G—lo

With the delegation of authority to district offices to grant furniture loans, the passages of these applications and the ultimate supplies of furniture have been speeded up. There are twenty-one loans awaiting action, fourteen of which will remain inactive due to lack of suitable accommodation to house the furniture. Nine applications- for tools of trade have been approved and one completed, and most of the other eight are in various stages of completion. Huramua Soldiers' Settlement During the year steady progress has been made on this settlement, and the results obtained can be considered encouraging and satisfactory. An area of 45 acres of swedes and chou moellier were grown, but owing to the very dry weather experienced the strike was not a good one. However, the crop came on well with the later rains and has given ample feed for the winter months. The 10 acres of rape planted was also affected by the dry weather, but has come on well. Eight acres of cattle pumpkins and 4 acres of sugar-beet were good crops and will prove of great value during the winter months. The sugar-beet was grown for the pigs. Fifteen acres of lucerne has been established and a good strike has been obtained. It will prove a most valuable standby for the dairy herd. The season was not a good one for tomatoes, but the 5 acres planted for canning purposes gave reasonable returns. In addition to these crops, an asparagus-seed bed was established, sufficient plants being grown to plant from 7 acres to 8 acres of asparagus. These plants will be planted out this year, and the first picking for cannery purposes should commence in September, 1948. Lime and superphosphate have been difficult to obtain, but 181 acres have been top-dressed with 1 ton lime and 2 cwt. superphosphate to the acre. Beneficial results have been shown by the application of lime and superphosphate, and as supplies become available better returns will be shown. During the year a new five-roomed house was built for the Dairy Instructor and a 5,000-gallon concrete reservoir supplied from the roof of the house was also erected. Four additional single huts have been erected for the accommodation of the trainees and improvements made to the milkingshed. Electric installations have been made at the camp which include the cookhouse, fourteen single and one double hut, washhouse and shower-room, and also the Dairy Instructor's residence. During the year two bores have been put down to a depth of approximately 100 ft. Both bores are capable of supplying 400 gallons to 500 gallons per hour and have proved very beneficial during the dry season. These bores are operated by a pump driven by a petrol-engine. An extensive pig layout on a plan approved for the Waikato district has been erected. This layout, which provides for twenty subdivisions, has made a big improvement to the general conditions for the pigs. Owing to shortage of fencing-material, very little planting was done during the year. A programme of planting will be undertaken later and much needed shelter-belts will be established. The stock position on the property is quite satisfactory and ample winter fodder is assured. Three proven sires have been purchased during the year to help build up production in the herd and all cows milked are under test. Trainees: During the year's operations one trainee has been graded "A " and he is now awaiting settlement. At present there are fifteen trainees in residence, twelve being graded " B " and the remaining three Grade " C."

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