DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. SWAMP DRAINAGE. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1939, TOGETHER WITH STATEMENTS OF ACCOUNTS.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1939 Session I, C-04

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1939. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. SWAMP DRAINAGE. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1939, TOGETHER WITH STATEMENTS OF ACCOUNTS.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly 'pursuant to Section 13 of the Swamf Drainage Act, 1915.

Department of Lands and Survey, Sir, — Wellington, Ist July, 1939. 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., R. G. Macmorran, The Hon. Frank Langstone, Minister of Lands. Under-Secretary for Lands.

REPORT OF THE 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. The maintenance of completed works together with the widening and deepening of Puckey's drain, protection of the bank at the Whangatane Spillway, and construction of approximately 60 chains of improvements to the Waipapakauri outlet were the main features of the year's work. The rainfall for the year amounted to 52 in., showing an advance of 11 in. over the previous year, July being the wettest month, with a fall of 11-31 in. Records, including river-gauge readings for the year, are shown hereunder : —

Rainfall and River-gauge Readings for Year ending 31st March, 1939.

Highest Rain- Kaitaia River-gauge, Wai- „ „ Rainfall Wet Days m M ! f °5 kuriki Bridge. Month - (Inches). in Month. Twenty-four - Hours tj. , , T (Inehes). Hl S hest ' j Lowest " 1938. April .. .. .. ! 3-97 11 2-03 57-7 52-2 May .. .. 5-58 13 1-58 71-4 52-4 June .. .. .. 4-81 12 1-29 59-6 53-2 July .. .. .. 11-31 19 2-81 65-5 53-5 August .. .. .. 8-43 18 3-40 69-6 54-1 September .. .. 2-92 18 0-47 58-7 54-1 October .. .. 2 ■ 17 9 0-57 55-4 52-9 November .. .. 3-76 16 1-32 57-9 52-3 December .. .. 3 • (36 11 0-93 59-0 52-8 1939. January .. .. 3-22 7 1 -06 58-2 52-2 February .. .. 2-03 4 1-25 60-3 52-2 March.. .. .. 0-15 3 0-06 52-2 52-2 Totals .. .. 52-01 141

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Drains. —Sixty-one chains of drains were cleaned and the shingle in the bed of the Pukepoto Stream removed, the fall being taken up from the outfall to the metal trap. This work was done on wages, horse scoops being employed to remove the shingle where practicable. A contract for the deepening of the Pukepoto outfall was let in February, and the contractor has this work in hand at present. The widening and deepening of Puckey's outlet drain was •completed by contract early in June, benefiting the surrounding farms by giving better drainage. Stop-banks. —Further repairs to stop-banks were found necessary, owing to erosion caused by an exceptional high spring tide which overflowed the banks in several places. Whangatane Spillway.—The bank erosion at the spillway has been checked by the driving of rickers from the Puriri bush backed with walings, fascines, and other scrub timber. Waipapalcauri Outlet. —Excavation work in connection with the enlargement of this outlet was -commenced in September, the Monighan Dredge (No. 18) being refitted and assembled at the mouth of the outlet for this work. The swampy nature of the ground necessitated the preparation of a track to support the dredge, and a certain amount of delay was occasioned on this account. A distance of 60 chains of the improved channel has been completed to date. Works Expenditure. —The net maintenance expenditure for the year was £2,205 18s. 6d. Drainage Rates. —The following schedule shows the position of the rates struck and collected in the two wards :—

