a—4.

10

Good progress was made, and by the end of December some 1 mile 43 chains of the main outlet had been excavated, of which 115 chains was constructed to a completed size of 30 ft. by 9 ft., and the remaining 8 chains to 30 ft. by 5 ft. This excavation entailed the shifting of 79,141 cubic yards of spoil, which varied from very hard boulder formation to soft peat. In January, 1930, this machine commenced the work of dredging a channel 30 ft. wide and 7 ft. deep from the southern end of Lake Poukawa through Crown land. This channel will provide for the drainage of the Crown land, as well as being the outlet for the Waipapa Stream. To the end of the period under review some 47 chains had been completed, mostly through peaty soil, with 22,949 cubic yards excavated. During the Christmas vacation the dredge was given a general overhaul and several essential parts replaced. The continuation of the main outlet channel from where No. 5 Priestman left off is in country unsuitable for a floating plant of this nature, so arrangements were made with Dredgers Ltd., Wellington, to carry out this work with a drag-line. This work was commenced in January, 1930, and at the end of the period 17 chains had been completed, entailing the excavation of 5,337 cubic yards. In order to obviate undue flooding of the lower country when the lake outlet is completed it was necessary to construct a hardwood sluice-gate for the purpose of controlling the flow from the lake. For coaling and transport purposes an 18 ft. launch with 4 h.p. Standard engine was purchased during the year. Other minor works comprised building one dinghy, and painting office and cookhouse. The expenditure for the year totalled £3,109 10s. 3d. Owing to location of these works, arrangements were made with the District Lands Office, Napier, for ordering supplies, arranging for machinery repairs, &c, and I wish to accord my appreciation of the many services rendered in this connection by Mr. J. W. Harvey, Chief Clerk of that office. 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, 1930. Receipts. £ s. d. Payments. £ s. d. £ s. d. To Balance —Cash in Public Account, Ist April, By Kaitaia Drainage District— 1929 .. .. .. .. .. 8,672 7 8 Drainage-works, &c. .. 11,454 18 2 Debentures issued under Swamp £ s. d. Management and engineering Land Drainage Act, 1915, expenses .. .. 1,225 16 3 and Appropriation Act, 1918, 12,680 14 5 section 46 .. .. 41,000 Waihi Drainage DistrictInscribed Stock issued under Drainage-works, &c. .. 4,012 14 10 Swamp Land Drainage Act, Management and engineering 1915, and Appropriation Act, expenses .. .. 233 12 10 1918, section 46 .. .. 12,000 0 0 4,246 7 8 53,000 0 0 Poukawa Drainage District— Temporary transfers from other accounts under Drainage-works, &c. .. 1,788 4 4 section 40, Public Revenues Act, 1926 .. 31,000 0 0 Management and engineering Subsidies from Consolidated Fund — expenses .. .. 320 16 0 Maintenance rates— £ s. d. 2,109 0 4 Waihi drainage area .. 884 18 3 Hikurangi Drainage District— Kaitaia drainage area .. 1,000 0 0 Drainage-works, &c. .. 21,716 8 7 Special rates—Kaitaia drain- Management and engineering age area .. .. 3,025 0 0 expenses .. .. 1,523 7 4 4,909 18 3 23,239 15 11 Rents from letting national-endowment lands -Fuel and stores .. .. .. .. 11,232 1 2 in Waihi drainage area.. .. .. 878 7 6 Plant and machinery, &c. .. .. .. 1,110 18 4 Special rate for interest and Refund of special rates for sinking fund— £ s. d. interest and sinking fund — £ s. d. Kaitaia drainage area .. 492 18 3 Kaitaia drainage area .. 0 4 5 Waihi drainage area .. 4 2 5 Refund of general rates for 497 0 8 maintenance—Kaitaia drainGeneral rate for administration age area .. .. .. 0 11 and maintenance — 0 5 6 Kaitaia drainage area .. 138 12 6 Management charges on consoliWaihi drainage area .. 27 11 10 dated stock .. .. 22 16 10 166 4 4 Stamp duty on transfers, consoliRents .. .. .. .. .. 102 13 3 dated stock .. .. 10 17 6 Plant-hire .. .. .. .. 875 5 0 Charges and expenses of raising Interest on mortgage .. .. .. 6 11 6 loans .. .. .. 22 10 0 Repayment in reduction of mortgage .. 110 0 0 56 4 4 Interest on investments .. .. . . 110 0 4 Temporary transfers from other accounts Credits in reduction of expenditure on works, repaid .. .. .. .. 41,000 0 0 &c. .. .. .. .. .. 1,025 18 9 Balance, 31st March, 1930— £ s. d. Miscellaneous ;,.r .. .. .. 1,328 10 11 Cash .. .. .. 6,990 5 9 Imprests outstanding in Dominion .. 17 4 9 7,007 10 6 £102,682 18: 2 . £102,682 18 2