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Wing field (1,500 Acres), (Locality : Rakaia). —No great progress with development can-be made on this block until dwellings are erected. When these are ready, two of the. three, units proposed will be offered 011 wages.

' Acton (550 Acres), (Part Ashton Block). —Renewal of depleted pastures on this block is nearing completion and early offering as one sheep unit is expected. Dromore (665 Acres), (Locality: Ashburton). —Development is proceeding slowly on this block, and it will be necessary to make special arrangments with the Public "Works Department to include it within the Ashburton-Lyndhurst Scheme before it can beoffered for settlement. Winchmore Main Block (2,680 Acres), (Locality : Ashburton).- Irrigation Development : An area of some 2,832 acres is under development within the Ashburton-Lynd-hurst Irrigation Scheme area. On acquisition a good deal of this total area was in brown-top and twitch with fertility depleted. On the cleaner portions some 300 acres of border-dyked pasture and 35 acres of border-dyked lucerne have been established. Levelling, race-construction, and bordering has been carried out with large Public Works Department graders. The experience gained bv the staff in land preparation and the application of water should ensure better progress during the current year. Pre-irrigation seems not only feasible but necessary, and it has been found that irrigation water can be applied comparatively soon after sowing pasture. A tentative scheme of subdivision provides for units of 300 acres, but no finality as to the optimum area for an irrigated unit can be expected for some time. Some 445 chains of new fencing has been erected to provide the smaller paddocks required for controlled grazing, and 7,600 trees have been planted for shelter. Three new homesteads and two farm buildings are nearing completion. Provision of stock water, races for which must be kept entirely separate from the irrigation races, is rather a problem, and when large areas are under irrigation with'greatly increased stock numbers the supply will require to be considerably augmented. Bridges over irrigation supply and head races add to the cost of development. Winchmore Dairy Unit (152 Acres). —Development of this area as a dairy unit was put in hand during the year. An area of 40 acres was border dyked and sown in permanent pasture and a further 27 acres of new grass was established on the nonirrigated area. A new house and implement-shed have been built, 120 chains of new fences erected, and close on 3,000 trees planted. The grass has established well, but a further 60 acres of border-dyked pasture and further extensive fencing and planting are required to complete development. Valetta Block (8,617 Acres), (Locality : Ashburton). —Little additional development can be undertaken on this block until irrigation water can be made available, and the block is being carried on on a dry-farming basis. On account of the severe conditions during the winter, all the lambs were not fattened and wool weights were lower. The three-roomed cottage purchased for removal was erected on a remote portion of the block. Pineview (4,438 Acres), (Locality: Mayfield). -Three of the six sections on this, block were offered on permanent tenure simultaneously with possession by the Crown. The remaining three sections are being farmed and developed; two. ex-servicemen are employed on wages, and it is anticipated that on completion of the two dwellings at present under construction the sections will be allotted on permanent tenure. Satisfactory returns were secured from the block during the year. Tripp (665 Acres), (Locality : Geraldine). —Liming and mole draining were continued on the block during the year. The carrying-capacity is increasing, but early offering is not expected. Templetons Block (184 Acres-), (Locality : Geraldine). —The extensive drainage work carried out by the Public Works Department and the drier season has considerably lowered the ground water and cultivation this year has been more successful. Further: draining and grassing will be necessary before this single-unit block is ready for settlement,,

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