DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. SWAMP DRAINAGE. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1934, TOGETHER WITH STATEMENTS OF ACCOUNTS.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1934 Session I, C-04

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1934. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. SWAMP DRAINAGE. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1934, TOGETHER WITH STATEMENTS OF ACCOUNTS.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 13 of the Swamp Drainage Act, 1916.

Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, Ist August, 1934. Sir, — In pursuance of section 13 of the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915, I have the honour to forward the report of the Chief Drainage Engineer covering operations on lands proclaimed under the Swamp Drainage Act and amendments. I have, &c, W. Robertson, Under-Secretary for Lands. The Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister of Lands.

REPORT OP CHIEF DRAINAGE ENGINEER. Sir,— I have the honour to submit my annual report on the areas proclaimed under the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915, and its amendments. Kaitaia Drainage Area (61,430 Acres), Mangonui County. Maintenance of completed drains, stop-banks, &c, was the principal work carried out in this area. No new works were undertaken, but some expenditure additional to drain-clearing was incurred in clearing the river of timber and fallen trees. Rainfall, &c. —Rainfall and river-gauge readings at Kaitaia are as set out on schedule hereunder :—

Rainfall and River-gauge Readings at Kaitaia for Year ended 31st March, 1934.

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Kaitaia River Gauge Readings. Month. (Inches) et )a y Si Twenty-four I [(Inches). Hi g hest ' Lowest " 1933. April .. .. .. 2-83 12 1-13 59-5 53-0 May .. .. .. 4-33 22 0-75 60-0 55-5 June .. .. .. 2-95 14 0-71 60-0 56-5 July .. .. .. 7-37 15 1-35 64-5 56-5 August .. .. .. 3-30 18 0-99 61-0 56-5 September .. .. .. 5-36 15 2-00 64-0 56-5 October .. .. .. 1-37 10 0-37 64-5 54-0 November .. .. .. 4-12 14 1-80 55-3 53-6 December .. .. .. 1-25 7 0-55 54-0 52-5 1934. January .. .. .. 0-21 5 0-11 52-5 52-2 February .. .. .. 5-59 14 1-62 53-1 52-1 March .. .. .. 1-94 7 1-70 63-0 52-2 Totals .. .. 40-62 153

