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KaraJca (Locality : Karaka). —Possession of this settlement of 220 acres was taken in November,. 1944, and the two dairy-farms were allotted on a wages basis on 22nd March, 1946. New houses and other farm buildings, water-supply, and fencing are among the improvements to be effected, and good progress with these works has been made. BrooJclands (Locality : Papakura). —Two dairy-farms and one mixed farm have been planned for this settlement of 378 acres, which was acquired in February, 1945. New farm buildings were required on two sections and one farm was allotted on Ist September, 1945, while another will be settled next season. Further development is required on the proposed mixed farm before being balloted. Nukuhou (Locality : Taneatua). —This settlement was taken over at the end of May, 1945, and subdivided into one dairy and one sheep farm. As little improvement work was necessary, it was possible to allot the sections to ex-servicemen from Ist July, 1945. Ongo View (Locality : Ohinewai). —This property of 711 acres was taken over on 17th April, 1945, and subdivided into two sheep-farms. ' As it was necessary to effect certain improvements, including the erection of farm buildings, it was farmed for a year, and two ex-servicemen will be settled immediately. Onewhero (Locality : Onewhero). —Possession of this 600-acre sheep-farm was taken on 16th April, 1945. Owing to periodic flooding of the flats it was considered economic as a single unit only, and a ballot will be held in May, 1946. Boundary and subdivisional fences were erected and repaired and approximately 90 acres were regrassed during the time it was grazed by the Department. Komakorau (Locality : Gordonton).—This area of 734 acres was acquired on Ist February, 1945, and subdivided into six dairy-farms. Before settlement, new buildings, water-supply, fencing, and some cultivation work was necessary, and these were under way at the date of this report. It is expected that three sections will be balloted in the near future, while the remaining sections will be settled next year. Te Hoe (Locality : Te Hoe). —Two dairy units are planned for this settlement of 284 acres, possession of which was taken on Ist November, 1945. As the pastures require renewing and farm buildings are necessary, it will not be possible, to settle this area until 1947. Bruntwood (Locality : Bruntwood). —This settlement, containing 166 acres, will subdivide into two dairy-farms. This area was taken over on Ist June, 1945. New buildings are in the course of erection, and both sections will be balloted within the next month or two. Tauhei (Locality : Tauhei). —Possession of this property was taken on 27th June, 1945, and the area will be subdivided into two dairy-farms each of 100 acres. New buildings and fences are to be erected, and regrassing of part of the area will be necessary. During the dry spell a fire spread from an adjoining property and swept across this settlement. It is intended to employ a man dairying on wages on one section next season. Whitesides (Locality : Otakiri).—This single unit property of 97 acres was acquired on Ist June, 1945, and fencing, erection of buildings, and renovation of pastures are being carried out. The section will be allotted on a wages basis from Ist July, 1946. Thompson's (Locality: Kaihere). —This section of 102 acres was acquired in November, 1944. Extensive alterations to the house and new farm buildings were necessary, while a new water-supply was installed. A great deal of cleaning up was carried out, in addition to the erection and renovation of fences and cultivation work. A total of 48 heifer calves are grazing on the section, and it is expected that a ballot will be held within the next month or two. Superintendent of Land Development, Te Kuiti Altogether, the year's operations can be considered to be reasonably satisfactory. Drought conditions on all blocks north of Te Kuiti affected the pastures and carryingcapacity to a great extent. On some blocks it was necessary to move all the cattle to

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