5

c.—4,

Late in the period a Sanderson weed-cutting launch was tried out in the Wharere and Pongakawa Streams, good results being obtained. On completion of the cleaning of these canals the plant was transferred to other works. The following table shows the amount of spoil dredged and the cost per cubic yard for the last nine years : — Cubic Yards. Cost per Cubic Yard. 1917-18 .. .. .. .. 55,538 4-57 d. 1918-19 .. .. .. ..20,780 7-67 d. 1919-20 .. .. .. .. 44.250 9-29 d. 1920-21 .. .. .. .. 63,495 7-77 d. 1921-22 .. .. .. .. 77,535 6-17 d. 1922-23 .. .. .. ..164,527 6-97 d. 1923-24 .. .. .. .. 241,504 7-54 d. 1924-25 .. .. .. ..252,618 6-90 d. 1925-26 .. .. .. .. 184,344 6-14 d. Ruads. —The only roadwork carried out during the year was filling and grading over a distance of 20 chains on the west bank of the Pongakawa Stream, and the final grading of the Arawa Road. Drains.—Two new drains were constructed in the Pukehina Block, No. 1 drain being a continuation of the Pukehina Ca,nal to the corner of Section M 2, and No. 2 drain, about half a mile south, runs roughly parallel to No. 1. A new drain was commenced to run southwards midway between the Pongakawa and Wharere Canals, and this will be completed early in the coming period. A considerable amount of deepening has been necessary in the Central, Eastern, and Punene drains, and these are now in first-class order. Costs of this hand-work have been considerably increased by the large amount of timber encountered. All drains have been periodically maintained to their full efficiency. Bridges. —Only one sill bridge was erected during the year. Buildings.—ln April a fire occurred at Pongakawa headquarters, a wooden building used conjointly as a workshop, store-shed, and office being totally destroyed. All office records were lost, including a great deal of valuable data collected over a number of years. To replace this a corrugatediron store, shed, and workshop were erected, also two separate huts to serve as an t office and a benzine-store. Fencing. —A fire-break along the main swamp road from the Pongakawa Station eastwards was cleared and fenced off to serve as a protection to the large area of valuable flax northwards. Stop-banks. —During the period a stop-bank was erected for a distance of 45 chains between the Kaikokopu Stream and the Waewaetutuki Hills. The following is a summary of the various works performed during the year : — M. ch. Cub. yd. Canals dredged .. .. .. .. 3 78 182,844 New drains" .. .. .. .. .. 5 12 21,944 Drains widened and deepened .. .. .. .. 5 77 10,870 Drains cleaned .. .. .. .. 24 37 Roads graded .. . . . . . . 1 20 Fencing .. . . .. .. .. 1 70 Stop-banks erected .. .. .. .. .. 0 45 2,700 Future Works. —The works to be carried out during the present year comprise completion of Tapsell's drain ; minor stop-banking on north end of Kaikokopu ; widening and deeping Kaikokopu between main road and railway ; construction of flood-gates ; and general maintenance of existing works. The total expenditure during the year under review was £10,273 10s. 4d., and of this amount £3,847 14s. 9d. was absorbed by day labour (including dredge crews) and £3,374 ss. in piecework contracts. I have, &c., O. N. Campbell, Chief Drainage Engineer. The Under-Secretary for Lands, Wellington.