C—V

Kereru.—Portion of this block comprising 135 acres was acquired under the provisions of section 51 and the balance of 451 acres was purchased in June, 1945. It is all good terrace and swamp country situated near Levin and has been subdivided into sevensections for dairying. The ballot has been held and the successful applicants are all working on wages or shares. Six hundred breeding-ewes were carried last season, in addition to milking a herd of about 125 dairy cows with satisfactory results. Development, which involves roading, fencing, building, drainage, and water-supplies, is well in hand, and arrangements have been made to fix charges to enable the settlers to take over their individual sections prior to next milking season. Milson was acquired by purchase in October last. It comprises 346 acres of first-class heavy land situated in close proximity to Palmerston North. It has been subdivided into six sections, one of which (Homestead Section) has been allocated to the Disabled Servicemen's Re-establishment League as a training centre. The other five sections have been disposed of by ballot and the successful men have been working on wages. A herd of 100 cows was milked on shares for town supply, and, in addition, a considerable amount of grazing was done. The development programme involves drainage, fencing, water-supplies, and buildings. The drainage necessitates a comprehensive scheme of tile drains, as the property is liable to pug badly in winter. Most of the work, including buildings, is well in hand, but owing to the difficulty in procuring tiles the drainage will take some time to complete and it will not be possible to fix charges in time for next season, but the dairy stock will be increased and some of the men will, take over the milking on shares until such time as their individual holdings can be allotted to them. Morburn was acquired in May, 1945. It is situated on the plains adjacent to Masterton and comprises an area of 173 acres of good-quality land suitable for subdivision into two holdings for dairying and agricultural farming. The development work is principally buildings with a small amount of fencing and pasture renewal. During the past season 600 breeding-ewes were carried in addition to a herd of 24 dairy cows, and 50 acres were store cropped with wheat. Results were very good. The sections have been allocated by ballot and charges will be fixed in time to give title prior to the commencement of next season. Rongokokako.—This property was acquired in July, 1945. It will make two dairy units, and these have already been allocated by ballot. During the past season one of the prospective settlers milked a herd of 90 dairy cows on shares. The area is 147 acres and is situated west of Eketahuna. The development programme includes fencing and buildings, and the work is sufficiently advanced to enable charges to be fixed and the settlers to take over prior to next season. Putara is a single-unit dairy-farm of 200 acres situated near Eketahuna. It was acquired by purchase in August, 1945. The settler has already been selected and has been working on wages. A small dairy herd was milked, and, in addition, 200 sheep were carried to control ragwort. Development comprised principally buildings with some fencing and pasture improvement. Charges will be fixed in time to allow the settler to take title prior to the 1946-47 season. Tawanui. —This property, which comprises an area of 442 acres near Kimbolton, was purchased in March, 1946. It is fully improved and will subdivide into three mixed dairy and fattening units. The development programme comprises a short length of access road, buildings for the additional settlers, and additions to the fencing and water-supply. It is probable that the block will have to be farmed by the Department until 1947, as it is very doubtful whether development will be far enough advanced to fix charges for the coming .season. One section has been allocated to the ex-serviceman selected as manager and another section has been allocated without - competition to a leg amputee.

25