ewes next season. The total number of stock wintered was 760 sheep and 70 cattle, and the maximum number carried was 2,120 sheep and 173 cattle. Parinui Block (1,043 Acres).—The whole boundary fence has been repaired, and also the greater part of the internal fencing. Development work consisted mainly of fencing. Nine hundred acres have now been top-dressed (about 300 acres have had three dressings) ; on this, subterranean clover has responded well, and there is ample evidence that white clover and the better grasses are becoming re-established. About 60 acres of cultivated land has been sown in permanent pasture, making 130 acres in well-established permanent pasture after crops. Another 14 acres have been cleared and sown in swedes and soft turnips for the winter. It has not been possible previously to cut any hay, but next season it will be possible to harvest from 30 acres to 40 acres of the older portion of the above pasture. The number of ewes bred from was considerably reduced, and this, together with improved pasture, resulted in an increase in the lambing percentage, substantially reduced the losses, while there was an increase of nearly 6 per cent, in the weight of wool clipped from fewer sheep. No Down lambs were bred, and no lambs were killed, it having been decided to build up the fiock by breeding, and this has given very encouraging results —the young sheep are very well grown. It is intended to increase the numbers of both sheep and cattle now that it is possible to make better provision for winter. Taranaki Land District. Cole's Block (593 acres). —This property, situated in the Ohura district, is another abandoned discharged-soldier-settlement security. For the district the section can be described, as good, although it is hilly and presents its problems in the tendency to reversion, and bad access. Owing to the early rains the roads became unworkable before delivery of the autumn top-dressing could be arranged. On account of the absence of suitable areas for hay, a further 13 acres was cleared and stumped this year to allow ample provision to be made for winter crops. With the good season the stock has done better than usual. Robinson's Block (694 Acres). —This is another discharged-soldier-settlement security also in the Ohura district. One hundred and fifty acres are steep and broken and valueless from a farming point of view. Of the balance, 100 acres are ploughable, 435 acres easy to steep hills, and 9 acres shelter bush. Ordinary farming operations were continued during the year, and resulted in a net profit, after charging up all working-expenses, depreciation, and interest, of £257.

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