DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY: DRAINAGE OPERATIONS IN HAURAKI PLAINS. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1918, TOGETHER WITH STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1918 Session I-II, C-08

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Session 11. 1918. NEW ZEALAND

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY: DRAINAGE OPERATIONS IN HAURAKI PLAINS. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1918, TOGETHER WITH STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 10 of the Hauraki Plains Act, 1908.

Sir,— Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, Ist June, 1918. 1 have the honour to submit herewith the report on the drainage operations in the Hauraki Plains for the past year, in accordance with the provisions of the Hauraki Plains Act, 1908. The total area thrown open for selection to date is 37,451 acres, valued at £227,830. It is anticipated that the next twelve months will show an increase in these figures. The total expenditure under the Act has now been as follows :— £ s. d. For the year ended 31st March, 1908 .. .. .. 5,070 0 0 1909 .. .. .. 11,672 5 6 1910 .. .. .. 22,235 2 11 1911 .. .. .. 32,103 14 0 1912 .. .. .. 40,084 13 1 1913 .. .. .. 26,608 1 3 1914 .. .. .. 21,467 18 2 1915 .. .. .. 20,399 10 4 1916 .. .. .. 18,331 10 10 1917 .. .. .. 18,405 17 10 1918 .. .. .. 26,588 19 7 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. £242,967 13 6 The detailed report of the Chief Drainage Engineer is attached, together with a statement of accounts. I have, &c, T. N. Brodrick, Under-Secretary. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Minister of Lands.

REPORT OF CHIEF DRAINAGE ENGINEER. Sir — The year just completed has seen a great advance in the growth and prosperity of the plains. A good season has been experienced, and the settlers have prospered accordingly. The total value of cream produced from the area for the year was £75,060. There has also been a large amount of grazing, and the value of stock sold at Ngatea, Waitakaruru, and Patetonga saleyards amounts to £59,945. No figures have been supplied for Turua, which is almost wholly suppoited by stock from the plains and also Hikutaia, these two places being just outside the Hauraki Plains area. To date about 275 sections (excluding 10-acre and township sections) have been balloted for,

