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Tokoroa Block (4,855 Acres). This is an education endowment about nineteen miles south from Putaruru on the Putaruru - Taupo Main Highway. Development was started about April, 1938. The country is flat to undulating, and when taken over was growing stunted manuka, manaoa, tussock, and fern. Satisfactory progress has been made with the clearing, cultivation, and grassing, and at the 31st March, 1,740 acres had been sown in new pasture. The first sowings made in the previous year showed very encouraging improvement under the favourable weather conditions, and all the stock have done well. In spite of the fact that the block had the reputation of being " sick," indications are that dairying can be carried out successfully at a reasonably early date following pasture establishment. Waikite Block (6,206 Acres). This area lies immediately east of Ngakuru, and was first set apart in October, 1938. During the year the Public Works Department completed an excellent road linking Ngakuru with the Taupo Road at Waiotapu, and this has not only facilitated the working of Waikite, but has linked several other blocks in the district. Clearing, cultivation, fencing, and draining were proceeded with, and this will now be speeded up during the coming year by the transfer of additional plant. Development is about 20 per cent, completed. Wiiarere Block (3,242 Acres). Wharere comprises part of the original Pongakawa Block taken over from the Swamp Drainage Account in 1935. An additional area of Crown land was added in 1938, and a freehold purchased by the Dominion Land Purchase Board in September, 1940, from Mr. R. Billing. A separate note on Billing's area is included in the report under the Land for Settlements Act, 1925. During the year considerable improvement, following draining and the consolidation with stock, was effected on the swamp areas. The returns from fat stock from the swamp land have been remarkably good, 718 head of fat bullocks being disposed of during the year. Two small dairy units were established, and the returns from these have been satisfactory. Contract cultivation for grassing was commenced on the hill country, and excellent progress has been made. The grassing of this latter area will provide an ideal combination of hill and. swamp land conveniently situated to each other and to the railway. Whirinaki Block (1,320 Acres). The Small Farms Board approved the development of this area in 1938, on the condition that satisfactory arrangements could be finalized for access roading. The road was completed by the Public Works Department during the year, and a start made with cultivation. At the 31st March, 440 acres had been sown and further areas were in the course of cultivation. The block is conveniently situated and will lend itself to successful dairying at an early date.

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