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Session 11. 1918. NEW ZEALAND

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY: DRAINAGE OPERATIONS IN HAURAKI PLAINS. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1918, TOGETHER WITH STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 10 of the Hauraki Plains Act, 1908.

Sir,— Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, Ist June, 1918. 1 have the honour to submit herewith the report on the drainage operations in the Hauraki Plains for the past year, in accordance with the provisions of the Hauraki Plains Act, 1908. The total area thrown open for selection to date is 37,451 acres, valued at £227,830. It is anticipated that the next twelve months will show an increase in these figures. The total expenditure under the Act has now been as follows :— £ s. d. For the year ended 31st March, 1908 .. .. .. 5,070 0 0 1909 .. .. .. 11,672 5 6 1910 .. .. .. 22,235 2 11 1911 .. .. .. 32,103 14 0 1912 .. .. .. 40,084 13 1 1913 .. .. .. 26,608 1 3 1914 .. .. .. 21,467 18 2 1915 .. .. .. 20,399 10 4 1916 .. .. .. 18,331 10 10 1917 .. .. .. 18,405 17 10 1918 .. .. .. 26,588 19 7 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. £242,967 13 6 The detailed report of the Chief Drainage Engineer is attached, together with a statement of accounts. I have, &c, T. N. Brodrick, Under-Secretary. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Minister of Lands.

REPORT OF CHIEF DRAINAGE ENGINEER. Sir — The year just completed has seen a great advance in the growth and prosperity of the plains. A good season has been experienced, and the settlers have prospered accordingly. The total value of cream produced from the area for the year was £75,060. There has also been a large amount of grazing, and the value of stock sold at Ngatea, Waitakaruru, and Patetonga saleyards amounts to £59,945. No figures have been supplied for Turua, which is almost wholly suppoited by stock from the plains and also Hikutaia, these two places being just outside the Hauraki Plains area. To date about 275 sections (excluding 10-acre and township sections) have been balloted for,

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