Hikurangi Drainage Area (50,000 Acres), Whangarei County. No work was carried out on this area during the year. The only expenditure incurred was i:i connection with the overhaul and disposal of plant by the caretaker at Apotu, amounting to .£286 12s. 10d. Waiiit Drainage Area (20,000 Acres), Tauranga County. Maintenance work on outlets, stop-banks, and flood-gates in this area was continued during the year, the bulk of the drain-cleaning being carried out by contract. A new Ruston Bucyrus dredge was hired from the Public Works Department in June, and it has been working almost continuously on the Wharere Canal. The building of a stop-bank, which in places is 6 ft. high and from 16 ft. to 18 ft. wide on top with a total length of 68 chains, was completed in three months. The stop-bank runs from the site of the flood-pump to the outlet of the Wharere Canal. On completion of this work the dredge was moved to the junction of the Waerenga and Kaikokopu Roads to work down the Kaikokopu Stream to its junction with the Wharere at the outlet into the Waihi Estuary. The Kaikokopu Stream has been widened to about one and a half times its original width and deepened to twice its former depth. The spoil from this work has been formed into a stop-bank and road, the bank being 4 ft. high and 30 ft. wide with an approximate length of 122 chains. The total length of stop-bank completed since the dredge went into operation is thus 190 chains, and it is now possible to obtain vehicular access right round the northern block of the Wharere small-farm area. The main benefit, however, will be apparent when the wet season approaches and the more rapid dispersal of flood-water will prove the value of this work. The development work on the Wharere Extension Block, commenced during the year, rendered imperative the deepening of the Waihi outlets in that area. To date this work has been undertaken in the Wharere Road East and Central drains and approximately 2 ft. of additional fall has been obtained. The Eastern drain temains to be done, and this work will be undertaken as soon as labour is available in the coming year. The maintenance of these outlets is essential to the efficiency of the drainage system as a whole, and, while the Department will obtain greatest value from this work, its effect on the upper reaches of the district will be beneficial. Poukawa Drainage Area (15,567 Acres), Hawke's Bay. Maintenance of completed works was carried out during the year, and I am indebted to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Napier, for carrying out the inspections of the cleaning contracts. Pipes were laid under a culvert by the Railways Department at 93 m. Bch., and this Department contributed £40 towards the cost. The maintenance expenditure during the year was £196 19s. Id. Rates struck : Capital, £1,164 12s. 4d. ; maintenance, £125 4s. 7d. Rates collected in cash : Capital, £386 2s. 3d.; maintenance, £18 9s. I have, &c., R. L. Innis, The Under-Secretary for Lands, Wellington, C. 1. Chief Drainage Engineer.

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Capital. Maintenance. ! Struck. Collected. Struck. Collected. I'll i j £ s. d. | £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Town .. .. 406 19 1 i 343 17 3 ! 199 4 3 173 8 7 Rural .. .. ] 3,005 4 7 I 674 5 6 ! 1,456 19 2 358 7 5