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The rainfall was considerably below tie average and no heavy falls occurred in a short period, so that flood-control works were not overtaxed, and there was no overflow of flood-waters from the main channel for the area —the Kaitaia Eiver. The last occasion on which this channel overflowed was on the 6th June, 1930, prior to the opening of the Whangatane Spillway and the completion of the School Cut. The spillway was opened in July, 1930 and the School Cut in December, 1930. Although no abnormally heavy rainfalls have been experienced since that time so as to test the works, there have been occasions on which flooding must have occurred but for the provision made by the spillway and the cut. It appears, therefore, that the works are sufficient to ensure immunity from flooding under conditions experienced in the last four years. During this time, however, the rainfall has been abnormally low and exceptionally evenly distributed as compared with previous years for which records are available. Whangatane Spillway. —The banks of this channel have now consolidated and curves are protected with growth, so that no trouble from scouring is anticipated except at the intake, where further work may be required. Kikuyu grass planted on stop-banks at the lower end has become well established, and now forms good binding and protection for the embankments constructed of light peaty soil. Heavy raupo and other growth has covered the channel above the point where tidal influence is felt. The channel has not been kept clear of weeds, as their removal every year would be unduly expensive ; but the heavy growth acts as a silt-trap and must eventually result in the raising of the bed of the spillway. Kaitaia River. —Large poplars and other trees growing on the banks about Kaitaia Township are falling into the stream owing to scouring of the channel caused by increased velocity of the water during floods. Accumulations of these were removed during the year and stacked on the bank at a safe distance. Drains. —57 m. 23 ch. of drains were cleared during the year, 31 m. were cleared in April, 1933, and contracts were let in February of this year for clearing approximately 60 m., of which 26 m. 23 ch. had been completed by the end of March. Stop-banks. —Thirteen miles of stop-banks with fifty-four floodgates were inspected and minor repairs were carried out when required, 15 ch. of new bank were erected at one point on the foreshore where the old bank had been eroded by wave action, and some kikuyu grass was planted on the stop-banks during the winter. General. —Maintenance of the plant stored on the area was attended to and some surplus plant was sold or transferred to other works. Priestman Dredge No. 7 could not be kept afloat owing to the condition of its pontoon, so the machinery will be removed and housed ashore, and the pontoon will be broken up to avoid obstructing the channel in which floating plant has been moored. A number of buildings have been transferred to " Small Farms " and removed to sites where they could be used on development work under this scheme, while the surplus tools and plant which could be utilized have also been transferred for use on Small Farms work. Proposals for Ensuing Year. —Maintenance of existing drains, &c, is the only work proposed for the ensuing year. Works Expenditure. —The total expenditure for the year was £1,171 Is. lid., being practically confined to maintenance of existing drains. Drainage Rates. —Rates struck amounted to £3,898 15s. lid., and £1,529 15s. 6d. was collected. Hikurangi Drainage Aeea (50,000 Acres), Whangarei County. Rainfall. —The rainfall throughout the year has not caused very severe flooding of the main swamp area. The year's total recorded at the Apotu gauge was 54-11 in., for a total number of 104 days with rain. Floods. —The maximum stage recorded at the Jordan Bridge was 30-2 ft., which stage occurred once in the months of May and July respectively. It is expected that the further improvements to the river channel below Lewis's bridge will again lower the maximum stage at Jordan Bridge. Data. —Data of precipitation of water stages, &c, have been collected continuously and plotted in graph form. Construction Work. —Construction work through the year has been wholly in improvement to the river below Lewis's bridge.Excavator Work. — Wairua River. Main Diversions and Spillways. —No work has been carried out during period under review. River Improvement. —No. 14 Bucyrus has improved the approach to No. Iβ diversion excavated over the rock and rubble bar from 2 m. 45 ch. to 53 ch., widened the channel from 3 m. 4 ch. to 11 ch., and excavated the rock bar at 3 m. 10 ch. No. 14 Bucyrus has also carried out deepening and widening of No. 3 diversion, improvement to the river channel near the outlet of No. 4 diversion, and removal of rock bar from 5 m. 65 ch. to 77 ch. No. 13 Bucyrus has carried out widening, removal of isolated rock bars from 4 m. 30 ch. to 5 m. 65 ch., and has improved the river channel near the inlet to the No. 4 diversion, also removing timber from the old river channel around the diversion. Hand work has been commenced in removal of willows near the inlet to No. 6 diversion. Hand Work. As distinct from the above river improvement, hand work in the main swamp area has been done only by relief labour. Otonga Outfall. —Improvement to the main outfall has been done from 1 in. 30 ch. to 75 ch.