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A large amount of expenditure has been caused in repairing the damage done to drains and stopbanks by the stock from unfenced sections, but steps are now being taken to cope with this trouble The trade to the plains is catered for by direct steamer from Auckland to Kerepehi, running two trips per week, and carrying goods, &c, to the value of over £900 per week. A considerable amount of trade is also done with the Thames by means of regular launch services. Awaiti District. During the year, besides three new outlets to the Awaiti Stream, a new drain on the east side of the Awaiti-Netherton Road has been in course of construction, and is now nearly completed. The main and subsidiary drains have also been considerably improved. The Awaiti-Netherton Road, which in flood-time used to be under water in many places, has been lifted with the spoil from drains for its entire length, in some places as much as 3 ft. Tahuna District. Only a small gang of men have been available in this block, but the work has been kept well in hand. The drains have all received attention and been kept in an efficient state, while a large amount of road maintenance, formation, and gravelling has been done, and every effort made to keep the main through road in good order for traffic. Patetonga District. A very large amount of work has been done in this district during the year, especially in improving the drainage system, which is now in good order. The completion of the Patetonga Canal by No. 2 dredge has effected a great improvement in the southern half of the district. Some of the new drains proved heavy undertakings owing to the large amount of timber encountered, necessitating a generous use of explosives. The drainage of this district is rather more expensive than other settled parts of the Hauraki Plains area, owing to the long lines of outlet drains to the Piako River which have to be kept in order, and which pass through a considerable extent of unopened country. These drains, however, have done this country a wonderful amount of good, and a few thousand acres will be ready for throwing open for settlement in the near future. The roads in this district have received much attention. Not only has a lot of shingle been procured from the Waikaka and Ngarua Streams and put on roads, but a very large amount of good clay spoil has also been put on and graded up. This will be a great benefit to the settlers, especially during the winter months, as in some places the road was worn right to the peat. The Patetonga tram-line, which last winter was almost unusable, has been lifted and relaid on new bed and sleepers, and 40 to 50 chains of track metalled. As the Department has purchased the rails on this line it is now in a position to take over the working of same, and this is now being arranged. Some time in the near future it will be desirable to place a locomotive on the line, and thus reduce the wear-and-tear to a minimum and provide more economical working. Central District. This is the main block of the area, and the oldest and most closely settled portion of same. The principal work for the year has been the maintenance of existing drains and other works, and the renewal of same. Several of the wharves are badly in need of renewal, but, unfortunately, tho amount of labour in this district has been altogether inadequate to cope with the large amount of work requiring attention. Waitakarttru District. The drainage of this district is now more efficient than it has ever been, and when the canal at present being excavated by No. 2 dredge is completed floods should be a thing of the past. A considerable amount of improvement has been made to tho Mahuta Road, the low portions of which used to be under wateT in flood-time. The road has now been raised with substantial ballast, and shell on top, and will prove a, great benefit to settlers, especially during the winter. Priestman Dredges. During the year dredge No. 1 continued the excavation of the canal from the Piako to Waitoa Rivers ; spoil excavated, 64,159 cubic yards. No. 2 dredge, after finishing the Patetonga Canal, was shifted to Waitakaruru, where it commenced the Waitakaruru Stream Canal ; spoil excavated, 66,505 cubic yards. The total amount of spoil dredged and deposited on banks was 130,664 cubic yards, at a total cost of £1,377 12s. Bd., averaging 2-53 d. per cubic yard. The following table shows the amount of spoil dredged and cost per cubic yard for the past five years : — Cubic Yards Cost lper t,umo Yards. Cubip yard _ 1913-14 .. .. .. .. .. .. 147,740 3-20 d. 1914-15 .. .. .. .. .. ..176,196 2-67 d. 1915-16 .. .. .. .. .. ..146,905 3-35 d. 1916-17 .. .. .. .. .. .. 161,674 3-40 d. 1917-18 ~ .. ~ .. .. .. 130,664 2-53 d.

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Waitoa Canal. This work is still being proceeded with by No. 1 dredge. A length of 45 chains was completed for the year, making a total to date of 78 chains. The portion already completed has had a marked effect on the, flood-level in the Waitoa district. The hard ground met with has considerably retarded the work, and up to the present the dredge has been excavating the whole cut. Progress will be much accelerated when the dredge connects with the Waitoa River —30 chains distant —as a long straight of that river will be met with, requiring only widening and deepening. Patetonga Canal. This work was completed by No. 2 dredge at the end of July, and has proved a great benefit to the block of country which it taps. During the year 39 chains were dredged, making a total for the whole canal of 134 chains. Waitakaruru Canal. The No. 2 dredge commenced work on this canal in September, 1917, and has made very good progress, ami in the coarse of another six months should have canal completed to the Mahuta Road. A dam, with sluice-gate attached, had to be erected at bottom end of canal in order to let water in at high tide and hold same. Tho completion of this canal will prove of immense benefit to a large extent of country. Distance dredged is 59 chains. Stop-banks. Owing to the effect of a few exceptionally heavy tides and unfavourable winds, several fairly extensive breaks occurred in the stop-banks. These were all repaired and minor points attended to. N) new stop-banks have been erected, and the total length of same is still 28 miles 70 chains. Formed Roads. Although no actually new roads have been formed, yet a very large amount of new ballast and re-formation work has been done. In many cases roads on peat country were practically bare, and these have been built up with a liberal thickness of spoil, varying from 1 ft. to 3 ft. A distance of 7 miles 58 chains of this work was completed, during the year. The grader team has also been busy improving existing clay roads, 9 miles 75 chains having been graded, 6 miles 20 chains disked, and 3 miles 64 chains ploughed. Bridges, Culverts, etc. A party is now available to carry out the work of replacing the large number of narrow sill bridges with concrete-pipe culverts. Owing to no labour being previously available for this work a fair amount of repair work had to be done to these bridges. The number of sill bridges remains at 98 ; bridges on piles, 10 ; three-span bridges, 2 ; two-span bridges, 2 ; ferro-concrcte culverts, 22. Drains in Operation. The total length of drains constructed to date is 314 miles 41 chains, although, as mentioned in last year's report, some of these drains are now discarded. With the Jugo-Slav labour available a, considerable length of new drains will be constructed, as a lot of country at present lying idle can be made ready for settlement by the construction of a, few main cross-drains. Buildings. The policy of the Department in erecting huts for workmen at Rawerawe, and Hopai has proved a great success. The men are much better off now than in the past. A small weekly charge is made to recoup the Department for the sum expended. The number of such huts at Rawerawe is eight (double), and at Hopai sixteen. The total number of buildings is now forty. Last year's figures gave the number as fifty-six, but these figures included double huts as two, whereas this year thoy are shown vs one, which is strictly more correct. Floating Plant. Two new launches and one punt have been added to the floating plant, and one small launch dispensed with. The list of plant is now two Priestman grab dredges, one steamer, six oil-launches, five large and two small pontoons. To the above has to be added the Priestman dredge lately purchased from the Auckland Harbour Board, but which is not yet commissioned, pending alterations. All plant is in good order. Blacksmith's and Shoeing Shops. Towards the end of the year a blacksmith's and shooing shop was established at Hopai, and has been kept at full pressure, making for greater convenience in the work, and proving a considerable saving over the old method of sending work out. Monier Pipe-factory. This factory has been most successful, and a lot of these pipes have been used for culverts, &c while a large number are now in readiness for future work. The quality of these pipes is excellent and the cost less than the price asked for an inferior class of pipe.

