C.—l

32

principal

The following schedule summarizes the principal operations carried out on the various works under the direction of this Branch :— Miles ch. Miles ch. Cleaning drains .. .. .. 352 6 Lines cut . . .. .. 11 60 Widening and deepening drains .. 33 65 Constructing new drains .. 19 14 Number. Dredge cuts .. .. .. 2 72 Flood-gates built .. .. .. 14 Formation new roads . , . . 3 7 Pile bridges erected . . . . .. 1 Roads disked and graded . . . . 8 65 Sill bridges erected .. .. . . 20 Peat roads ballasted with clay .. 2 13 Regulating-weir erected . . . . 1 Metalling roads .. .. . . 2 68 Fencing .. . . . . 0 78 Cub. yds. New stop-banks .. .. ..16 2 Metal used (for roads) .. .. 4,334 Raising and strengthening stop-banks .. 13 25 Clay used (for roads) .. .. 8,202 Repairing stop-banks .. . . 9 30 Spoil excavated by floating and dry land Snagging streams .. .. .. 6 32 excavators .. .. 1,165,291 Levels taken .. .. .. 302 20 Rock excavated .. .. .. 47,115 Traverses run .. .. 30 40 StifE clay and rubble excavated .. 15,705 Office. —The expenditure passed through the books amounted to £135,481 19s. 7d. Of this amount £40,541 ss. 7d. was paid from Thames and Whakatane Imprest Accounts, and £51,681 15s. Bd. was paid through the Auckland branch of the Treasury. Some 156 piecework contracts were let, and 2,949 vouchers prepared and passed for payment. Miscellaneous revenue totalling £4,759 Bs. 9d. was collected, of which Patetonga tram freights accounted for £651 14s. lid. Inward correspondence totalled 4,500 ; outward, 7,075. Collection of Rates. —Some 1,24-7 assessments were made, covering the Hauraki Plains and Rangitaiki areas, the total amount of rates struck being £24,010 os. lOd. The total amount of rates collected was £5.995 18s. 10d., credited as follows : Hauraki Plains, £5,344 15s. 7d., Rangitaiki, £651 3s. 3d. Owing to the rate being struck later than usual, it should be noted that the penalty date for Rangitaiki Rating-area does not fall due until after the end of the period under review. It is anticipated that rates will be struck on Kaitaia and Waihi Drainage Areas during the coming year, and both areas are now being revalued. Draughting Staff. —This staff has been fully occupied in the preparation of survey data, plans to accompany engineering reports, general draughting-work, and other matters incidental to transactions under the various statutes controlling our operations. On the engineering side full check and examination has been brought to bear on all the various projects and designs coming under consideration. In photostat work some 3,449 prints were made during the period under review.

APPENDIX IV.—HUTT VALLEY SETTLEMENT. (H. W. C. Mackintosh, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) Residential and Industrial Sites. It is pleasing to record the satisfactory progress that has been made during the year in the settlement of the areas acquired for development on modern town-planning lines in the Hutt Valley. Approximately half of the acquired area has already been disposed of at prices which will recoup the expenditure and leave a fair margin of profit for railway purposes. The 543 residential sites sold realized the sum of £127,518, and were disposed of as follows : 17 at £400 and over ; 36 at £350 to £400 ; 67 at £300 to £350 ; 103 at £250 to £300 ; 29 at £200 to £250; 1 at £190 to £200 ; 156 at £170; 134 at £160. The cost of roading, drainage, &c., is heavy, and the charge against the area already disposed of is approximately £50,000. Arrangements have been made for a number of school-sites, and one school is already nearing completion on the area. Sites for churches are also being arranged, and negotiations for the disposal of several areas are now nearing completion. The demand for the residential sections is still keen, and very few of the sections offered for sale remain unselected. The development so far has been on the western side of the new railway-line, but it is hoped during the coming year to offer the public a large number of residential sections on the eastern side of the railway. The roading survey of this area is now well on towards completion. When these plans have been completed the subdivisional work will be pushed on and suitable areas offered to the public from time to time. Satisfactory progress is being made by the Public Works Department with the new railway, and it is anticipated that the line will be completed, handed over to the Railway Department, and opened for traffic towards the end of May next.