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1930. NEW ZEALAND

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. SWAMP DRAINAGE. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1930, TOGETHER WITH STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 13 of the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915.

Sir, — Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, Ist July, 1930. In pursuance of section 13 of the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915, I have the honour to forward the report of the Chief Drainage Engineer covering operations on lands proclaimed under the Swamp Drainage Act and amendments. Illustrative plans are also attached. I have, &c, J. B. Thompson, The Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister of Lands. Under-Secretary for Lands.

REPORT BY CHIEF DRAINAGE ENGINEER. Sir — I have the honour to submit my annual report on the areas proclaimed under the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915, and amendments. Kaitaia Drainage Area (61,430 Acres), Mangonui County. The principal works carried out in this area during the year have been : (a) Excavation of Whangatane spillway and erection of bridges over same ; (6) shaping stop-banks ; (c) installation of flood-gates ; (d) maintenance of drains and other works. Classification and Rating. —Under the provisions of section 3 of the Swamp Drainage Amendment Act, 1928, the county portion of the district was reclassified in the autumn of 1929. The classifiers were Mr. H. B. Matthews, of Kaitaia, settlers' nominee, and Mr. A. C. Sutherland, of Whakatane. Some forty-three appeals were received against the classification, and these appeals were heard at a special sitting of the Magistrate's Court in Kaitaia. No very drastic alterations were made in the classification, and the following schedule shows the final classification, together with areas and valuations in the different rateable classes : — . Valuation Acres'. (Unimproved). A class .. .. .. .. .. 10,925 28,460 B class .. .. .. .. .. 7,978 62,447 C class .. .. .. .. .. 7,612 36,825 The above procedure having been completed, rates for the year 1929-30 were struck late in the year on both the county and town portions of the area. Both areas are liable for maintenance as well as capital rates, and for the past year a subsidy of £1 for £1 was provided for maintenance. The capital rate for the county portion was struck on a sum of £55,000, a subsidy of £1 for £1 having been granted so as to provide for interest on the balance of the present loading of £110,000 on this portion of the area. The capital rate for the town was struck as a flat rate on the present loading of £15,000.

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