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Artesian Boring Plant. The total number of bores sunk is now 138, the year's operations accounting for two The total cost for the year was £45 18s. 6d., making a total expenditure to date of £3,427 Bs. 10d., which is practically all recoverable. A schedule of the bores sunk is attached. Flood-gates. Repair work has been the main feature in connection with the flood-gates. Two new ferroconcrete outlets and tide-gates have been constructed, the invert level of these being about 2 ft. 6 in. to 3 ft. below the level of old gates, allowing for far greater discharging-capacity at low water. The new outlet at Kopuarahi required a length of 206 ft. of concrete culvert, and the one at Hopai, which has a bifurcation taking drains from both sides of road into the one flood-gate, has a length of 108 ft. The wooden gates, which have been in for several years and done good service, will have to be similarly renewed as soon as the necessary labour is available. Works performed during the Year. The following works were carried out under the piecework-contract system : — M. eh. Cleaning drains .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 104 40 Widening and deepening drains .. .. .. .. 33 5 Constructing new drains .. .. .. .. . . .. 3 65 Carting spoil and re-forming roads . . . . .. .. .. 1 64 Clearing bush on roads .. .. .. .. .. .. 0 66 134 0 Works carried out by day labour — Cleaning drains .. .. .. .. .. .. 47 74 Widening and deepening drains .. .. .. .. 10 44 Constructing new drains .. .. .. . . .. 1 42 Carting spoil and re-forming roads .. .. .. . . 5 74 Disking roads .. .. .. .. .. .. 6 20 Grading clay roads.. .. .. .. .. .. 9 75 Ploughing roadsides .. .. .. .. . . 3 64 Gravelling roads .. .. .. .. .. .. ..34 Shelling roads .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 40 Metalling roads .. .. .. . . . . . . 4 47 Repairing stop-banks .. .. .. .. . . 0 55 Fencing roads .. .. .. .. .. .. 0 40 96 19 Supply of sleepers, 3,800; artesian bores sunk, 2 ; reinforced-concrete outlets and floodgates, 2 ; concrete culverts, 4. There was also a large amount of minor repair and construction work completed. Flax Areas. The total revenue received during the year was £557 ss. 7d. It is hoped to shortly open a number of areas on ten-year leases, and the future revenue from this source will no doubt greatly increase. Surveys. Several road-surveys, canal-lines, school-sites, and drain-reservations have been done during the year, also twenty-six miles of levelling. Works Expenditure for the Year. The total works expenditure for the year, including wages, supplies, repairs, &c, amounted to £17,207 4s. lid. Piecework contracts amounting to £1,863 16s. Bd., and day-labour works of all descriptions amounting to £7,971 165., were paid from local imprest out of the Hauraki Plains Settlement Account. The total figures will probably not agree with Head Office figures, as in some cases local expenditure may not have been brought to charge in the Head Office books. Valuations. These remain as in past year, the total area to date thrown open for selection being 37,451 acres, valued at £227,830. The next twelve months will show an increase in these figures. Metalling Roads. The total distance of roads metalled, shelled, or gravelled, commencing from the year 1913, is now 31 miles 16 chains ; of this some 9 miles 11 chains was completed during the year, comprising 4 miles 47 chains of metal, 3 miles 4 chains of gravel from creeks, and 1 mile 40 chains of shell. The supply procured by the Department's steamer and punts from the Kauaeranga Creek has considerably increased the previous year's total, 5,227 cubic yards being used, as against 2,928 cubic yards for 1916-17. One new punt was built and placed on run, and constant supply of metal obtained.

