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NATIVE TRUST AND MAORI LAND BOARD ACTIVITIES The Native Trustee, a statutory trustee constituted by the Native Trustee Act, 1930, actively farms seventeen stations, comprising 50,000 acres, all vested in him under section 25 of the Act. The farms are financed by way of overdraft, the total of which, at 31st March, was £131,939. The stations carry 31,350 breeding-ewes and 30,410 other sheep in addition to 4,372 run cattle. During the last financial year 1,294 bales of wool were produced, the value being £23,609. Receipts from sales of live-stock were £28,894. The Maori Land Board stations experienced a favourable year. Morikau, administered by the Aotea District Maori Land Board, covers an area of 11,806 acres and carries 16,176 sheep with 840 cattle and 40 working horses. Receipts last year were £7,569 from 425 bales of wool, £7,191 from live-stock, and sundries £39. During the year a further dwelling was completed, making a total of 3 now on the station. For the last financial year the net profit was £3,280, while £3,000 was invested in the 1944 Victory Loan. The total investments of the owners are now £10,390, of which £3,000 has been voluntarily loaned free of interest. Anaura and Waiorongomai Stations are both administered by the Tairawhiti District Maori Land Board, and on these cattle and sheep have been carried to capacity. Although the season was sufficiently difficult to make the fattening of stock impossible, the markets for store animals were exceptionally good and the whole of the surplus stock was disposed of at satisfactory prices. During the year a combined total of 350 bales of wool were produced at a value of £5,965. Sales from live-stock amounted to £14,301, and sundries £208. The stations at the end of the year carried 2,132 cattle, 8,036 dry sheep, and 7,552 breeding-ewes.

EAST COAST NATIVE TRUST LANDS The Board of Native Affairs exercises control over the financial operations of the East Coast Trust lands, which are administered by the East Coast Commissioner. Ranging from Tolaga Bay in the north to Wairoa in the south, and extending to Mahia Peninsula, the total area of the Trust comprises 224,226 acres plus 1,203 acres leased from the Tairawhiti District Maori Land Board, making a total of 225,429 acres. This is divided into two portions—the East Coast Native Trust lands containing 116,603 acres, and the Mangatu Trust embracing 108,826 acres. Sheep and cattle farming is undertaken on a large portion of the land, which is divided into twenty-four stations aggregating 149,436' acres; a further section of 50,193 acres is cut up into twenty four farms which are leased; and there is a balance area of 23,758 acres still undeveloped. In connection with farming operations, the impossibility of getting teamsters was mentioned in the report of last year. It is becoming increasingly apparent that all agricultural work must, as far as possible, be carried out by mechanical appliances, as it is becoming less and less possible to get teamsters. During the year over 800 acres which had not previously been ploughed was broken in with a giant disk and already over 200 acres of this area is sown in grass and turnips. In future greater use will be made of tractors where possible, and accordingly horses, to some extent, will be discarded. On the Mangatu Block, Okaihau Station, a road has been pushed through with bulldozers over five miles beyond the station through very rough country to tap a large reserve of totara posts. It is expected to obtain 40,000 to 50,000 posts from dead timber in this area. The stock tallies at 31st March were 78,133 breeding-ewes, 70,684 dry sheep, 6,028 breedingcows, 13,237 other cattle, and 681 horses. The wool sold for the 1944-45 season amounted to 3,653 bales, valued at £63,928, and live-stock proceeds from 63,105 sheep were £60,731 and from 5,165 cattle £44,285. The outside investments of the Trust, aggregating £65,539, comprise war loans, £57,030 ; liberty bonds, £2,410 ; and inscribed stock, £6,099.

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