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SWAMP LAND DRAINAGE SCHEME. Rate Accounts foe Year ended 31st March, 1939. Kaitaia Drainage Abba. Special Rate Accounts : Capital. Rural Town Ru al Town Subdivision. Subdivision. Subdivision. Subdivision. Dr. £ s. d. £ s. d. Cr. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Transfer to Reserve .. .. 427 9 7 58 8 6 Balance .. .. .. 1,336 16 3 59 16 8 Interest charges .. .. .. 2,392 10 5 351 11 6 Rates levied .. .. 3,685 2 3 Remissions .. .. .. 136 8 1 2 13 0 Less rebate .. 179 17 7 Adjustment of overcharged rates .. .. 011 8 3,505 4 8 445 12 8 Balance, 31st March, 1939 .. .. 1,905 12 10 92 4 8 £4,862 0 11 £505 9 4 £4,862 0 11 £505 9 4 General Hate Accounts : Maintenance. Rural Town Rural Town Subdivision. Subdivision. Subdivision. Subdivision. Dr. £ s. d. £ s. d. Cr. £ s. d. £ s. d. Cost of maintenance .. .. 1,756 12 5 250 0 0 Balance .. .. .. .. 590 611 134 14 9 Remissions .. .. .. 50 6 4 019 11 Rates levied .. .. .. 1,704 13 9 218 2 7 Adjustment of overcharged rates .. .. 0 5 8 Balance, 31st March, 1939 .. .. 488 111 101 11 9 £2,295 0 8 £352 17 4 £2,295 0 8 £352 17 4 Waihi Drainage Area. Special Bate Accounts : Capital. Pukebina Kaikokopu Vukehliui Kaikokopu Ward. Ward. Ward. Ward. Dr. £ s. d. £ s. d. Cr. £ s. d. £ s. d. Transfer to Reserve .. .. .. 41 18 0 62 16 6 Balance .. .. .. .. 224 3 7 110 15 5 Interest charges .. .. •. 212 14 7 319 22 Rates levied .. .. .. 319 17 8 432 5 7 Remissions .. •. ■ • 13 7 9 Penalty, 10 per cent., on unpaid rates .. 8 19 1 21 1 2 Balance, 31st March, 1939 .. .. 298 7 9 168 15 9 £553 0 4 £564 22 £553 0 4 £564 22 General Rate Accounts : Maintenance. Pukehina Kaikokopu Central Pukehina Kaikokopu Central Ward. Ward. Ward. Ward. Ward. Ward. Dr. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Cr. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Balance .. -. •• .. 1,843 13 3 Balance .. .. 90 5 9 246 13 0 Maintenance costs .. 85 1 0 534 8 0 261 3 0 Rates levied .. .. 177 0 2 508 0 9 670 7 2 Remissions .. .. ■ • 27 5 2 . . Penalty, 10 per cent., on Balance, 31st March, 1939 187 5 3 204 19 6 .. unpaid rates .. .. 5 0 4 11 18 11 11 15 1 Balance, 31st March, 1939 .. .. 1,422 14 0 £272 6 3 £766 12 8 £2,104 16 3 £272 6 3 £766 12 8 £2,104 16 3 Poukawa Drainage Area. Special Rate Account: Capital. Dr. £ s. d. Cr. £ s . d. Penalties written back .. .. .. 226 8 6 Balance .. .. . . . . . , 410 8 9 Remissions .. .. ■ • • ■ • • 23 10 8 Rates levied .. .. .. .. 1,121 1 5 Transfer to Reserve .. .. .. •• 140 12 2 Penalty, 10 per cent., on unpaid rates .. .. 43 10 11 Interest charges .. .. • • •. 936 17 10 Balance, 31st March, 1939 .. .. .. 247 11 11 £1,575 1 1 £1,575 1 1 General Rate Account: Maintenance. Dr. £ s. d. Cr. £ s. d. Penalties written back .. .. -. •• 15 9 0 Balance .. .. .. .. .. 90 12 9 Remissions .. .. • ■ • • ■ ■ 3 6 4 Rates levied .. .. .. .. .. 125 4 7 Maintenance costs .. .. •. .. 199 9 7 Balance, 31st March, 1939 .. .. .. 2 7 7 £218 4 11 £218 4 11 Receipts and Payments Account for the Year ended 31st March, 1939. . . Public Works Consolidated „ m Public Works Consolidated Receipts. Fund . Fund. . . Payments. Fund . Fund? Rents from national-endowment land £ s. d. £ s. d. Kaitaia Drainage Area: Maintenance, £ s. d. £ s. d. in Waihi Drainage Area .. .. 406 510 completed works .. .. .. 1,721 18 6 Special rate for interest and sinking Waihi Drainage Area: Maintenance, fund— completed works .. .. .. 880 13 0 Waihi Drainage Area .. .. .. 462 511 Poukawa Drainage Area— Kaitaia Drainage Area .. .. .. 1,339 9 5 Maintenance, completed works .. .. 139 9 7 Poukawa Drainage Area .. .. 978 8 7 Drainage works, &c. .. .. 40 0 0 •General rate for administration and Hikurangi Drainage Area: Drainage maintenance — works, &c. .. .. .. 286 12 10 Waihi Drainage Area .. .. .. 1,451 10 4 Plant, &c. (general) .. .. 144 411 Kaitaia Drainage Area .. .. .. 673 8 10 Transfer receipts to Treasury AdjustPoukawa Drainage Area .. .. 51 9 1 ment Account .. .. .. .. 5,648 9 0 Thirds .. .. .. .. .. 157 18 3 Transfer receipts to Public Works Sundry rents .. .. .. .. 37 0 0 Fund Account .. .. 3,912 12 .. Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. 90 12 9 Credits in reduction of expenditure.. 3,912 12 Transfer of expenditure to Treasury Adjustment Account .. .. .. 2,742 1 1 Transfer of expenditure to Public Works Fund Account .. .. 470 17 9 .. £4,382 18 11 £8,390 10 1 £4,382 18 11 £8,390 10 7

