G.—lo.

The number of cows in milk at the flush of the season was 98, while the butterfat production totalled 19,008 lb. The year's operations comprised 44 acres of clearing ; 75 chains of new fencing, and 50 chains of repairs to fences ; the digging of 10 chains of new drains, and the cleaning of 30 chains ; 60 acres of ploughing and cultivation ; the splitting of 400 posts, 2,000 battens, and 4 strainers ; renovations to 1 cottage ; and the erection of 1 new cow-shed. Waimiha. When the future history of Waimiha is written, the part played by the launching of the Native land development scheme in this locality, and its subsequent progressive steps in the rehabilitation of the Te Ihingarangi hapu of the Ngati-Maniapoto tribe will take up no small nor unimportant part in that history. Situated one mile and a half from the Waimiha Railway-station, and forty miles south of Te Kuiti, development operations on these pumice lands of the King-country commenced in May, 1930. Of the 7,872 acres proclaimed under the provisions of the Native Land Act as suitable for development purposes, the Department has concentrated on approximately 2,500 acres. To-day this area of land, which was previously covered with tea-tree and fern, is transformed into healthy pastures carrying, at 31st March, 1937, the following live-stock : 730 ewes, 23 rams, 13 bulls (dairy), 170 cows, 150 heifers, 35 heifer calves, 30 yearling heifers, and 190 bullocks. When dairying commenced in 1932, approximately 2,000 acres were divided in sections, having in view the establishment of units at a later date. The time is now ripe for the setting-up of provisional units, and during this coming milking season it is hoped to see twelve settlers established. The pumice land at Waimiha is capable of being developed into fair dairying land with a butterfat production of 100 lb. to 130 lb. of butterfat per acre (under really high farming a butterfat production of 150 lb. to 175 lb. per acre is possible). Successful farming depends on adequate winter feeding ; each dairy cow will require about acres of pasture land, of which about I} should be used for summer grazing and 1 acre conserved as hay or silage for winter feeding ; or swedes can be used for part of the winter feeding, allowing 1 acre of swedes for every ten cows and f acre for hay and silage. During the year ended 31st March, 1937, the Supervisor reports that the scheme as a whole has shown general improvement through heavier stocking with bullocks and sheep. The grassed lands, which in original state comprised poor pumice soil, have shown a remarkable improvement, more especially the pastures on which bullocks have been grazed. An excellent crop of swedes was grown from an area of red clover which was ploughed in and fallowed throughout last winter. The hay cut this year has not been up to the standard of previous years owing to the inclement weather experienced, but, nevertheless, 200 tons were pressed, baled, and adequately stacked and covered, while approximately 400 tons of silage were conserved. The total butterfat produced during the year from 164 cows and 80 heifers (first calvers) milked in ten herds was 43,223 lb.—graded superfine 12,779 lb., first 29,051 lb., and second 1,393 lb.—and realized £2,259. Five new houses for prospective units were erected under the supervision of the Public Works Department, while seven implement and manure sheds (combined), and three new cow-sheds were also built, making in all eleven milking-sheds supplied to date. Up to the present, dairying at Waimiha has not been very successful, but the position is apparently much better now than in the past. Causes of poor past returns have been lack of water, lack of perennial rye-grass in the pasture, and inadequate winter feeding. The installation of the water-supply, gravitated from Te Akau, has been in the hands of the Public Works Department, and water has now been reticulated to all the houses, sheds, and troughs of the milking sections, and to the majority of the scheme sections. Any further reticulation will be carried out by scheme workers. The completion of the supply will enable the properties to be brought up to full carrying capacity. Besides work undertaken by the permanent hands, the undermentioned operations were carried out by unemployed men —Units' sections : 40 chains of new fencing and 25 chains of new draining ; Scheme lands: 300 acres of bushfelling and clearing, 390 chains of fencing, 220 chains of new draining, with 175 chains of cleaning, the planting of 79,000 shelter-belt trees, 1,650 acres of top-dressing, 167 acres of ploughing and cultivation, 40 chains of road-making, and the erection of 1 wool-shed. The main wool-clip totalled 6,196 lb., the net proceeds amounting to £355, which gives an average of Is. l-7d. per pound, or 8-9 lb. of wool per sheep. Six bales of wool from the previous season's clip were sold in March, 1936, and are included in the total proceeds shown in the summary. The scheme wintered 770 ewes, which produced 730 lambs, an average of 95 per centum. In addition to the wool, the proceeds from the sales of dairy cattle and sheep were £283 and £1,132 respectively. The live-stock is in good condition and takes the limonite and salt with avidity. A special feature of the year's operations has been the successful running of bullocks, which were in prime condition. If shipping space had been available in March, 100 head would have been sold for chilling purposes. The sickness among the lambs did not manifest itself to as great an extent as in the previous year. The position was carefully watched, and at the first sign of sickness the fats were sent to the works and the balance sold. The dairy stock is in good condition and the last year's calves are doing well. The scheme carries a population of ninety-eight Natives, and the health of the community has been good.

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