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Statement of Accounts (as required bt Section 10 of Rangitaiki Land Drainage Act, 1910) for the Year ended 31st March, 1917. MeceipU. Expenditure, 1910—April Ist. £ s. d. 1917—March 31st. £ s. d. £ s., d. To Balance forward .. .. .. 0,835 6 0 By .Drainage - works, stopNew Zealand Loans Act, 1908—De- banks, clearing chanbentures issued under the Rangi- nels, and all expenses taiki Land Drainage Amendment incidental thereto .. 12,304 0 7 Acts, 1913 and 1914 .. .. 17,000 0 0 Equipment, and maintenRoceipfcs under the Rangitaiki Land ance of dredges, wages Drainage Act, 1910 .. .. 10 2 8 of drodgemasters, &c. 4,035 4 10 Travelling-allowances and general expenses .. 230 011 Office upkeep .. .. 515 3 Material .. .. 79 14 9 Compensation for land taken .. .. 880 17 2 18,207 19 0 Interest on debentures issued recouping the Consolidated Fund .. .. 3,350 0 5 New Zealand Loans Act, 1908—Chai'ges and expenses in connection with debentures issued .. 0 17 0 Rangitaiki Land Drainage Amendment Act, 1913 (section 0) —Rate Account : Refund of rates collected .. .. .. 110 13 6 Balance—Cash in Public Account jji .. .. .. 1,175 17 9 £22,851 8 8 £22,851 8 8 Loan Account. 1917—March 31st. £ s. d. 1910—April Ist. £ s. d. To Balance .. .. .. .. 98,000 0 0 By Debentures issued under the Stateguaranteed Advances Act, 1.909, and amendments .. .. .. 45,000 0 0 Debentures issued under the Rangitaiki Land Drainage Amendment Acts, 1913 and 1914 .. .. 53,000 0 0 £98,000 0 0 C 98,000 0 0

REPORT OF CHIEF DRAINAGE ENGINEER. Sir,— I have the honour, in accordance with the provisions of the Rangitaiki Land Drainage Act, 1910, to report on the various services performed during the financial year ending 31st March, 1917. Good progress has been made with the various works throughout the year, but much more could be done were more men available, the dearth of suitable labour consequent upon the war and its exigencies being severely felt in this district. For the above reasons it has not been possible to proceed with certain proposals in connection with Te Rahu and Whakaire outfalls. It is very manifest that the latter will require a diversion direct to the Rangitaiki River, as the late floods have overtaxed its capacity in times of abnormal conditions. The weather for the last twelve months has been exceedingly wet for the Bay of Plenty district, and has caused a considerable growth of raupo, &c, necessitating much more maintenance than in former years. A flood occurred at the end of February and was considered to be the highest for some years, but no great damage was done, and the Rangitaiki River did not overflow in the lower reaches at all. Stop-banking is now being done where the river overflowed in its upper reaches, and this should help matters considerably. The new Tarawera cut should relieve the northern end of the swamp, and it will certainly lower the old Rangitaiki and Awaiti Streams considerably and make a large expanse of country comparatively dry.

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