C.—ll.

Brains in Operation.—No new lengths of drain or canal were constructed during the year, and the total length in operation is as follows : Dredge canals, 68 miles 28 chains ; main outlet drains, 109 miles 29 chains ; road-drains, 30 miles 46 chains. Of these, miles of hand drains are maintained annually by the Department, the canals being maintained periodically as required. Plant and Machinery.—This consists of two Priestman dredges, one Bay City dipper, one Bay City drag-line, one Priestman pontoon, two coal-punts, one oil-launch, and three small boats and punts. The motor-lorry was sold, and has not been replaced. Summary of Work done Miles . ch . Cub _ yd _ Drains deepened and widened .. .. .. ..4 8 3,916 Drains cleaned . . . . . . .. .. . . 95 15 Canals cleaned of weed growth by hand .. .. 21 75 Canals cleaned of weed growth by weed-cutter .. 9 20 Stop-banks built .. .. . . . . .. 60 5 280 Stop-banks raised .. .. .. .. .. 40 1,275 Number. Flood-gates built .. .. .. .. .. 1 Rates. Rate demands issued numbered 830, totalling £10,315 os. 5d., and rates collected amounted to £7,304 9s. 6d. I have, &c.j R. G. Macmorran, The Under-Secretary for Lands, Wellington. Chief Drainage Engineer.

RANGITAIKI LAND DRAINAGE ACCOUNT. Rate Accounts as at the 31st March, 1932. Capital. Maintenance. Capital. Maintenance. Dr - £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Or. £ a. d. £ s. d. To interest oil capital By Balance .. .. .. 752 7 5 1,976 711 cost 12,268 13 1 Rates levied .. .. .. 5,331 1 8 4,983 18 9 Less capitalized 7,268 13 1 Penalty .. .. .. 213 3 4 '194 0 9 5,000 0 0 Rates previously written off reCost of maintenance 4,982 4 1 charged .. .. .. 119 2 164 Less subsidy .. 2,087 0 0 .. 2,895 4 1 Rates written off .. .. 157 5 3 174 6 6 Balance .. .. .. 1,141 6 4 4,086 3 2 £6,298 11 7 £7,155 13 9 £(K298 11 h£7 J55 7ĪT~9 Receipts and Payments Account fob the Year ended 31st Makch, 1932. Receipts. £ s. d. Payments. £ s. d. £ s. d. To Cash in Public Account, Ist April, 1931 .. 5,306 3 0 By Drainage works — Stop - banks, Rents • ■ ■ ■ • • ■ • 151 11 3 cleaning channels, and other Rates .. . .. 7,376 610 expenditure incidental to "Thirds" .. . . .. 815 10 drainage operations .. 4,740 9 8 Interest on investments .. . . .. 115 9 9 Less subsidy for maintenance 2,087 0 0 Sundries .. .. . . .. 522 211 2,653 9 8 Rates paid in advance .. . . .. 5 116 Engineering and administration expenses .. 12 1 7 Law-costs .. .. .. .. 1 16 0 Loose tools .. .. .. .. 1116 Refund of rates .. .. .. .. 19 17 4 Balance—Cash in Public Account .. .. 10,797 5 0 £13,486 1 1 £13,486 1 1 Revenue Account for the Year ended 31st March, 1932. £ s - f J- £ s. d. To Interest on debentures .. .. .. 20,187 1 2 By Interest on investments .. .. .. 115 9 9 Accrued rent .. . .. .. 182 14 9 "Thirds " .. . . .. .. 8 15 10 Surplus on sale of plant .. .. .. 210 I Capitalized interest under section 12, Finance Act, 1927 (Wo. 2) .. .. .. 7,268 13 1 Interest recoverable by rates .. .. 5,000 0 0 Balance transferred to Drainage Works Account 7,608 17 8 £20,187 1 2 £20,187 1 2

3