Gk—lo.

The supervisor reports that there has been a good growth in the pastures for the year under review. Heavy rainfall was experienced in the spring and summer, resulting in a plentiful supply of grass which, however, was of little feed value until late in the season, owing to the continual wet weather and the rank condition of the pasture. A number of the paddocks were cut for hay and ensilage but, owing to the excessive rain, the hay saved was not up to the usual standard. Millet sown on an area of new ground gave very satisfactory feeding results, and was hard grazed for four months, when it was reworked and sown down in grass. All pastures were top-dressed with 3 cwt. superphosphate in the spring, and the flats were treated with a dressing of basic slag in the autumn, resulting in a good dense sward of dark green colour. In addition to the general farm work during the year, an area of 74 acres was cleared and partially stumped, and part of this was ploughed and sown in millet preparatory to laying down in permanent pasture. An area of 23 acres was also sown in turnips. The stock wintered exceedingly well and little trouble was experienced with disease. At the 31st March the following stock was running on the farm : 199 dairying cattle, 183 sheep, 15 pigs, and 3 horses. The total supply of butterfat for the year was 22,0301b., averaging 202 lb. per cow. The grading over the whole season has been well up to standard, the chief trouble experienced being with first-grade butter which had feed-flavours. During the year herd-testing was carried out with interesting results. On the basis of all cows in milk for 239 days, the yield ranged from 412 lb. to 104 lb. butterfat, the average being 222 lb. This farm is now reaching the profit-earning stage, and the area developed could be subdivided into six holdings. Tor ere. The lands of the Ngatai tribe are embraced in this scheme, which comprises a total area of 3,508 acres, situated near Opotiki. It is proposed to develop 3,000 acres suitable for dairy-farming. At present 1,900 acres are in permanent and temporary pasture. The land ranges from river-flats to terraces and easy hills capable, under proper treatment and regular top-dressing, of producing good pastures. Portions of the permanent grass lands have considerably improved in quality and condition during the past twelve months, especially on the higher levels, where ragwort was so prevalent during the early stages of development. This weed is now chiefly confined to the Torere River flats and is difficult to cope with, as it is being continually brought down by floods from the higher country outside the scheme boundaries, and the seeds deposited on the river-flats. Top-dressing with sodium chlorate has been undertaken frequently over the total aflected area, and it is gratifying to note that this pest has at last been checked from spreading further afield. The supervisor considers that, with active co-operation on the part of the settlers, ragwort can now be kept under control with a diminishing effort each year. Although a larger area of pasture than usual was reserved for hay, the exceptional showery weather experienced on the coast during the harvesting season spoiled a considerable portion of the crops, and the actual 'quantity saved was not as great as anticipated. Considering the growth of ragwort the stock wintered well, and it is worthy of note that only two cows died from poisoning, although the losses during the preceding year from the same cause were heavy. An abundance of feed has been available for all stock throughout the summer, and at the close of the year under review the cattle were in good condition, and during the year the dairy herds were carefully inspected and all diseased or unprofitable stock culled. The stock returns at the 31st March, 1936, were as follows : 31 bulls, 754 cows, 208 heifers, 13 steers, 30 working bullocks, and 56 horses. _ The increase in dairy cattle over the previous year is 43 cows and 73 heifers. There are now 34 units on the scheme, of whom 32 are milking and supplying the dairy factory. The total number of persons dependent on these settlers is 63 adults and 124 children. Provision for a suitable water-supply has been made by damming the creek and by ramming the water to a large reservoir, from which it is reticulated to the various unit holdings. A summary of the work undertaken during the past year includes 285 chains of new fencing, 250 chains fencing repairs, splitting 4,650 posts and 17,000 battens, opening up 60 chains new drains, cleaning and deepening 95 chains of draining, felling 145 acres of bush, stumping 92 acres, ploughing 105 acres, and sowing down in pasture 161 acres. The following table, showing the supply and grading of butterfat since the 1932-33 season, is of interest:—

The cream grading has been fair, although during the early part of the season feed-flavours caused by the exceptional heavy growth of pasture were evident. The extensive repairs and renovations undertaken during the year to the majority of the settlers' cow-sheds will undoubtedly assist them in

4 —Gr, 10.

25

1932-33. 1933-34. 1934-35. 1935-36. Average number of cows milked .. 499 631 507 671 Total butterfat supplied .. .. 81,407 1b. 94,038 1b. 76,739 1b. 118,998 1b. Value of butterfat .. .. .. £3,164 £3,479 £2,482 £4,632 Value of butterfat per cow .. .. £6 6s. 9d. £5 10s. 3d. £4 18s. Od. £6 18s. Od. Average yield per cow .. .. 163 lb. 149 lb. 151 lb. 176-6 lb.