C.—B

1942. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. DRAINAGE OPERATIONS IN HAURAKI PLAINS. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1942.

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 July, 1942. 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 provisions of the Hauraki Plains Act, 1926. I have, &c., R. G. Macmorran, The Hon. the Minister of Lands. Under-Secretary for Lands.

REPORT OF THE CHIEF DRAINAGE ENGINEER. Sir,— I have the honour to submit the thirty-fourth annual report on the drainage and land development work carried out on the Hauraki Plains. The report covers the year ended 31st March, 1942. The season has been favourable for farm production, but there has been a decline in the volume of produce as compared with the previous year, which was a record for the district. The rainfall at Kerepeehi in 1941 was 52-4-2 in. The wettest month was October with a fall of 8-37 in. The average rainfall over a period of twenty-six years is 44-416 in. Because of the number of men taken for special duties connected with'the war effort and for the armed forces the volume of construction and land development work has declined steadily during the past two years and the stage has now been reached when it is difficult to obtain labour for seasonal maintenance work. It is gratifying to report that as the result of arrangements made with the Drainage Boards concerned the work of strengthening the stop-banks on the foreshore of the Hauraki Gulf has been commenced. About twenty-seven miles of stop-banks require attention, and this will occupy the two machines at present engaged on the work for a period of over five years. The work is of such importance that only urgent defence requirements should be allowed to interrupt it. The necessity for maintenance of the improved river channels and large canals has been mentioned in previous annual reports. It is realized that there is a limit to what can be undertaken at the present time with the defence effort in full swing, but it is suggested that the necessary financial arrangements for carrying out river-maintenance work should receive consideration so that there will be no unnecessarydelay when the time is opportune. No. 11 grab dredge will be laid up early in the coming year, and this dredge could be used for river-maintenance work until more modern plant can be procured.