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PLAN SHOWING LANDS DEALT WITH Under the Provisions of the Hauraki Plains Act, 1908.

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The following quantities of metal were supplied by scows : McCallum Bros., 2,527 cubic yards ; Winstone and Co., 538 cubic yards ; and the Auckland Shingle Company, 304 cubic yards. Total quantity of metal, &c, used, 8,596 cubic yards. An attempt was made to metal simultaneously at two landings, but owing to shortage of labour, &c, this was found impossible. However, everything is now in readiness for this purpose, and a start has already been made to remetal the Kopuarahi Road, which was ploughed and reformed in readiness. All metalling is done out of special grants, and it is proposed to ca.ry on same if funds are available, the following roads receiving first attention : (1) Ngatea-Pipiroa Road (continuation) ; (2) Pipiroa-Waitakaruru Road (uncompleted portion) ; (3) Kopuarahi Road (reinstalling) ; (4) metalling McKerchar's Road; (5) metalling Rawera we - Paul's Wharf (continuation); (6) metalling Awaiti Road. The following is a schedule showing the roads metalled during the year : — M. oh. Rawerawe Road .. .. .. . . . . . . 1 35 Ngatea-Pipiroa Road .. .. . . .. .. 1 75 Hopai Road .. . . .. . . . . . . ..10 Patetonga Road .. .. .. .. .. .. 0 25 Ngarua Road .. .. .. . . .. . . 0 35 Wb.akah.oro Road .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 24 Paeroa-Tahuna Road .. .. .. .. .. ..10 Mahuta Road . . .. .. .. .. .. . . 1 40 Rawerawe-Paul's Wharf Road .. .. .. .. .. 0 17 Principal Works proposed. The principal works proposed to be carried out during the next financial year are as follows : — (1.) Continuation Waitoa Canal. (2.) Continuation Waitakaruru Canal. (3.) Commencement of dredging Awaiti River. (4.) Replacing wooden tide-gates by concrete. (5.) Replacing sill bridges by concrete culverts. (6.) Supply ferro-concrete pipes for culverts. (7.) New outlet drains and general development-work. (8.) Preparation of new area for settlement. Lands proposed to be opened. It is anticipated that with Jugo-Slav labour available for drainage operations some 3,000 acres of land will be ready for settlement in about twelve months. The acute shortage of labour in the past has prevented development-work, as only sufficient labour for maintenance was available. General. The books in connection with the works are kept in the Auckland office. The officer in charge of the drainage operations is Mr. R. S. Logan, Land Drainage Engineer. I have, &c, J. B. Thompson, The Under-Secretary for Lands, Wellington. Chief Drainage Engineer. - -

Schedule of Artesian Bores sunk during the Year 1917-18.

