G.—lo.

It was decided to organize the development operations 011 the lines of the Horohoro scheme, and to carry out the cultivation, after the scrub was cleared and burnt, with tractor-drawn implements. The nature of the country —which consisted of river terraces, and was fairly level —and its extent appeared to justify the use of such equipment. The men selected for development work were allowed a sustenance wage of 9s. a day for working-days, out of which they had to find themselves. Camp accommodation and a water-supply were provided at a central point. It was also decided not to follow Horohoro in regard to building cottages for the men on a preliminary scheme of subdivision, but to postpone any such programme until sufficient land had been prepared for dairying. The operations for the 1930-31 year comprised scrub-cutting, stumping, ploughing, and cultivation, fencing and preparation of fencing material, grassing and top-dressing, and the establishment of a shelter-brake at the south end of the block. The Waimiha scheme was the first of the schemes undertaken in the Waikato-Maniapoto Maori Land District to be founded on what was definitely pumice land. It surrounded Messrs. Middleton and Mair's farm, on which there was a splendid pasture and a dairy-farm established. At the south-east end a Mr. Andrews had for years farmed an area of 25 acres. There was no evidence of bush sickness. The expenditure (actual payments) on the scheme to the end of March, 1931, was £3,664 10s. lid. This included a large sum for equipment. The land cleared, cultivated, and sown in grass was 350 acres, but the scrub-cutting covered a much larger area. The programme for 1931-32 aimed to have 1,500 acres in pasture and to prepare for the establishment of a number of dairy-farms in the spring of 1932. The position of the scheme is best reviewed as at the 31st March, 1932. The expenditure (actual payments) up to that date amounted to £8,749 135., details of which are set out in the schedules. The Farm Supervisor estimated the area in grass at the end of last financial year as 1,200 acres, with a further 300 acres ploughed for spring sowing. There was also an area where the scrub had been cleared and burnt, but no further work had been done. The fencing completed amounted to 570 chains, and the fencing material in hand was valued at £275. The drains dug and completed were 355 chains. Extensive shelter-brakes had been planted at the south end at a cost of £82. If the value of buildings (exclusive of tents and temporary shelters), equipment, and dairy stock, and also of fencing material in hand is deducted, such being estimated at £2,450, the cost of development work on the Waimiha scheme to the end of March, 1932, is £4 4s. an ficre. Outstanding payments for material and wages add a further 18s. an acre, bringing the cost up to £5 2s. an acre. For the corresponding stage it has proved more economical than Horohoro in the cost of laying down in pasture, but was not so far advanced in regard to fencing and buildings. The area in course of development is all suitable for dairying, and already over thirty subdivisions have been projected. During the current year it is proposed to operate seven of these, for which enough cattle was already purchased in the 1931-32 programme. The most remarkable effect of this scheme is on the health and welfare of the inhabitants of Waimiha, who have been removed from the unhealthy atmosphere of the old village and given steady employment and an incentive in life. Any one who saw their condition two years ago must be impressed with the great improvement in their health, especially that of the children. (e) Te Kuiti Base Farm (Somerville's). The Waikato-Maniapoto Maori Land Board had made advances to Somerville Bros, on the security of the freehold of Pukenui 2t 2 and 2t 3 Blocks. Somervilles defaulted, and the property came into the hands of the Board. It was thought that by using it as a stock base farm for the Native land-development schemes and for the farms financed by the Board in the district the property would be maintained in good order, and pay the cost of such maintenance. Up to the end of March, 1932, no responsibility had been assumed by the Native Land Settlement Account. 3. Haukaki. No development scheme has yet been undertaken in the Thames and Coromandel districts. Representations have been made by Native communities there, and inspections have been made by the field officers of the Department. An exhaustive report was made on the Harataunga Blocks at Kennedy Bay, where there is a promising community occupying some land suitable for dairying ; but the lack of road facilities for ensuring a regular delivery of cream to the nearest factory and of supplies to settlers has militated against the prospects of the locality.

Summary of Land-development.

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S I j ■§ § I J — Particulars. .& >g "§! | g § J -g H Units assisted .. 5 6 30 ; 4 10 3 12 16 86 Units possible .. 5 9 40 6 36 10 27 40 173 Area owned (acres) .. 282 457 4,740 671 4,242 370 3,527 7,872 22,161 Area in grass or cleared 272 329 920 271 972 172 1,850 1,500 6,286 (acres) Dairy cows milked .. 105 60 68 ; 34 121 27 .. .. 415 Other dairy cows .. 27 38 11 I 2 85 .. .. .. 163 Station cattle | 379 .. 379 Sheep .. .. .. .. .. : .. .. .. 454 .. 454