DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. SWAMP DRAINAGE. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1943.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1943 Session I, C-04

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1943. NEW ZEALAND,

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. SWAMP DRAINAGE. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1943.

Presented to both Bouses of the General Assembly- pursuant to Section 13 of the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915.

Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, Ist May, 1943. 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. (!. M'acmorran, „ _ Under-Secretary for Lands. The Hon. the Minister of Lands.

REPORT OP 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, for the year ended 31st March, 1943. Kaitaia Drainage Area (61,430 Acres), Mangonui County. Only a limited amount of drain-maintenance work was carried out during the year. Early last autumn tenders were called for drain-cleaning contracts, but only one tender was received. The restricted supply of labour available was consequently employed on cleaning the most important drains. It was not possible to carry out any drain-improvement work. Fortunately, the year was a fairly dry one, and very little flooding was experienced. The stop-banks around the Awanui foreshore were maintained during the year and are in a fair state of repair. When conditions return to normal and labour and machinery again become available it will be essential to have a light dredge working on the Whan'gatane Spillway and the Waipapakauri outlet. These canals have deteriorated during the past year, the former owing to silting and the latter due to the consolidation of the country and slips. The rainfall for the year was 44 in. (approximately), an increase of 6 in. on the fall for the previous year. Rates.—A Committee of Inquiry was set up during the year to investigate and report on the rating position in the rural subdivision. As a result, and following conferences between the Committee and representatives of the Kaitaia Ratepayers' Association, an agreement was reached regarding payment of arrears of rates and future rates. The majority of the ratepayers have taken advantage of the liberal concessions granted by the Government, and it appears that this long-outstanding problem has now been solved. "Of a total of 339 European ratepayers, 224 have cleared all arrears of rates to 31st March, 1942, and 47 are paying by annual instalments. Rates struck, 1942-43— Town . Bural α-i £ £ Special .. .. . . .. .. 440 3,184 General .. .. .. .. .. 200 2,692 Rates collected— Special .. .. .. .. 771 6,938 General .. . . .. .. .. 329 3,455 Hikurangi Drainage Area (50,000 Acres), Whangarei County. No work was carried out in this area during the year.

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Waihi Drainage Area (20,000 Acres), Tattranga County. All the main drains were cleaned in the autumn of 1942, but it has not so far been possible to arrange for the cleaning of all the drains this autumn owing to shortage of labour Some drain-improvement work has been deferred. During the eleven months to 28th February, 1943, a total of 29 miles 50 chains of main drains were cleaned. A pumped water-supply service has provided a continuous and ample supply for an area of 930 acres being fanned by the Department, and part of this area is served by a drainage pump. From March to 18th May, 1942, when it was requisitioned for urgent defence work, a small excavator carried out stop-bank reconstruction and channel improvements. The machine travelled down the right bank of the Pongakawa Stream, filling in gaps in the stop-bank between the Main Highway and the Waihi Estuary. 1942-43 rates struck were: Special, £750; general, £915, the respective collections being £877 and £956. Poukawa Drainage Area (15,567 Acres), Hawke's Bay. Maintenance work was carried out during the year, and I am indebted to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Napier, for the preparation and inspection of drain-cleaning cont i , etc ts. Special rates, £1,002, and general rates, £312, were struck for 1942-43. Collections on account of current rates and arrears were £340 special and £100 general. I have, &c, R. L. Innis, Chief Drainage Engineer. The Undcr-Secretary for Lands, Wellington, STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS. A statement of accounts is published in parliamentary paper, 8.-l [Pt. IV].

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (478 copies), £2 15s.

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