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Riponui Outlet. —Improvement work has been done on the creek at the lower end and over some length of the drain proper. Ohariha Arm. —Clearing of the Okarika Stream has been carried out from the river to above the Otakairangi Road. Maintenance. —Cleaning of the Ngararatunua Canal has been commenced ; also cleaning, with some regrading, of the outlet through Sections 7, 12, and 11 (Okarika). Plant and Machinery. Bucyrus Plant. —Nos. 12 and 14 excavators have been working as drag-lines on river improvement. Wear and tear has been excessive only in respect of buckets and wire ropes used in grappling with timber and rock under water. No. 13 Bucyrus. —This excavator is parked at Apotu. No. 26 Dipper. —This excavator is stored at Apotu. No. 3 Priestman. —The machinery, &c, of this excavator is stored at Apotu. The pontoon is used on the river for transport of the drag-lines. Drilling and Compressor Plant. —This plant is stored at Apotu. Locomotives, Trucks, &c. —No use has been made of this plant. The one remaining locomotive has been transferred to Hauraki Plains works. Truck and Cars. —One 30 cwt. truck and two cars have been in use through the year. Workshops. —These have been staffed, as occasion has demanded, to facilitate bucket and machinery repairs, &c. Other Work. Survey Work. —Levels, cross-sections, &c, have been taken as required. Belief Works. —Through the year quite a number of Hikurangi men have been employed in the swamp area. For the 'first few months some twenty men were employed under the rationed No. 5 Scheme ; later in the year the men were employed under the No. 5 Camp Scheme and the numbers increased to an average of sixty men. Classification for Rating Purposes. —The two classifiers completed the classification of the district in terms of section 3 of the Swamp Drainage Amendment Act, 1928, after which the Classification Roll was open for objection. The appeals, of which there were about eighty, were heard before the Magistrate, and the roll was then completed as laid down by statute. In order to finalize the position before any rates are struck, a departmental Committee has been set up to investigate and report on the capital loading which the district should carry. Proposals for Coming Year. —A limited programme of river-improvement work, from No. 5 diversion upstream, is proposed. Hand work will be on jobs approved for No. 5 Scheme workers, and in cleaning and maintenance where required. Works Expenditure. —The expenditure for the year totalled £6,158 7s. 7d. Waihi Dbainage Area (20,000 Acres), Tauranga County. The work carried out in this area was exclusively maintenance of existing drainage outfalls, stop-banks, and flood-gates. The accumulation of silt in the lower reaches of the canals and main outfalls from the higher-level drains, the removal of which has formed a large portion of the past expenditure in this area, is now operating at a much slower rate, signifying that stability is being reached with many of these drains. All hand drains in the area were cleaned during the year. Repairs were carried out to several concrete flood-gates, the concrete doors of two being replaced with specially constructed cast-iron flaps. A total length of 37 m. 73 ch. of drain was cleaned during the year. The areas east of the Wharere Canal continue to carry a heavy growth of millable flax, but although a flax company is actively engaged in improving the drainage system and in cleaning foreign growth no milling has been done during the year. Development work was proceeded with on the area of surrendered flax lease west of the Wharere Canal totalling 930 acres. A total of 388 ch. of drain has been constructed, two 3 ft. concrete floodgates placed, and an area of 122 acres of manuka fallen in preparation for grassing in the autumn. A portion of this area will be suitable for settlement, and work will proceed during the coming year under the Small Farms Scheme. Expenditure for the year totalled £612 Bs. 10d. Drainage rates struck totalled £1,957 Is. 6d., and £762 19s. 2d. was collected. PotiKAWA Drainage Area (13,567 Acres), Hawke's Bay. The work for the past year consisted of the continuation of the cleaning and deepening of the dredged cut and improvement work on Crown land. This was carried out with relief work, a camp for twelve men being in operation throughout the period under review. Work done comprised 105 ch. cleaned and 120 ch. deepened of main cut; 33| ch. boundary and 59 ch. internal drains constructed. Rates struck totalled £1,430 4s. 5d., and £1,168 15s. 6d. was collected by the District Office, Napier. Expenditure totalled £864 18s. Bd., of which the major portion is recoverable from the Unemployment Fund. I have, &c, R. G. Macmorran, Chief Drainage Engineer. The Under-Secretary for Lands, Wellington.

