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Ngongotaha, at Rotorua, 287 acres. Acquired: August, 1948. Objective : One mixed sheep and dairy unit. Development Programme : This block is badly reverted and will be controlled and crushed out by travelling stock belonging to the Department. Progress : One dwelling renovated and water-supply repaired and extended. Ngutuwera, at Tokoroa, 1,301 acres. Acquired : March, 1941. Objective : Subdivision not yet finally schemed, but area will probably provide six dairy and two dairy and sheep sections. Development Programme : Grassing, fencing, buildings, and water-supplies. Progress : 975 acres cleared, 800 acres cultivated, and 975 acres sown in permanent grass, 150 chains new fencing, 200 chains repairs to fencing, and three implement-sheds erected. Pongakawa, at Pongakawa, 1,055 acres. Acquired: Crown land set aside for development September, 1948. Objective : Six dairy and sheep farms for allotment July, 1952. Development Programme : 55 chains draining, 1,030 acres clearing and grassing, 2,000 chains fencing, six sets of farm buildings, and provision of water-supplies. Progress : 55 chains draining, 1,030 acres cleared and burnt, cultivated, and sown in permanent grass, 443 chains fencing erected, two store-sheds erected, and one water-supply bore drilled. Ex-serviceman manager employed on wages with promise of a section. Putilci, at Edgecumbe, 1,326 acres. Acquired : April, 1946. Objective : Fourteen dairy units and 45 acres to be utilized with Edgecumbe Block. Development Programme: Seven dwellings, seven cow-sheds, seven implement-sheds, seven piggeries, fencing, roading, water-supply, renovations to existing buildings. Progress: Development completed. Fourteen ex-servicemen established July, 1948. Forty-six acres to be transferred to Edgecumbe Block. jßerewhakaitu, at Rotorua, 15,236 acres. Acquired : 9,474 acres in 1944, 2,593 acres in 1945, and 3,169 acres of Crown land added in 1949. Objective : Utilization and subdivision not yet finally schemed. Development Programme : Long-term development project. Full development programme not yet approved. Progress : Work on this block has in the main been confined to grassing large areas of virgin country and consolidating pastures ; 2,745 acres cleared, cultivated, and sown in permanent grass and fenced to allow consolidation. Reticulation of this area for water is proceeding. No settlement will be possible until suitable road access is provided. Rotomahana, at Rotorua, 9,305 acres. Acquired: March, 1950. Objective : Utilization and subdivision not yet schemed. Development Programme: Not yet approved. Progress: Nil. Tokoroa, at Tokoroa, 5,201 acres. Acquired: 1938 and 1944. Nine dairy units and one sheep unit for settlement up to July, 1949 (1,672 acres). Objective : Four dairy-farms (597 acres) for allotment July, 1950. Remaining area not yet finally schemed. Development Programme : Clearing, grassing, fencing, buildings, and provision of water-supplies. Progress : Development of eight dairy sections and one sheep-farm completed. Development of four more dairy sections nearly completed, except for buildings, which are being erected. Good progress is being made in clearing and grassing the remaining undeveloped area. Nine ex-servicemen settled July, 1949 ; one civilian settled October, 1947. Waikite, at Rotorua, 8,702 acres. Acquired: 7,536 acres in 1938 and 1,166 acres in 1947. Objective : Four dairy sections for allotment July, 1949 (558 acres). Seven dairy sections for allotment July, 1951. Remaining area not yet finally schemed. Development Programme : Clearing, grassing, and fencing, buildings, roading, and provision of water-supplies and electric power. Progress : Development of four dairy-farms completed. In addition, 3,964 acres have been cleared, cultivated, and sown in permanent grass, 4,000 chains fencing, two*cottages, one wool-shed, two large and two small store-sheds and cattle-yards and sheep-dip erected, one water-supply installed. Work commenced on access roading. Three ex-servicemen settled on permanent tenure July, 1949, and one ex-serviceman on wages with promise of section. Waikora, at Reporoa, 2,837 acres. Acquired: November, 1949. Objective : Utilization and subdivision not yet finally schemed. Development Programme : Not yet approved. Progress : This block comprises two areas acquired at Reporoa in 1949 plus 1,782 acres transferred from Mihi Development Block. It is at present being farmed in conjunction with Mihi Block, and development has not yet commenced as efforts are being concentrated on Mihi, which offers better prospects of early settlement. Waimanu, at Tauranga, 1,303 acres. Acquired : March, 1950. Objective: Not yet schemed. No early settlement is envisaged. Development Programme : Not yet approved. Progress : Nil. Wairakei, at Wairakei, 1,380 acres. Acquired : February, 1950. Objective : This area has been handed over by the Tourist Department to be developed and administered by the Lands and Survey Department for five years. A decision will then be made whether it is to be subdivided for settlement or used as park land for tourists. Development Programme : 250 chains firebreaks, 1,100 acres clearing, cultivating, and grassing, 1,080 chains fencing, one cottage and two store-sheds, and two water-supply bores and reticulation. Progress : 240 chains of firebreaks bulldozed. Wharere, at Pongakawa, 4,941 acres. Acquired : 2,582 acres in 1933, 1,465 acres in 1938, and 894 acres in 1940. Objective: Eight dairy units on 552 acres for settlement from 1937. Subdivision of remaining area not yet finally schemed. Development Programme : Draining, clearing, cultivation, grassing, fencing, buildings, and water-supplies. Progress : This block includes two sub-blocks (Billings and Jensens). The subdivision of Billings portion (894 acres) will be done jointly with Pongakawa Block, which adjoins. Five dairy sections are expected to be available from Billings in 1951. Erection of
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