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grassing this autumn. Fair progress with the building programme. Four ex-servicemen are working on wages and three ex-servicemen ballotees are awaiting accommodation. Allotment is expected to be made by February, 1950. Whakamaru, at Opotiki, 404 acres. Acquired, June, 1945. Development completed and allotted as four dairy units, July, 1948. Hawkes Bay Land District The progress on blocks being developed for settlement has been retarded by the shortage of certain types of materials and labour. However, logging operations at Opowehe Bush to help timber-supplies and the scheme for building prefabricated temporary accommodation to place on blocks where inability to let building contracts has delayed settlement is proving successful and will accelerate the disposal of units in the coming year. A dry summer after a mild winter had an adverse effect on the feed position in some areas ; notwithstanding this set-back production generally was maintained, and the stock carried on most blocks is in good condition. Aliuriri Lagoon, at Napier, 7,755 acres. Development of this area was commenced in 1934. The pasture programme is steadily progressing, a further 554 acres being laid down to permanent pasture and area of lucerne increased to 84 acres. Two more exservicemen have been settled on the northern end as market-gardeners, and it is anticipated that the ten servicemen settlers who are on temporary tenancies will be settled on permanent tenures at an early date. Awpaki, at Otane, 513 acres. Acquired, May, 1948. Objective: Four dairy units and one fat-lamb unit. Development programme : Five houses, four milkingsheds, five implement-sheds, and individual water-supplies. Progress : Fencing programme is well under way, and the road into the block has been completed. An extensive area of thistle has been sprayed with hormone weedicide, with excellent results. It is anticipated that the sheep unit will be balloted in February, 1950, and the dairy units in June, 1950. Bretts, at Wanstead, 1,314 acres. Acquired, May, 1948. Development on this block to provide three fat-lamb units is a]most completed, except for the erection of buildings, and the three units should be balloted at an early date with temporary accommodation. Development included 800 acres top-dressing, 250 chains new and 120 chains repairs to fencing, 10 chain tracks, bulldozing house-sites, the erection of three houses, three implement-sheds, and one wool-shed, and the provision of temporary accommodation. Bushy Rcmge, at Waipukurau, 2,511 acres. Acquired, March, 1948. Objective : Three sheep units. Development programme : Erection of buildings, fencing, and regrassing. Progress : 165 chains new fencing, 120 chains fencing repaired, 150 acres cultivated, with 50 acres sown in grass. Two units should be available for disposal in 1950. Glenalvon, at Tikokino, 1,242 acres. Acquired, March, 1948. Objective : Four fat-lamb units. Road completed except for a small bridge, bores sunk for water-supplies, and fencing programme is under way. Temporary accommodation has been erected for the farm-manager as the block was totally deficient in buildings. Further development consists of erection of four houses and four implement-sheds. Units should be ready for settlement in 1950. Gowrie, at Wanstead, 1,859 acres. Acquired: 1478 acres, February, 1946, and 381 acres, February, 1948. Development to four sheep units is almost completed except for buildings, but it is hoped to ballot the block in 1949 after providing temporary accommodation. An extensive fencing programme, a pumped-water supply, and 200 acres of pasture renewal have been completed. Inability to let contracts for the three dwellings and three implement-sheds has delayed settlement on this block.

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