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SWAMP LAND DRAINAGE SCHEMES. Rate Accounts for the Year ended 31st March, 1934. Kaitaia Drainage Area. Special Rate Accounts : Capital. Rural Town Rural Town Subdivision, Subdivision. Subdivision. Subdivision. Dr. £ s. d. £ s. d. Gr. £ s. d. £ s. d. To Balance .. .. .. .. 23 4 0 By Balance .. .. .. 329 13 0 Transfer to Reserve Fund .. 347 5 9 47 9 3 Rates levied, £3,352 3s. Bd. ; less Interest charge .. .. 2,252 14 3 403 10 9 rebate, £700 6s. 9d. .. .. 2,65116 11 466 10 9 Remissions .. .. .. 16 7 6 015 3 Penalty, 10 per cent, on unpaid Balance .. .. .. 567 10 9 12 15 2 rates .. .. .. 202 8 4 21 3 8 £3,183 18 3 £487 14 5 £3,183 18 3 £487 14 5 General Rate Accounts : Maintenance. Rural Town Rural Town Subdivision. Subdivision. Subdivision. Subdivision. Dr. £ s. d. £ s. d. Or. £ s. d. £ s. d. To Cost of maintenance (less subsidy) 1,200 0 0 99 11 4 By Balance .. .. .. 457 611 54 0 2 Remissions .. .. .. 317 10 0 3 6 Rates levied (less subsidy) .. 660 511 94 15 2 Balance .. .. .. .. 53 4 0 Penalty, 10 per cent, on unpaid rates .. .. .. 45 -64 436 Balance .. .. .. 40 18 8 £1,203 17 10 £152 18 10 £1,203 17 10 £152 18 10 Note.—'Gross maintenance costs, £1,674 11s. 4d., were subsidized from Consolidated Fund by £375. Waihi Drainage Area. Special Rate Accounts : Capital. Pukehina Kaikokopu Pukehina Kaikokopu Ward. Ward. Ward. Ward. Dr. £ s. d. £ s. d. Gr. £ s. d. £ s. d. To Balance .. .. .. .. 50 5 9 By Balance .. .. .. 470 13 9 Remissions .. .. .. .. 2 811 Rates levied .. .. .. 374 2 0 389 8 2 Transfer to Reserve Fund .. 30 7 9 45 11 8 Penalty, 10 per cent. .. .. 37 8 2 27 15 10 Interest charge .. .. 244 12 3 366 18 4 Balance .. .. .. .. 48 0 8 Balance .. .. .. 607 3 11 £882 3 11 £465 4 8 £882 3 11 £465 4 8 General Rate Accounts : Maintenance. Pukehina Kaikokopu Central Pukehina Kaikokopu Centra] Ward. Ward. Ward. Ward. Ward. Ward. Dr. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Gr. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. To Cost of maintenance .. 75 12 3 280 0 0 350 0 0 By Balance .. .. 536 10 3 491 4 6 62 14 5 Remissions .. .. .. 3 2 0 40 10 4 Rates levied .. 176 12 5 37S 4 5 500 8 3 Balance .. .. 655 3 8 604 13 1 209 15 2 Penalty, 10 per cent. .. 17 13 3 21 6 2 37 210 £730 15 11 £887 15 1 £600 5 6 £730 15 11 £887 15 1 £600 5 6

