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Napier District. —Tuki Tuki River at Waipukurau : Contracts have been let and work should be completed next year for the control of a 5-mile length of river by cutting diversions, constructing willow groynes, and clearing the channels of growth and debris. Wairoa River: A length of bank erosion was successfully checked by willow protection work. Kumeti Stream : Seven chains of the bed was cleaned out and a stop-bank 13 chainslong constructed. Waipaoa River : The cut-off groyne, 2|- miles north of the present mouth, has had the toe reinforced by placement of additional stone. Soundings show, as desired, a steady building up of the river-bed behind the groyne. The pilot cut to the sea just north of the groyne has been maintained, but a summer flood did not eventuate to develop fully this cut. (A flood subsequent to this report has made a successful new opening to the sea.) Hikuwai River : Willow-clearing was commenced towards the end of the year. Mangatoetoe Stream: Willow-clearing was completed over 3 miles of the stream and river straightened by digging 16 chains of cuts.. * Lavenham Stream : A flood-gate was installed. Wellington District. —Rangitikei River : Willow-planting was carried out to protect the banks and safeguard the cuts made the previous year. Above Tangimoana serious bank erosion was checked for a length of 30 chains by placing weighted pine-trees. At Tangimoana work is about to commence for protecting the foreshore against river and wave erosion. Manawatu River : Work was confined to Taupunga Cut No. 2, which was almost completed, minor stop-banking, and maintenance work and surveys. Otaki River : Survey and proposals for major channel improvements were completed, and commencement of work depends upon the assembly of the tower excavator. Minor erosion has been checked and maintenance carried out. Mangaone Stream: Realignment and cleaning out of the lower Mangaone was completed. Pohangina River : Several small bank protection jobs were completed. Te Awa Erosion : A dam with concrete spillway to control severe erosion in one gully, together with small live debris dams, was completed. Space planting, of willows and poplars, together with work on the second similar gully, is under way. Upper Koputaroa Stream : About one-third of a scheme for widening and cleaning the bed has been completed. Tokomaru Stream : The removal of willows from approximately 1\ miles of the lower Tokomaru was almost completed. Waiohine River : Flood damage at 6M. necessitated the reconstruction of 8 chains of stop-bank. Ruamahanga River : Below Te Ore Ore 8 chains of thatching and gabion work was completed. Below Tuhitarata 42 chains of stop-bank have been completed. Proposals and plans have been completed for the reclamation of about 26,500 acres in the Wairarapa Lake vicinity. Mangatainoka River : Above the Stirling Bridge 20 chains of stop-bank have been completed. To protect Walton Park a 12-chain diversion cut has been dug and 17 chains of stop-banks constructed. At Pahiatua Borough a 10-chain pilot cut was constructed above the bridge. Proposals have been approved for a 29-chain diversion cut to arrest erosion near the township of Mahgamutu. •

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