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fine weather. As a result these roads are deteriorating, and it is evident that a larger expenditure is required to maintain these roads if they are to be used for heavy traffic throughout the whole year. The drains were maintained, and in addition some of them through the peat country were deepened, which oil account of subsidence. Portion of the Waiotapu Stream was banked in a particularly low locality, so as to prevent the flood-waters flowing across the farms in the vicinity. Two sill bridges were converted into pile bridges, this being necessary owing to the pumice approaches being scoured away by the flow of water. About 45 acres of swamp country which was burnt during the previous summer was surface-sown in grass, so as to reduce as far as possible the growth of weeds. This was portion of the unoccupied Crown land, and until this land is settled there is likely to be a recurrence of fires. The expenditure during the year was £1,106 14s. Bd. Maramamau Settlement. —The erection of concrete flood-gates on this area was commenced in October, 1924. Three 5-ft.-diameter Calco gates are being installed, and these should effect a big improvement in the unwatering of the low country in behind the stop-bank along the Tauherenikau Stream. It is not expected that these gates will prevent the flooding of the land, but the period of inundation will be considerably lessened. Since the works were commenced three floods have been experienced, and as a result the completion of the gates has been considerably delayed and the cost increased. One flood was particularly high, the bank being topped in places, and it is evident that this bank should be raised. The concrete-work is practically complete, and the wole work should be completed at an early date. In addition to erecting the gate, very heavy excavation in hard gravelly country has been carried out, so as to connect up the gates with the existing drainage-system. The total expenditure during the year was £820. Hamilton Swanps. —For report purposes the swamps in the vicinity of Hamilton, have been divided into two areas, Woodlands and Rukuhia. The former comprises an area of swamp, situated to the east and north-east of Hamilton, containing approximately 55,000 acres, which is at present practically all under the control of Drainage Boards. The field-work of the area was carried out during the year, and the report is now practically completed. The following shows the extent of the field- work : 164 miles of levels, all compass-traversed ; 850 soundings for peat depths ; 34 square miles topographical surveys. _ jg The Rukuhia area is much smaller in extent, and is situated to the south-west of Hamilton, part of the area adjoining the borough. This area has generally much deeper peat and is not so far advanced in the breaking-in process. The field-work is well in hand, and will be completed at an early date.j Total expenditure on the areas for the year was £874 3s. 6d. Te Pu Kaharoa Bore —In October last arrangements were made to sink a trial bore for water in the Kaharoa district, which is situated to the north-west of Rotorua on the Rotorua- Tauranga Road. This district is particularly badly supplied with surface water, and recourse has been made to large concrete tanks, but this supply has not been too successful. The country is of pumice formation overlying rhyolite rock, and as a result is difficult to bore in. Unfortunately, the results obtained were negative, although the spot selected was divined before operations were commenced. This, however, is not the first case of failure in this locality, although in adjacent districts some bores have been successful. A further bore will be sunk. The expenditure was £248 13s. sd. Motutangi Swamp.—The field-work of this area was completed, and the data obtained showed that portion of the swamp is very deep peat, although the narrow strip near the Houhoura-Waipapakauri Road is much shallower and of better quality. This portion, along with other areas on the western side of the road, are the only areas suitable for settlement. The success of any scheme, however, is dependent on the stopping of the sand-drift on both sides of the area. This is absolutely essential, as the outlet for the swamp is now being raised by the sand blowing in. The drift from the west coast is more troublesome to control, and, although not affecting the main swamp, is now affecting Selwyn's and adjacent swamps. The expenditure during the year was £157 Bs. Id. Pakihi Lands, Westland.—There is very little to report on the above. The area, at Kumara prepared by the Department for agricultural experiments was ploughed during the summer by the Agriculture Department. So far, the results of their work are not yet available. Expenditure for the year was £39 9s. Bd. Bruce Bay Surveys, South Westland.—These surveys, the field-work of which was completed just prior to the period under review, cover an area of 40,000 acres of bush and swamp lands in the Bruce Bay district, South Westland. The plans of the area which were prepared and considered during the year bore out the tentative statement in last year's report that the time was not yet ripe for the development of the swamp-lands there. The swamps are generally small in area and very scattered, consequently they would be very costly to drain. Moreover, they lie among bush-clad areas which, while of high potential value as grazing-land, are at present not available for settlement, being locked up to preserve their timber crop. It is therefore recommended that the drainage of the swamps await the time when the bush has been milled, so that the bush and swamp lands may be developed together. Expenditure amounted to £27 Is. Id. Westland Surveys (General). —No surveys of new areas in Westland have been undertaken during the year ; in fact, the province has been well covered by the past three years' investigations, and all swamps of any area of note have been reported on previous to the period dealt with in this report. The position with regard to areas that have been reported on favourably remains unchanged ; the majority of the settlers interested have no desire for drainage at the present time. Plans and reports by an officer of the Commissioner of Crown Lands staff, Hokitika, covering an area of 51,894 acres in the Okuru district, South Westland, were examined, but it: was considered that drainage-works would not prove a payable proposition there at the present time. Kongahu Swamp.- -This swamp lies near Karamea, Buller County, Nelson Province. Its area is about 2,070 acres. Investigations into the problem of draining this area were undertaken in response to an appeal from the settlers interested, and an engineering survey had been in progress a month before this period under review opened. This survey was completed at the end of May.