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Waratah (4,700 Acres), (Locality : Albury). —Two ex-servicemen are employed on this block on-wages. In spite of the severe conditions, stock wintered well with very light losses ; good crops of oats and turnips were grown and nearly 4,000 bales of hay pressed. It should be possible to allot these two sections on permanent tenure in the near future. Brinklands (1,120 Acres), (Locality : Geraldine). —Two holdings on this block were allotted on permanent tenure to two ex-servicemen formerly employed on wages. Mount Harris (1,238 Acres), (Locality : Mount Harris). —Development work on this block during the year includes fencing, farm roading, extension of water-supply, and establishment of pasture. Turnip and rape crops were good and fair crops of oats, wheat, and grass-seed were harvested ; fat lambs made good weights. It has not been possible to secure a satisfactory tender for the two dwellings and other farm buildings required on this block, and this is delaying the final allotment. Waikakahi Extension (766 Acres), (Locality : Waikakahi). —Four dwellings are under construction on this block ; the five cow-sheds and four implement-sheds are not yet. started, and it is doubtful whether it will be possible to offer these five dairy units in time for dairying to be commenced in the coming spring. Kenwyn (670 Acres), (Locality : Studholme).—Possession was taken only on the 28th March. It is proposed to subdivide into three sheep and cropping units, and three ex-servicemen are employed on wages. Scotsburn (2,631 Acres), (Locality : Peel Forest). —The Crown obtained possession of this block on 21st March. It will be subdivided into three holdings. Two exservicemen are employed on wages. In addition, the following units were disposed of during the year on permanent tenure after being held for only a short time : Broomfield (726 Acres), (Locality : Amberley).—Two sheep and cropping farms. Cairnbrae (639 Acres), (Locality : Highbank).—Two sheep and cropping farms. Kaikainui (234 Acres), (Locality : Kaiapoi).—Two dairy units. Pendarves (1,094 Acres), (Locality : Pendarves). —Two sheep and cropping units. WaJeaepa (690 Acres), (Locality : Dunsandel). —Two sheep and cropping units. Flahertys (733 Acres), (Localty: Banks Peninsula). —An area of educationendowment land made available for one sheep unit. Medina (2,596 Acres), (Locality : Hundalee). —Two sheep units. Commissioner of Crown Lands, Dunedin Seasonal conditions for the 1945-46 season were very good and at no time was there a shortage of feed on any block. The most worrying time was during the spring and early summer months, when spring crops and green feed for the winter months were being sown. In several instances tractors broke down at critical periods, and in every case there was always some delay in obtaining spare parts. In addition, it was found that, due to shortage of supplies, the materials used in repairs were of poor quality. An area of 756 acres was sown out in permanent pasture on blocks that had been farmed for the past twelve months. This total is apart from the areas that were sown in crops and winter feed, which amounted to 1,150 acres. In addition, 300 acres of wheat were harvested on six of the blocks in this district. Good farm labour has been difficult to obtain and in some cases Managers have been working short-handed. The labour position in the south seems to be more acute than it is in North Otago. This may be due to the fact that the South Otago blocks are farther away from towns with social activity. The Department in employing Managers on freshly acquired areas is using, whenever practicable, a returned serviceman, and, if possible, the labour also is recruited through the Rehabilitation Department, 2 —C X

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