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the block working under a share-milking basis. Top-dressing over the four sections has been completed and also a certain amount of resowing of pastures by surface sowing has been done. Not a great deal of fencing has been necessary, but it has been necessary to erect three new dwellings on the block ; two are completed, whilst one is nearly so. Two new cow-sheds have been erected. It has been necessary to embark on a fairly extensive water scheme. Totara Grove (Locality : Tikokino). —Possession of this block was taken at the ■end of April. A good deal of old feed was in evidence when the property was taken over, and during the autumn of 1945 difficulty was experienced with the inadequate watersupply, the property being definitely short in this respect. A ballot took place in the autumn of 1945 and the three successful ballotees were employed on the block. No buildings existed and it was necessary to erect temporary quarters. A good deal of the road fencing was in poor order and some 70 chains of this have been reconstructed. Some 115 chains of new subdivisional fencing has been erected and 40 chains of renovation •on sections has been completed. The three dwellings are completed and the ballotees are in residence. It was necessary to construct a water-supply system to serve the three sections. This is completed and working with good results. Te Roto (Locality : Takapau).—Possession was taken in June, 1945. Some 223 acres was secured from a neighbour, Mr. Paulsen, and was the key to the ability to subdivide the block. The whole area offers good possibilities for intensive farming and when fully developed should prove a very successful block. Quite a proportion has yet to be stumped, ploughed, and resown, and will then carry up to 3 ewes per acre. One hundred and seventy acres was stumped, and some 85 acres of this was sown. Also, 160 acres was sown in wheat on a share-cropping basis. After the crop was harvested, 120 acres of this was sown for winter feed, the remaining 40 acres being sown to permanent pasture. A contractor is about to commence ploughing the balance of the 170-acre block from virgin land, which will be sown in the spring. Some 35 chains of new fencing has been erected and 40 chains of internal repair work has been completed. Contracts have been let for the necessary three dwellings and a wool-shed. A bridge has been •constructed across the Porangahau Stream to give access from Paulsen's Road to Sections 2 and 4. The block is reasonably well served by water, but it will be necessary to install a small system. Pukeatua (Locality : Dannevirke). —Possession of this block was taken in June, 1945. Pukeatua contains very little ploughable country and is mainly a grazing proposition. It is situated in the Dannevirke district and is not so much affected by dry conditions as in the central and northern portions of the province. To-day the country is carrying a good even sward of pasture suitable for sheep and sufficient for cattle now on the block. All fences are in reasonably good repair. It will be necessary to construct a road fence of some four miles, together with some new fencing to create Boundaries between sections. A contractor will very shortly commence work upon the road fence. T,he erection of the necessary buildings is in the hands of the Housing Construction Department, but so far no start has been made. It is necessary to erect four new houses, together with the necessary out-buildings. Pukeatua should be a successful settlement, provided that fertilizer supplies are available, as the country definitely needs top-dressing. The block is well served by natural permanent water and no major scheme has been necessary. Hakowhai (Locality : Hakowhai). —Possession of this property was taken in April, 1945. At the same time a portion of the Russell Estate was purchased and run jointly with Hakowhai, there being a total of some 1,637 acres. Hakowhai itself is very boxed in and a large portion of the hill country is poor and incapable of much economic improvement. Attention has been paid to the establishment of pastures and some 200 chains of new internal fencing has been erected. A new house and implement-shed have been erected on the Apley end of the block. Some 50 chains of roading has been completed. A small water-supply scheme has been completed for supply to the new house, and later it will be necessary to tap a spring on the Apley portion of the block which will be reticulated to the cultiviable areas.

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