C—B.

4

Artesian Boring Plant. The total number of bores sunk is now 138, the year's operations accounting for two The total cost for the year was £45 18s. 6d., making a total expenditure to date of £3,427 Bs. 10d., which is practically all recoverable. A schedule of the bores sunk is attached. Flood-gates. Repair work has been the main feature in connection with the flood-gates. Two new ferroconcrete outlets and tide-gates have been constructed, the invert level of these being about 2 ft. 6 in. to 3 ft. below the level of old gates, allowing for far greater discharging-capacity at low water. The new outlet at Kopuarahi required a length of 206 ft. of concrete culvert, and the one at Hopai, which has a bifurcation taking drains from both sides of road into the one flood-gate, has a length of 108 ft. The wooden gates, which have been in for several years and done good service, will have to be similarly renewed as soon as the necessary labour is available. Works performed during the Year. The following works were carried out under the piecework-contract system : — M. eh. Cleaning drains .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 104 40 Widening and deepening drains .. .. .. .. 33 5 Constructing new drains .. .. .. .. . . .. 3 65 Carting spoil and re-forming roads . . . . .. .. .. 1 64 Clearing bush on roads .. .. .. .. .. .. 0 66 134 0 Works carried out by day labour — Cleaning drains .. .. .. .. .. .. 47 74 Widening and deepening drains .. .. .. .. 10 44 Constructing new drains .. .. .. . . .. 1 42 Carting spoil and re-forming roads .. .. .. . . 5 74 Disking roads .. .. .. .. .. .. 6 20 Grading clay roads.. .. .. .. .. .. 9 75 Ploughing roadsides .. .. .. .. . . 3 64 Gravelling roads .. .. .. .. .. .. ..34 Shelling roads .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 40 Metalling roads .. .. .. . . . . . . 4 47 Repairing stop-banks .. .. .. .. . . 0 55 Fencing roads .. .. .. .. .. .. 0 40 96 19 Supply of sleepers, 3,800; artesian bores sunk, 2 ; reinforced-concrete outlets and floodgates, 2 ; concrete culverts, 4. There was also a large amount of minor repair and construction work completed. Flax Areas. The total revenue received during the year was £557 ss. 7d. It is hoped to shortly open a number of areas on ten-year leases, and the future revenue from this source will no doubt greatly increase. Surveys. Several road-surveys, canal-lines, school-sites, and drain-reservations have been done during the year, also twenty-six miles of levelling. Works Expenditure for the Year. The total works expenditure for the year, including wages, supplies, repairs, &c, amounted to £17,207 4s. lid. Piecework contracts amounting to £1,863 16s. Bd., and day-labour works of all descriptions amounting to £7,971 165., were paid from local imprest out of the Hauraki Plains Settlement Account. The total figures will probably not agree with Head Office figures, as in some cases local expenditure may not have been brought to charge in the Head Office books. Valuations. These remain as in past year, the total area to date thrown open for selection being 37,451 acres, valued at £227,830. The next twelve months will show an increase in these figures. Metalling Roads. The total distance of roads metalled, shelled, or gravelled, commencing from the year 1913, is now 31 miles 16 chains ; of this some 9 miles 11 chains was completed during the year, comprising 4 miles 47 chains of metal, 3 miles 4 chains of gravel from creeks, and 1 mile 40 chains of shell. The supply procured by the Department's steamer and punts from the Kauaeranga Creek has considerably increased the previous year's total, 5,227 cubic yards being used, as against 2,928 cubic yards for 1916-17. One new punt was built and placed on run, and constant supply of metal obtained.