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SWAMP LAND DRAINAGE SCHEMES— continued. Rate Accounts foe the Year ended 31st March 1934— continued. POUKAWA DHAINAOB AREA. Special Mate Account: Capital. Dr. £ s. d. Gr. £ s . d. To Remissions .. .. .. .. 98 8 5 By Balance .. .. .. .. .. 47 18 10 Transfer to Reserve Fund .. .. .. 113 2 9 Penalty, 10 per cent., 1932-33 rates unpaid .. 79 17 2 Interest charge .. .. .. .. 1,072 2 3 Rates levied, 1933-34 .. .. .. 1,233 310 Balance .. .. .. .. 131 13 3 Penalty, 10 per cent., 1933-34 rates unpaid .. 54 610 £1,415 6 8 £1,415 6 8 General Mate Account: Maintenance. Dr. £ s. d. Or. £ s . d. To Remissions .. .. .. .. 9 16 7 By Balance .. .. .. .. .. 135 17 2 Cost of Maintenance .. .. .. 127 9 0 Penalty, 10 per cent., 1932-33 rates unpaid .. 911 2 Balance .. .. .. .. .. 150 16 6 Rates levied .. .. .. .. 135 17 2 Penalty, 10 per cent., 1933-34 rates unpaid .. 616 7 £288 2 1 £288 2 1 Receipts and Payments Account for the Year ended 31st March, 1934. Public Works Consolidated Public Works Consolidated Meceipts. Fund. Fund. Payments. Fund. Fund. To Rents from national-endowment £ s. d. £ s. d. By Kaitaia Drainage Area— £ s. d. £ s. d land in Waihi Drainage Area .. .. 355 4 4 Drainage works, &c. .. 30 6 6 Special rate for interest and sink- Maintenance, completed works .. 1,1711811 ing fund— Waihi Drainage Area : MaintenWaihi Drainage Area . . .. 221 12 8 ance completed works .. .. 612 8 10 Kaitaia Drainage Area .. .. 1,056 17 1 Poukawa Drainage Area— Poukawa Drainage Area .. .. 1,062 0 9 Drainage works, &c. .. 771 3 6 General rate for administration Management and engineering and maintenance — expenses .. .. .. 37 6 0 Waihi Drainage Area . . .. 541 2 4 Maintenance, completed works .. 127 9 0 Kaitaia Drainage Area .. .. 283 9 5 Hikurangi Drainage Area— Poukawa Drainage Area .. .. 119 18 11 Drainage works, &c. .. 4,302 10 1 165 15 0 Subsidy from Consolidated Fund : Management and engineering Maintenance, Kaitaia Drainage expenses .. .. .. 502 10 11 Area .. .. .. .. 375 0 0 Fuel and stores .. .. 1,231 13 10 Thirds .. .. .. .. 108 15 10 Plant .. .. .. 39 13 4 Sundry rents .. .. .. .. 47 4 8 Transfer, receipts to Treasury Miscellaneous .. .. .. 147 8 0 Adjustment Account .. .. 4,318 14 0 Credits in reduction of expenditure 2,386 7 5 .. Transfer, receipts to Public Works Transfer, expenditure to Treasury Fund .. .. .. 2,386 7 5 Adjustment Account .. .. 2,077 11 9 Transfer, expenditure to Public Works Fund .. .. 6,915 4 2 £9,301 11 7 £6,396 5 9 £9,301 11 7 £6,396 5 9

