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Puriri, at Kaitaia, 1,403 acres. Acquired, November, 1933. Subdivision not finalized. Pastures have made a good recovery, a healthy growth of clovers being evidenced. A decrease in the number of sheep grazed and their replacement by cattle checked the growth of rushes, although there is still a heavy growth in some parts. Owing to labour shortage, the progress of clearing the area of timber suitable for fencingmaterials is behind schedule, but it is hoped to have this work completed during the coming year. Riponui, at Whangarei, 912 acres. Acquired : 301 acres, December, 1945, and 611 acres, September, 1947. Objective : Five dairy-farms. Development programme : Erection of houses, cow-sheds, and implement-sheds, fencing, draining, and the cultivation and grassing of about 480 acres. Progress : 480 acres grassed, 117 acres scrub rolled, 340 acres drained, 1,250 chains fencing, and two sets of buildings erected. Two sections will be allotted on fixed charges July, 1949. Ex-serviceman manager, with promise of section. Riverside, at Tangowahine, 3,969 acres. Acquired, February, 1946. Objective: Four sheep-farms, for allotment, 1950. Development programme : Erection of buildings, fences, improvement and renewal of old pasture, and installation of water-supplies' Progress : Practically the whole of the cultivated areas sown in grass, and 400 chains fencing repaired. Ex-serviceman manager, with promise of a section. Ruawai, at Ruawai, 528 acres. Acquired : 206 acres in May, 1944, and 322 acres in May, 1945. Development completed on 401 acres, and three ex-servicemen established on dairy units; balance, 127 acres, transferred to Maori Affairs Department for settlement of "Maori ex-servicemen. This block is under control of Commissioner of Crown Land, North Auckland. Te Kawau, at Helensville, 3,413 acres. Acquired, June, 1948. Objective : Thirteen dairy units for allotment in 1950 and two sheep units. Development programme: Erection of buildings, fences, installation of water-supplies and electric power, clearing, cultivation, regrassing, and draining. Progress : 50 chains of new boundary fences erected, 100 chains of drains reconditioned, and 485 acres sown in new grass. Thompsons, at Kaihere, 102 acres. Acquired, November, 1944. All development completed, and section allotted July, 1948, as one dairy unit. Tikokopu, at Helensville, 4,600 acres. Acquired, February, 1945. Objective : Seven dairy and six sheep farms. Development programme : Erection of buildings, fences, installation of water-supplies, roading, draining, and the development and renovation of pastures. Progress : 400 acres of virgin country and run-out pasture ploughed and regrassed, 800 acres renovated and oversown, and 200 acres sown in new grass, 100 acres under cultivation, and over 15 miles of fencing erected or renewed. One sheep unit alloted on fixed charges, June, 1948, and should be possible to ballot two sheep sections and five dairy units in 1950. Waikare, at Te Kauwhata, 505 acres. Acquired : 460 acres, October, 1946, and 45 acres, June, 1947. All development work completed and five dairy sections allotted September, 1948. Waipapakauri, at Waipapakauri, 589 acres. Surplus area from Waipapakauri Aerodrome taken over, January, 1948. Objective : Five dairy units. Development programme : Erection of new buildings, fencing, regrassing, stumping, draining, and installation of water-supplies. Progress : 43 acres grassed and 35 acres stumped and levelled, 62 chains fencing renewed, and 67 chains drains deepened. One ex-serviceman on wages, with promise of a section. Waitoki, at Te Aroha, 296 acres. Acquired June, 1947. All development work completed and two dairy sections allotted, September, 1948.

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