3

c.—ll

Roads opened.—The total length of road opened is 113| miles, of which 86 miles have been constructed by the Department. Buildings.—These consist of Engineer's cottage and fifteen cottages and huts for workmen, office buildings, machine-shop, smithy, store-sheds, &e. All men occupying quarters are required to pay rent for same. Workshop and Smithy.—The workshop and smithy have been engaged throughout the year on repair work for dredges and general plant and machinery, and ironwork for bridge, flood-gate, and general construction work. Rolling-stock.—The Thornycroft lorry has been employed as required, and has done the bulk of "the cartage of supplies throughout the works. Plant and Machinery. — At the end of the period this consisted of two Priestman dredges and one Bay City walker, one Priestman pontoon, two coal-punts, two oil-launches and one launch-hull, and four small boats and punts. Summary of work done Miles ch . Cub yd _ Drains cleaned .. .. .. .. .. 87 0 Drains deepened .. .. .. .. ..55 8 970 Dredge-cuts, new .. .. .. .. .. 0 73§ 104'010 Dredge-cuts cleaned .. . . .. .. .. 10 235 440 New stop-banks (dredged) .. .. .. .. 2 21 Stop-banks repaired and protected .. .. .. 4 60 Levels taken .. .. .. .. .. .. 23 0 Traverses run .. .. .. .. 22 0 Number. Flood-gates built . . .. .. .. .. jo Pile bridges erected .. .. .. .. .. 3 Sill bridges erected .. .. .. .. .. 4 Buildings erected (huts) .. .. .. .. 3 Spoil excavated bjr dredges .. .. .. .. .. 339 ; 450 Proposed Works.—Completion of maintenance dredging in hand, and maintenance dredging in Section 110 and Seccombe's drain ; minor construction and improvement; and general maintenance. Rates.—Some 773 demands for rates were issued during the year, covering a total sum of £3,540. During the period under review rates collected amounted to £4,055 J Is. Id. Works Expenditure.—The total of expenditure recorded for the year was £19,863 7s. 6d., day labour accounting for £10,370 165., and forty - four piecework contracts totalling £1,592 6s. The sum of £12,682 13s. Bd. was paid from Whakatane Imprest Account. I have, &c., R. G. Macmorran, r * Chief Drainage Engineer. The Under-Secretary for Lands, Wellington. RANGITAIKI LAND DRAINAGE ACCOUNT. Receipts and Payments Account for the Year ended 31st March, 1929. Receipts. Payments. To Cash in Public Account, Ist April £ s. (1. £ s. d. By Drainage-works, stop-banks, cleaning channels, £ s . d 1928 •• 3,807 13 0 and other expenditure incidental to drainage Investment Account .. 2,000 0 0 operations .. .. .. 7. 1-4 332 II •> 5,807 13 0 Engineering and administration expenses .. "92 7 0 Proceeds from sales and transfers of plant, &c., ' Fuel .. .. .. .. ..1 089 211 to other works .. .. ■. .. 3,899 1 4 3 Legal expenses . . .. ~ 62 1 9 Subsidy from Consolidated Fund for mainten- Material and stores .. .. ] [ | < ( ance of completed works .. .. 1,750 0 0 Plant and machinery .. .. .. 169 19 4 Rents . . • • . ■ ■ ■ ■ • 1 34 7(i Refund of rates . . .. ~ ~ 753 j() " Thirds " . • • • • • • • 15 15 4 Compensation for land acquired for drainageRates .. •• •• •• •• 4,304 15 9 works .. .. .. ° . 1,506 0 0 Interest on investments .. .. . . 319 3 I Interest on debentures recouped to the Debentures issued under section 5, Raiigitaiki Consolidated Fund .. .. ~ 3 050 0 0 Land Drainage Amendment Act, 1913 .. 8,000 0 0 Temporary transfers from other accounts Temporary transfers from other accounts under repaid under section 40, Public Revenues section 40, Public Revenues Act, 1926 .. 13,000 0 0 Act, 1926 .. .. ~ 8,000 0 0 Sundries .. .. 261 19 11 Balance—Cash in Public Account .. .. 6' 411 911 £37,493 8 10 £37,493 8 10