Artesian Bore No. Section. Block. Survey District. Total Deptfc, I in Feet. I Running Flow, Gallons per Day. 137 138 14 17 XIII XIII Waihou 1.77 213 Pumping. 80 J

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Hauraki Plains Settlement Account. Statement of Transactions during Year ended 31st March, 1918. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. Balanco brought forward at Ist April, 1917 9,699 9 7 Drainage-works, stopbanks, clearing chanCash sales .. .. .. .. 8,822 12 6 nels, and other oxpondituro incidental £ s. d. Rents .. .. .. .. 8,784 1 4 to conducting drainage operations .. 12,325 2 5 Miscellaneous rccoipts .. .. .. 647 18 2 Materials, supplies, &c. .. .. 2,207 5 0 Machinery, plant, and loose tools .. 1,237 13 6 Artesian wells .. .. .. 338 7 10 Compensation for land acquired in connection with drainage-works .. .. 3,035 10 2 Management and engineering expenses, &c., from Ist April, 1911 .. .. 2,847 10 2 Travelling-expenses, &c. .. .. 160 0 6 Interest on debentures .. .. 4,437 10 0 Balance .. .. .. .. 1,365 2 0 £27,954 1 7 £27,954 1 7 Revenue Account. Dr. £ s. d. Cr. £ s. d. Consolidated Fund—lnterest on debentures Balance brought forward at Ist April, 1917 17,509 10 6 issued under Local Bodies' Loans Act, Rents accrued during tho year ended 31st 1908 .. .. .. .. 1,682 16 0 March, 1918 .. ' .. .. 9,566 17 2 Interest on debentures issued under Hau- Miscellaneous revenues .. .. 647 18 2 raki Plains Amendment Act, 1913 .. 4,437 10 0 Management and engineering expenses, &c. 2,847 10 2 Travelling-exponsos, &c. .. .. 160 0 6 Depreciation on plant, machinery, &c. .. 1,006 13 4 Balance .. .. .. .. 17,589 15 10 £27,724 5 10 £27,724 5 10 Balance-sheet. Liabilities. A ssets. Debentures issued under Local Bodies' £ s. d. Value of improved lands £ s. d. £ s. d. Loans Act, 1908 .. .. .. 31,000 0 0 (Hauraki Plains) handed Debentures issued under Hauraki Plains over to the Land Board Amendment Act, 1913 .. .. 120,000 0 0 for purpose of settlePublic Works Fund —Lands improvement ment .. .. 227,830 0 0 vote .. .. .. .. 5,070 0 0 Less cash sales .. 22,766 14 5 Consolidated Fund—lnterest on debon- 205,063 5 7 tures issued under Local Bodies' Loans Unimproved value of lands not disposed of 25,000 0 0 Act, 1908 .. .. .. 12,752 16 0 Increment to value of roserves and Hauraki Plains (lands sot apart under adjoining Crown lands .. .. 7,710 0 0 the Act) .. .. .. .. 45,000 0 0 Value of works in progress .. .. 14,349 16 9 Suspense Account .. .. .. 126 5 6 Artesian wells on Hauraki Plains (balance Balance being excess of owing by Crown tenants) .. .. 1,641 16 0 assets over liabilities — Artesian wells on adjoining Crown lands Land reclamation—Excess paid out of Hauraki Plains Settlement over expenditure in Account .. .. .. .. 69 3 4 respect of lands handed £ s. d. Machinery, plant, &c. .. .. 9,565 6 7 over to the Land Board 37,166 17 9 Loose tools, &c, at valuation .. .. 411 8 2 Ro venue Account— Value of huts constructed for uso of Balance at 31st March. workmen and also local office .. 475 0 0 1918 .. .. 17,589 15 10 Investment with Public Trustee .. 2,176 5 6 54,756 18 7 Consolidated Fund —Interest on investment .. .. .. .. 95 15 4 Arrears of rent .. .. .. 782 15 10 Cash in hand .. .. .. 1,365 2 0 £268,705 15 1 £268,705 15 1 J. H. O'DONNELL, Chief Accountant.

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