G—lo

scheme, established by Ngatiporou Maoris in the early 1930'5. Here four units are farming successfully on the better parts of this sulphur area, while the scheme proper absorbs the balance area containing much of the poorer lands and sulphur beds where hot pools and geysers predominate. To this area has recently been added, by purchase, the European block known as Waldron's and which links up with the main road at Mourea. Many sections will be available for letting on the scheme on the shores of Lake Rotoiti once a plan of subdivision and roading is decided upon. Near Te Puke, about seven miles out, the Waewaetutuki swamp lands are being actively developed. Progress is slower than on other areas, due to the necessity for consolidation of much of the swamp area. The need for a lowering of the Main Kaikokopu drain, controlled by the Lands Department, is apparent here. Towards Te Puke, on the banks of the Kaituna River, is the Rangiuru scheme, a piece of heavy swamp land that has been brought into a highly cultivated and productive state but which is still subject to flood-waters. Stop-banking will be required here. At Papamoa a large unit area is being successfully handled by the Department pending the ultimate occupation by the owner, a soldier of the two Great Wars. This farm is ready for occupation and rehabilitation of the present owner or his soldier son nominee, at present in the Japan occupation Forces. Towards Mount Maunganui and circling around towards Tauranga Township are situated the schemes of Mangatawa (to which has been added a Native land purchase), Ngapeke (a fairly broken piece of land mainly suitable for grazing and to which a Native land purchase was added), Maungarangi (the area formerly known as the Bank Run), and Kaitimako (the first of the Tauranga schemes to be developed). These Tauranga schemes, before being taken under Native land-development, were an eyesore and a menace to the European developed lands of the country. To-day they are in a profitable state of production. Numerous unit farms for rehabilitation of returned Maori servicemen will be available once the demand by this class of settler becomes the need of the moment. Up to the present there has been practically no inquiry for farms by Maori servicemen in the area, but later, when they have had a chance to re-establish themselves in the ways of civilian life, it is anticipated, that numerous inquiries for establishment as units will be received. On the Tauranga-Whakatane Main Highway at Matata overlooking the seashore is to be found the land-development scheme of Hauani. This scheme has, through lack of labour and shortage of materials, been seriously retarded in its development. A first essential to bringing in several thousand acres here is the establishment of a suitable water-supply. In the meantime, a share-milking herd under an experienced Maori farmer is run, with a few hundred wethers on the balance of the area. In the immediate vicinity of Whakatane and overlooking the town and the Ohope beach is the Ngatiawa scheme, an area which consists of a large tract of poor country having a road frontage of eight miles. It is being profitably handled, as a station. There is constant demand by interested owners for its establishment and subdivision into unit dairy-farms, but the practicability and wisdom of this has still to be assessed by a special committee to be set up by the Board of Native Affairs to inquire into this aspect of its future administration. Towards the Tarawera country, in the vicinity of Edgecumbe, is to be found the Putauaki scheme, a large portion of which has been developed, but which has been found to dry out badly under summer conditions. Unit occupation of this and the Omataroa Block can be proceeded with once building-materials become available. Farther on is the Waiohau Valley scheme.

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