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SWAMP LAND DRAINAGE SCHEMES— continued. Balance-sheet as at 31st Maboh, 1934. Liabilities. £ s. d. Assets. £ s. d. £ g. d. Capital Account, Public Works Fund .. .. 686,325 12 4 Kaitaia Drainage Area — Reserve: Repayment of capital Allocated cost of works on which cos ts — * rates are levied — Kaitaia Drainage Dis- Rural subdivision .. .. 60,000 0 0 trict— £ s. d. £ s. d. Town subdivision .. .. 8,200 0 0 Rural subdivision ..1,293 0 9 68,200 0 0 Town subdivision .. 176 14 4 Excess cost of works not re- _ , 1,469 15 1 coverable .. .. .. 154,669 11 5 Waihi Drainage Dis- Interest Account: Proportion trict — chargeable to district — .. 114,082 8 5 Pukehina subdivi- 268,751 19 10 sion .. .. 138 2 10 Waihi Drainage Area — Kaikokopu subdivi- Allocated cost of works on which sion .. .. 207 4 4 rates are levied— — 345 7 2 Pukehina subdivision .. 5,000 0 0 Poukawa Drainage District— .. 220 17 9 Kaikokopu subdivision .. 7,500 0 0 . 2,036 0 0 Central subdivision .. 50,000 0 0 Rate 62,500 0 0 Special rate accounts : Capital— Excess cost of works not recoverKaitaia Drainage able .. .. .. 23,804 14 6 District— £ s. d. Interest Account : Porportion Rural subdivision 567 10 9 chargeable to district .. 37,156 8 0 Town subdivision.. 12 15 2 60,961 2 6 —. 580 5 11 Poukawa Drainage Area — Waihi Drainage District : Puke- Drainage works .. .. 15,916 7 4 hina subdivision .. .. 607 311 Interest Account: Proportion Poukawa Drainage District .. 131 13 3 chargeable to district .. 3,251 7 3 . 1,319 3 1 19,167 14 7 General rate accounts : Mainten- Hikurangi Drainage Area— ance— Drainage works .. .. 239,949 19 8 Kaitaia Drainage District: Town Interest Account: Proportion subdivision .. .. 53 4 0 chargeable to district .. 98,220 2 1 Waihi Drainage Dis- 338,170 1 9 trict— £ s. d. Mangawai Drainage Area—■ Pukehina subdivi- Drainage works .. .. 1,877 17 6 s ion .. .. 655 3 8 Interest Account: Proportion Kaikokopu subdi- chargeable to district .. 1,105 6 8 vision .. 604 13 1 2,983 4 2 Central subdivision 209 15 2 Harihari Drainage Area— 1,469 11 11 Drainage works .. .. 4,354 19 0 Poukawa Drainage District— .. 150 16 6 Interest Account: Proportion 1,673 12 5 chargeable to district .. 2,218 14 4 Sundry creditors — 6,573 13 4 Miscellaneous .. .. .. 1,072 1 2 Buildings .. .. .. .. .. 1,738 211 Departmental .. .. .. 15 16 9 Wharves .. .. .. .. .. 65 16 11 1,087 17 11 Plant and machinery .. .. .. .. 32,582 3 8 Rents charged in advance .. .. .. 432 0 0 Loose tools .. .. .. .. .. ■ 429 7 8 Payments in advance—■ Live-stock .. .. .. .. .. 1347 Rent .. .. .. 0 3 0 Fuel .. .. .. .. .. 8 13 5 Rates .. .. .. 719 6 Stores on hand .. .. .. .. 4,914 14 5 8 2 6 Sandry debtors for rates — tSuqnensp Account 0 6 0 * Capital. , Maintenance. Treasury Adjustment Account .. 205,443 8 1 £ taia .. _ .. 8,293 2,658 10 11 10,951 17 4 Poukawa .. 1,149 1 6 126 7 5 1,275 811 Sundry debtors — Rent under section 4 (2), Swamp Land Drainage Amendment Act, 1926 .. .. .. 3,919 7 5 House-rent .. .. . . 20 14 10 Law-costs .. .. .. 218 14 6 Miscellaneous .. .. 127 0 6 Departmental .. . . 520 0 10 4,805 18 1 Rate Account — Special Rate Account: Capital—Waihi Drainage District, Kaikokopu subdivision .. .. 48 0 8 General Rate Account: Maintenance —Kaitaia Drainage District, rural subdivision .. 40 18 8 Postponed rent .. .. .. .. 17 19 10 Premiums on Conversion .. .. .. 229 10 0 Revenue Account : Waihi Drainage District— Central ward .. .. .. .. 4,259 2 9 Losses in Suspense .. .. .. .. 161 12 8 Cash in transit from Post-office .. .. 182 18 11 £898,487 15 0 - £898,487 15 0 W. Robebtson. Under-Secretary for Lands. Wμ. E. Shaw, Accountant. I hereby certify that the Rate Accounts and Balance-sheet have been duly examined and compared with the relative books and documents submitted for audit and correctly state the position as disclosed thereby, subject to the comment that no charge for the cost of exchange on payments made in London is included in the Account, and to the accounts of the Auckland Land Office and Chief Drainage Engineer, the audit of which has not yet been completed by the local Audit Inspector, being in agreement with the Head Office books.— G. F. C. Campbell, Controller and Auditor-General.

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