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SWAMP LAND DRAINAGE SCHEME—continued. Balance-sheet as at 31st Mabch, 1939. Liabilities. £ s. d. Assets. Capital Account, Public Works Fund .. .. 688,167 4 8 Kaitaia Drainage Area— £ s. d. £ s. d. Reserve : Repayment capital costs— Allocated cost of works on which Kaitaia Drainage rates are levied— Area— £ s. d. £ s. d. Rural subdivision .. .. 60,000 0 0 Rural subdivision 3,260 6 5 Town subdivision .. .. 8,200 0 0 Town subdivision 445 11 5 68,200 0 03,705 17 10 Excess cost of works not recoverWai h i Drainage able .. .. .. 163,948 0 4 Area — Interest Account: Proportion Pukehina subdi- chargeable to area .. .. 158,487 6 4 vision .. 314 7 9 322,435 6 8 Kaikokopu subdi- Waihi Drainage Area — vision .. 471 11 6 Allocated cost of works on which —-——— 785 19 3 rates are levied —■ Poukawa Drainage Area .. 870 16 6 Pukehina subdivision .. 5,000 0 0 5,362 13 7 Kaikokopu subdivision .. 7,500 0 0 Rate accounts— Central subdivision .. 46,832 3 6 Special Rate Accounts : Capital— 59,332 3 C Kaitaia Drainage Excess cost of works not recover - Area— £ s. d. able .. .. .. 24,636 16 9 Rural subdivision 1,905 12 10 Interest Account: Proportion Town subdivision 92 4 8 chargeable to area .. .. 46,749 3 7 1,997 17 6 71,386 0 4 Waihi Drainage Poukawa Drainage Area— Area — Drainage works .. .. 16,505 310 Pukehina Subdi- Interest Account: Proportion vision .. 298 7 9 chargeable to area .. .. 1,463 10 1 Kaikokopu subdi- — 17,968 13 11 vision .. 168 15 9 Hikurangi Drainage Area— 467 3 6 Drainage works .. .. 257,270 3 0 Poukawa Drainage Area .. 247 11 11 Interest Account: Proportion 2,712 12 11 chargeable to area .. .. 158,745 9 6 General Rate Accounts: Main- 416,015 12 6 tenance— Mangawai Drainage Area— Kaitaia Drainage Drainage works .. .. 1,877 19 3 Area— £ s. d. Interest Account: Proportion Rural subdivision 488 111 chargeable to area .. .. 1,606 4 3 Town subdivision 101 11 9 3,484 3 (> 589 13 8 Harihari Drainage Area — Wai hi Drainage Drainage works .. .. 4,355 2 11 Area— Interest Account: Proportion Pukehina subdi- chargeable to area .. .. 3,322 7 4 vision .. 187 5 3 7,677 10 3 Kaikokopu subdi- Buildings .. .. .. .. .. 1,282 8 1 vision .. 204 19 6 Wharves . . .. .. .. .. 0 10 0 —-— 392 4 9 Plant and machinery .. .. .. .. 10,077 14 8 ————- 981 18 5 Loose tools .. .. .. .. . . 193 4 7 Sundry creditors — Stores on hand .. .. .. .. 3,357 1 0Miscellaneous .. .. .. 197 19 I Motor-vehicles .. .. .. .. 222 3 0' Departmental .. .. .. 2 18 8 Sundry debtors for rates— 200 17 9 n . . Capital. Maintenance. Rents charged in advance .. .. 113 10 0 ' a r<a ' £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Payments in advance— Kaitaia .. 19,592 16 7 7,561 15 7 27,154 12 2 Rent.. .. .. .. 11 3 6 Waihi .. .. 5,154 3 3 4,120 911 9,274 13 2 Rates.. .. .. .. 214 7 Poukawa .. 3,375 14 5 224 4 2 3,599 18 7 13 18 1 Sundry debtorsSuspense Account .. .. .. 0 6 0 Rent under section 4 (2), Swamp Writings-off in Suspenso .. .. .. 17,217 0 6 Land Drainage Amendment Act, Treasury Adjustment Account .. .. 340,559 3 3 1926 .. .. .. 212 10 7 House rent .. .. .. 2 5 0 Law-costs .. .. .. 815 17 9 Miscellaneous .. .. 41 2 6 Departmental .. .. 166 14 I 1,238 9 II Rate Account—General Rate Account: Maintenance— Waihi Drainage Area: Central £ s. d. subdivision .. .. 1,422 14 0 Poukawa Drainage Area .. 2 7 7 1,425 1 7 Maintenance costs (Hikurangi) .. .. 434 8 9 Premiums on conversion .. .. .. 102 0 0 Revenue Account—Waihi Drainage Area: Central subdivision .. 13,197 14 II Losses in Suspense .. .. .. 17,217 0 6 Cash in transit from Post-office .. .. 52 13 7 £1,055,329 5 2 £1,055,329 5 2: R. G. Macmorran. Under-Secretary for Lands. G. I. Beeson, Chief 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 explanatory notes dealing with departmental accounts generally as appearing at commencement of parliamentary return 8.-l [Pt. IV], Expenditure totalling some £800,000 reflected in the Balance-sheet appears to be irrecoverable. —J. H. Fowler, Controller and Auditor-General.

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