C. —8

1925. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. DRAINAGE OPERATIONS IN HAURAKI PLAINS. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1925, 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, 12th June, 1925. I have the honour to present herewith the report of the Chief Drainage Engineer on operations carried out during the past year on the Hauraki Plains in accordance with the provisions of the Hauraki Plains Act, 1908. I have, &c., J. B. Thompson, The Hon. A. D. McLeod, Minister of Lands. Under-Secretary for Lands.

REPORT OF CHIEF DRAINAGE ENGINEER. Str, — I have the honour to submit herewith the seventeenth annual report on the construction, operation, and maintenance of the Hauraki Plains drainage system for the year ending 31st March, 1925. The winters of the years 1923 and 1924 were remarkable for the excessive rainfall and the intensity of the storms. The average yearly rainfall at Kerepeehi for the past nine years is 44-32 in., the total fall for the last year being 52-56 in., rain falling on 156 days. The following schedule gives rainfall figures at Kerepeehi for the past nine years : —-

Severe storms last May produced floods in the Waihou and Piako Rivers, which caused damage where the present incomplete protective systems do not yet provide permanent protection from overflow. An area of approximately 5,000 acres of occupied Hauraki Plains land, representing about one-eighth of the settled area, was flooded, necessitating the removal of stock. The settlers generally accepted these trying conditions with characteristic fortitude, and an encouraging development was the remarkable recovery of the pasture on return to normal conditions. In spite of the unfavourable conditions the farmers have experienced a successful season. Returns from the factories handling the most of the dairy-product of the plains continue to increase. The butter output was approximately 4,139,520 lb., and cheese 2,349,7601b., for the year. The value of stock sold at Ngatea, Turua, Waitakaruru, and Patetonga was approximately £33,842. Water transportation of produce

Year. Total Rainfall. Wettest Month, and Pall. Driest Month, and Fall. 1916-17 .. .. 55-57 in. Nov., 1916 —6-65 in. Jan., 1917 —0-65 in. 1917-18 .. .. 46-41 in. April, 1917—5-67 in. Dec., 1917 —2-18 in. 1918-19 .. .. 41-02 in. Oct., 1918—7-47 in. Feb., 1919—1-34 in. 1919-20 .. . . 34-85 in. Feb., 1920—6-10 in. Dec., 1919—0-89 in. 1920-21 .. .. 35-93 in. Sept., 1920—5-10 in. Feb., 1921—0-72 in. 1921-22 ... .. 46-34 in. Feb., 1922—6-62 in. Nov., 1921—1-34 in. 1922-23 .. .. 33-81 in. Jan., 1923—4-14 in. Mar., 1923—1-72 in. 1923-24 .. .. 52-42 in. April, 1923—9-76 in. Nov., 1923—1-81 in. 1924-25 .. .. 52-56 in. April, 1924 —8-55 in. Mar., 1925—1-36 in.