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Otaki River.—The major work of excavating a new channel for the river below the railway and highway was commenced early in November, and the tower excavator has removed 121,700 cubic yards of shingle in a length of 25 chains. In addition, the river has been diverted approximately 40 chains above the railway in order to give a better alignment at the bridges, and a large bank containing 5,000 cubic yards constructed with shingle and weighted torpedo nets. This will represent a major improvement to the lower river, but at the moment is only in its initial stages. Manawatu River: Whirokmo Out.-—Early in this year a bank containing approximately 7,000 cubic yards was built across the old loop of the river above Foxton to reduce the rate of silting. The drift of sand-dunes into the river near Foxton was checked during the winter by the planting of marram-grass. Manawatu River: Bank-protection.—On the right bank at Awapuni (Cowdrey's) on 40 chains of protection using trees weighted down, with willows planted between, was completed. At Hansen's Bend, in the Makerua Board's area, 30 chains of protection was carried out. The stop-bank was also set back for a distance of 15 chains. Other isolated points were protected by trees and willows as maintenance works. Manawatu River: Tampunga Cut. —This work was delayed by floods several times and is still in hand. A piled retard was constructed across the river below the entrance to No. 2 cut and a bank was built across the old loop between the two cuts, while the mouth of No. 2 cut was deepened and widened. This work is still troublesome, due to the material of the second cut offering resistance to development. Stop-banking, Newman's and Aratmigata Banks.—A total of 96 chains, 7 ft. to 8 ft. high, were constructed as one contract. As a result of flooding in August, repairs to breached banks were necessary, 40 chains of low bank, containing 3,000 yards,, was constructed on the left bank of the Mangaore Stream adjacent to the Manawatu River. The setting-back of the bank at Barber's, involving 10,000 cubic yards, of excavation, was completed. Ohau River.—Bad erosion and flooding for a distance of approximately 80 chains above the highway is being checked by means of bank-protection, cuts, and stop-banks. Kahuterawa Stream.—Bank-protection and stop-banking has been commenced between the highway and the foothills over a distance of 60 chains. Oroua River. —At the foot of Simon Street, Feilding, bad erosion was. checked by use of netted groynes and a small cut. Po-hcmgina River.'—Small protection works were completed. Buckley Drainage Board.—Jackson's Drain was deepened over a distance of 40 chains. The cleaning-out of the upper Koputaroa Stream was completed early in the year. Makerua Drainage Board. —Bank protection on the .left bank of the Manawatu in various places was carried out at cost of approximately £4,000. All work was of the willow mattress type. The removal of willows in lower Tokomaru Stream is in hand. The construction of banks at Whitanui and Seymours, each 8 to 10 chains, long, is in progress.

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