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1946 NEW ZEALAND

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY SWAMP DRAINAGE REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1946

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

Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, 28th June, 1946. Sir, — In pursuance of section 13 of the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915, I have the honour to forward the report of the Chief Drainage Engineer covering operations on lands proclaimed under the Swamp Drainage Act and amendments. I have, &c, R. G. Maomorran, Under-Secretary for Lands. The Hon. the Minister of Lands.

REPORT OF THE CHIEF DRAINAGE ENGINEER Sir, — I have the honour to submit my annual report for the year ended 31st March, 1946, on the areas proclaimed under the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915, and its amendments. Kaitaia Drainage Area (61,430 Acres), Mangonui County Work in this district has been limited to maintenance .of drains and some landdevelopment operations. As the result of subsidence of the peat swamp, most of the drains now require widening and deepening, and this is work that can be carried out economically with a drag-line excavator. A machine of this type is also required for reconstruction of stop-banks on the Awanui River and foreshore, which are being undermined by erosion and wave action. The exceptionally dry conditions caused several swamp fires this year, some of which were troublesome and costly to control. During the year all maintained drains were cleared of growth, and Spains Drain was deepened from the Waipapakauri Road to Spains Road to improve the drainage of the Awanui Settlement. A new drain was constructed from Puckeys Drain eastwards to drain a low-lying area in the vicinity of the Wireless Road. A new flood-gate was installed on the west side of the Awanui River as an additional outlet for the farms at the southern end of Unahi Road. An old floodgate on the Whangatane Spillway was replaced by a new structure, and new end walls were constructed for the floodgate on the outlet of Hanlons Drain. Repairs to the Whangatane Spillway are to be carried out as soon as the materials are available. The rainfall during the year was 52-42 in.