G.—lo.

Tauranga. 'This scheme comprises the Kaitimako block of 595 acres, together with two farms aggregating 179 acres, all of which are now fully developed. The land is situated on the southern side of the Tauranga - Te Puke Road about a mile and a half from the town boundary. On the Kaitimako Block there are 540 acres in grass and the pastures have been further consolidated during the year with sheep and cattle, while development work was confined mainly to fencing, topdressing, and clearing ragwort. The stock tallies on this particular block at the 31st March, 1937, comprised 360 run cattle and 2,117 sheep. The Kaitimako property is not yet considered ready for subdivision and requires heavy stocking for another year in order to consolidate the pastures and check the growth of ragwort and other noxious weeds. Tihiotonga. Acquired in July, 1928, by the Waiariki District Maori Land Board from the European owners on behalf of the practically landless subtribe of the Arawas, the Ngati-Whakaue, this property is situated two to three miles from Rotorua. As the area was subject to cattle sickness, " change " areas were later acquired. In 1934 the control of this area was handed over to the Department and a progressive development programme undertaken. Progress has been maintained, and the property is now in good condition. The area gazetted on Ist December, 1936, and varied on 17th June, 1937, now comprises the following lands : — Tihiotonga blocks — Acres. Acres. Native leasehold .. . • • • • • . . 1,507 Crown leasehold . . ■ ■ • • • • • • 42 Freehold .. . • • • • • • • ■ • 913 2,462 Wharenui blocks : Native leasehold .. . . .. ■ • • • 2,235 Puketawhero blocks — Native leasehold . • • • • • • • • • 504 Freehold . . . . ■ ■ • • ■ • • • 11 515 5,212 Tihiotonga Proper. —Comprising easy-lying country facing north, with steep faces in parts and almost adjoining Rotorua Borough, this block contains soil similar in nature to that of the schemes on the Atiamuri Road. There are 1,000 acres in good grass and 500 acres in second class pastures, the balance being undeveloped. When the whole area is grassed and the pasture properly established it is proposed to subdivide it into holdings of 80 acres to 100 acres. The stocking for the past season comprised 1,500 breeding ewes (lambing tallies, 90 per cent.), 1,800 wethers, 60 breeding cows, 250 dairy stock, and 166 run cattle. During the year 1,200 wethers were sold off fat. The work for the period under review included the clearing of 240 acres of tea-tree and fern, 60 acres of ploughing and cultivation, the top-dressing of 1,148 acres, 74 chains of fencing, the repairing of the ram and water-supply, the erection of a new concrete dam, the repairing of 185 chains of road, and the harvesting and baling of hay on 137 acres. Puketawhero. —Previously known as Iles's block, this area was purchased for, and is being used as, a " change " paddock for sick stock from the Tihiotonga block. The major portion of the country is steep, there being only 70 acres in the front which could be classed as rolling to easy. It is suitable only for sheep and cattle. Wharenui. —This section is worked in conjunction with the Puketawhero block. The country is healthy, as contrasted with Tihiotonga, being covered with a layer of " Rotomahana mud." The soil has a high content of potash and phosphoric acid with a very low lime requirement. The property is eminently suitable for grazing sheep and cattle, but as it is hilly and more or less broken by deep watercourses it is not suitable for subdivision. At the back of this property an area of 1,300 acres of Crown land has recently been taken over, and this gives a continuous area of land to the shores of Lake Okareka. Wharenui and Puketawhero, with 1,339 acres in grass, carried 200 hoggets, 600 wethers, and 110 beef cattle during last winter, and 5,000 wethers and two-tooth «wes were put in on the spring to control the exceptional growth. The property proved its sound qualities by taking over 1,500 ewes and lambs from the sick country at Tihiotonga. As a result of the change 70 per cent, of the lambs went away fat and the balance were sold as stores. The ewes were returned to Tihiotonga in a healthy condition. The work carried out on the two latter blocks comprised 412 acres of clearing, 1,339 acres of topdressing, 224 acres of ploughing, surface-sowing 230 acres of grass, burning 280 acres ready for sowing, and other general work, including a water-supply system with three miles of pipe-line. The sheep shorn on the three properties numbered 5,804, from which a wool-clip of 117 bales, or 42,061 lb., was obtained. Sales of sheep realized £2,486.

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