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Works performed during the Year. The following works were carried out under either the piecework or co-operative contract system : — M. ch. Double-drain and road formation ... ... ... ... 0 13 Widening and deepening road-drains and spreading spoil ... 8 17 New drain and road formation... ... ... ... ... 0 17 Clearing scrub and bush for road-formation —Hauraki Plains ... 2 17 ~ ~ Patetonga South ... 0 39 Cleaning road-drains ... ... ... ... ... ... 36 49 New road-drains ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 25 Road-formation —Hauraki Plains ... .. . . . . 0 15 ~ Waitakaruru Loan Block ... ... .. 0 52 New outlet drains .... ... ... ... ... ... 18 14 Deepening and widening outlet drains ... • ... ... ... 25 33 Cleaning outlet drains ... ... ... ... 22 70 New subdivisional drains ... ... ... ... ... 0 29 Deepening subdivisional drains ... "... ... ... 155 Cleaning stop-bank drains ... ... ... ... ... 10 50 Stop-bank and drain formation—Hauraki Plains ... ... 0 8 ~ ~ Waitakaruru Loan Block ... 0 71 Stripping peat —Waitakaruru Canal ... ... ... ... 0 1 Snagging Waitoa River ... ... ... ... ... 1 0 Removing heavy timber from drains ... ... ... ... 2 40 Fencing ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 57 Distance covered ... ... ... ... ... 135 32 Under this heading the following were also supplied : Fascines for road purposes, 3,516 bundles; posts, 718; timber for bridges, 6,000 ft.; piles for wharves, 10; sleepers for tramway, f,990; metal supplied at Pipiroa, 2,650| cubic yards; metal loaded at Kauaeranga, 82 cubic yards; metalling of Turua Road (166 chains), 2,739 cubic yards. The following works were carried out by day labour : — M. oh. Blinding and raising peat roads with sand (3,000 yards) ... ... 3 40 Forming roads—Hauraki Plains ... .. ... 3 20 New road-drains ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 19 Deepening road-drains ... ... ... .. ... 14 64 Cleaning road-drains ... ... ... ... ... ... 33 27 New outlet drains .... ... ... ... ... ... 3 3 Deepening and widening outlet drains ... ... ... ... 10 33 Cleaning outlet drains ... ... ... ... ... 16 60 Strengthening stop-banks ... ... ... ... ... 3 60 Cleaning stop-bank drains ... ... ... ... ... 16 56 Deepening stop-bank drains ... ... ... ... ... 0 18 Discing and rolling roads ... ... ... ... ... 20 0 Snagging Waitoa lliver ... ... ... ... ... 1 22 Spreading spoil on roads ... ... ... ... ... 071 Erection of fence ... ... ... ... ... ... 0 20 Spreading metal on roads ... ... ... ... ... 2 0 Distance covered ... ... ... ... ... 131 33 Under this heading the following were also performed : Construction of bridges, 2; construction of culvert, 1; construction of flumings for flood-gates, 6; construction of shed, 1; artesian bores for settlers, 23; supply of fascines, 1,400 bundles; spoil removed by dredgers, 147,740 cubic yards. Cattle. Of the cattle purchased in 1911, the remaining thirteen were sold during last year for £52 19s. The total amount expended under this heading was £350 lis., whilst the return from auction, &c., was £508 9s. 9d., which discloses a very good return considering that these were only grazing on the partly drained country. Thirteen head of cattle have had to be written off the books on account of deaths, &c. Fires. Early in 1914 a fire commenced at Ngarua, and, fanned by the wind, rapidly spread towards Waikaka, and threatened the tram-line leading from the wharf. Men were instantly stationed to protect the line and fight the fire, and I can safely say that the damage sustained'was very slight. About 50 acres of grass was burnt, whilst in a few places the sleepers on the tram-line were burnt, but have since been repaired. A large area of unoccupied Crown land was burnt, and as it was considered advisable to sow grass-seed on this area, especially near the line, where it will act as a break, tenders were invited for the supply of grass-seed, and are returnable shortly. Flax Areas. During the year no flax areas were offered for auction, but the sum of £2 16s. 9d. was received from areas let during the previous year. The fires of January and succeeding months burnt several large areas of flax ready to be milled, and I do not consider that any revenue will be derived from this source during the coming year. Metalling of Roads. During the financial year ending March, 1913, a sum of £3,500 was voted for the metalling of roads, whilst during last year a further sum of £3,000 was voted.