C.—4.

1938. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. SWAMP DRAINAGE. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1938, TOGETHER WITH STATEMENTS OF ACCOUNTS.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 13 of the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915.

Department of Lands and Survey, Sir, — Wellington, Ist June, 1938. In pursuance of section 13 of the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915, I have the honour to forward the report of the Land Drainage Engineer covering operations on lands proclaimed under the Swamp Drainage Act and amendments. I have, &c., W. Robertson, The Hon. Frank Langstone, Minister of Lands. Under-Secretary for Lands.

REPORT OF LAND DRAINAGE ENGINEER. Sir, — I have the honour to submit my annual report on the areas proclaimed under the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915, and its amendments. Kaitaia Drainage Area (61,430 Acres), Mangonui County. During the year the only work undertaken was the maintenance of completed works. As usual, tenders for the drain-cleaning contracts were called for in the late summer, and all this work was satisfactorily carried out by the contractors. Engineering surveys were completed for the enlargement of an outlet to Waipapakauri, which, when completed, should give great relief to the Kaitaia small farms area and bring in further areas, besides benefiting the established settlers along its route of approximately 3| miles. Monighan Dredge No. 18, at present in the district, is to be refitted for this work, which will be undertaken by day labour under the supervision of the Overseer in Charge. Similar surveys were carried out for the widening and deepening of Puckey's outlet drain, which will provide a considerably better outlet for the drainage of the neighbouring country. The contracts for this work have been let and will be completed early in the coming year, to give relief for the winter season. Further surveys for work entailing the removal of approximately 5,000 cubic yards of spoil were completed, and tenders called for without response. The work on these drains will now be curtailed and included in the ordinary maintenance cleaning. The antipathy of contractors towards tendering for this work is on account of the considerable amount of timber to be met with. Rainfall and river-gauge readings taken throughout the year are shown on the schedule hereunder.

Highest Rain- Kaitaia River-gauge, Wai- „ „ Rainfall Wet Days ,, fallf °f kuriki Bridge. Month - (Inches). in Month. Twenty-four (Inches). Hi § hest - Lowest " 1937. April .. .. .. 6-86 20 1-35 57-2 53-2 May .. .. .. 5-81 21 1-36 62-0 53-7 June .. .. .. 5-91 15 2-40 65-0 53-4 July .. .. .. 4-31 23 0-70 61-2 54-0 August .. .. .. 1-83 11 0-59 65-0 53-5 September .. .. 4-47 19 0-93 58-7 54-0 October .. .. 0-55 2 0-46 54-3 52-7 November .. .. 2-62 10 1-05 59-8 52-4 December .. .. 2-65 4 1-67 55-5 52-4 1938. January .. .. 2-76 6 1-23 54-5 52-2 February .. .. 2-70 11 2-46 58-5 52-5 March.. .. .. 0-74 3 0-42 52-5 52-2 Totals .. .. 41-21 145