C.—4

6

The following is a summary of the various works performed during the year !— M. oh. Cub. yds. Canals dredged (stop-banking) . . . . .. 1 47 42,150 New drains .. .. .. .. .. 0 40 1,600 Drains cleaned .. . . . . .. 22 0 Fencing .. .. . . . . . . 0 78 Stop-banks raised . . . . .. .. 0 45 Flood-gates erected .. .. .. .. ..30 Fires. —Several fires occurred on the area during the year and menaced the flax areas, but fortunately they were suppressed before serious damage occurred. Over 4,000 acres is now being developed as a flax area, and in order to lessen the risk to the flax-millers it is considered advisable that some provision should be made whereby fire districts could be constituted on flax-bearing lands. Future Works.—As the scheme of drainage has been practically completed, the maintenance of the constructed works will be the main item of expenditure in future. The only other scheduled works still remaining uncompleted are the flood-gate system and the improvements to the Kaikokopu Stream between the Main Road and the East Coast Railway. Works Expenditure. —The total expenditure during the period under review was £4,830, of which day labour absorbed £2,395 and piecework contracts £1,072. The local officer in charge is Mr. R. L. Innis. Poukawa Drainage Area (13,567 Acres), Hawke's Bay County. During the latter part of the year a field-party carried out an engineering survey, the investigations being carried out over an area extending from the swamp round the Poukawa Lake to as far as Havelock North. The following shows the extent of the field-work : Traverses and levels, 32 miles 10 chains; check level, 16 miles 50 chains; cross-sections of stream, 157; soundings in peat (average depth 18 ft.), 278 ; borings for rock, 71 ; topographical survey (contouring), 38 square miles. Following on the completion of the field-work, two schemes of drainage have been prepared and reported on —a large scheme with the object of completely draining the swamp for dairy purposes, and a smaller scheme, which would enable the swamp to be developed as a flax-growing proposition. The expenditure for the year was £380 9s. Bd., which includes the cost of survey as well as the caretaker who looks after the pontoon and other departmental property. I have, &c., R. G. Macmorran, Chief Drainage Engineer. The Under-Secretary for Lands, Wellington. SWAMP LAND DRAINAGE ACCOUNT. Receipts and Payments Account for the Year ended 31st March, 1927. Receipts. £ s. d. Payments. Balance as at Ist April, 1926 .. .. 12,502 6 0 Kaitaia Drainage District — £ s. d. £ s. d. Debentures raised under Swamp Land Drainage-works,'&o". .. 8,529 10 4 Drainage Act, 1915.. .. .. 25,000 0 0 Loose tools, &c. .. 11 3 8 Temporary transfers from other accounts Fuel and stores . . 936 4 1 (Public Revenues Act, 1926, section 40) 15,000 0 0 Management and engineer"Thirds" .. .. .. .. 15 11 8 ing expenses.. ... 1,028 13 8 Rents .. .. .. .. 260 10 2 10,505 11 9 Dredge-hire .. . . .. .. 639 0 0 Waihi Drainage District— Flax royalty,. .. .. .. 148 6 1 Drainage-works, &c. .. 3,554 12 0 Interest on mortgage .. .. .. 13 0 0 Loose tools, &e. .. 0 18 9 Interest on investments . . .. 268 8 9 Fuel and stores .. 671 9 4 Management and engineering expenses.. .. 304 17 7 4,531 17 g Hikurangi Drainage District— Drainage-works, &c. . . 15,579 0 0 Loose tools, &c. .. 61 10 0 Fuel and stores .. 6,376 0 2 Management and engineering expenses. . .. 1,135 18 0 23,152 8 2 Poukawa Drainage District— Drainage-works, &c. .. 265 12 3 Fuel and stores .. 119 7 Management and engineering expenses.. .. 115 12 11 392 14 si Interest on debentures . . .. 10,000 0 0 Management charges on consolidated stock.. .. 7 12 8 Stamp duty on transfers, consolidated stock .. 14 2 0 — 21 14 8 Plant and machinery .. . . 854 15 3 Balance at end of year— Cash in Public Account .. .. 4,388 0 5 £53,847 2 8 £53,847 2 8