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In February of this year the drain-construction was practically completed, and the formation of the access road was taken in hand. A considerable amount of work was necessary in connection with the control and eradication of ragwort and other noxious weeds. The appearance of this block, particularly the swamp portion, has considerably improved by the stocking, details of which are being supplied by the Superintendent of Land Development, Te Kuiti, who is in charge of this particular phase of the work. The work carried out was as follows :— Drain-construction . . . . . . . . 414 chains (15,400 cubic yards). Road-construction . . . . . . 2,230 cubic yards. Road-construction . . . . . . 1,700 fascines. Ploughing and cultivation .. .. .. 164 acres. Clearing scrub .. . . . . . . 138 acres. Fences (new) .. . . . . . . 140 chains. Fences (repairs) . . . . . . . . 305 chains. Buildings . . . . . . . . . . 1 cottage. Wharere (930 acres). —On this area of low-lying swamp land good progress has been made with development during the year, and the past summer has witnessed a noticeable response to the drainagework carried out in the previous years. By careful stocking with both cattle and sheep water-logged areas which were previously carrying a heavy growth of scrub, flax, and raupo are being gradually turned into excellent pasture lands. Ragwort had obtained a good hold on the adjoining lands, and every endeavour has been made, both by stocking and the use of sodium chlorate, to eradicate this pest. Unfortunately, the lessees of the adjoining Crown and Native lands have not prevented the plants from seeding, and it is apparent that more rigorous methods of control are required. A considerable length of drains was constructed, and in all cases these were double fenced and bridged. Two gravity water-supply schemes, operated by electric pumps, were installed, and these reticulate all but two sections on the area. Extensions will be made to these two at an early date. Further areas of scrub were cleared and grassed, the total area in grass now being 738 acres. Dairying was carried out on five fully equipped farms, and although two additional farms were equipped these were grazed with cattle and sheep. It is apparent that the best policy is to farm the grassed area, apart from that occupied by the dairy-farms, for at least another year, as better consolidation and pasture will result. The carrying-capacity of this block is very heavy, and it has been possible to sell both fat lambs and bullocks. In the original proposals for the development of this block, it was stated that it would be necessary to install electric flood-pumps in order to obtain good drainage. At the end of the year, as the electric power had been made available, a pump was being installed on the northern portion of the block. The following schedule shows the works carried out during the year and to date : — Year 1936-37. Total to Bate. Chains. Chains. New drains .. .. .. .. 735 1,811 (5,824 cubic yards) (37,116 cubic yards) Clearing drain-lines i. .. .. 1,035 1,322 Cleaning drains .. .. .. .. 991 2,276 Widening and deepening drains . . . . 109 396 Fences erected .. .. ..1,128 3,673 Number. Number. Floodgates .. .. .. .... 2 Bridges and culverts . . .. . . 34 55 Cottages ... .. .. .. .. 2 7 Cow-sheds .. .. .. .. 5 8 Acres. Acres. Clearing scrub .. .. .. .. 138 738 Stumping .. .. .. .. 58 196 Grassing .. .. .. .. .. 188 738 Grass harrowing .. . . . . . . 116 166 Ploughing and cultivation . . . . 28 88 Disking for grass .. .. . . . . 35 35 Tarawera (900 acres). —The programme of development was practically completed during the year, the ten fully equipped farms being handed over to the Commissioner of Crown Lands. The pastures on this land, which in its original state carried a fairly uniform covering of coarse Tarawera ash, have made remarkable progress and, with stocking, the ash is rapidly consolidating and disintegrating into a volcanic soil. Lucerne has also been satisfactorily established straight from the virgin state of fern and tutu. The water-supply by means of a ram was installed and has given every satisfaction.

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