a—io

With the improved means of access it has been possible to put a bulldozer and agricultural tractors on to this property, and an extensive programme is now being commenced to break up manuka and tauhinu country with giant disks. The result will be shown in a very large increase in the number of stock wintered. At the latter end of last winter the prevalence of wild pigs on some of the East Coast Trust properties necessitated the employment of gangs of Maoris for their destruction. As a considerable number of the pigs killed were found to be in excellent condition, the Commissioner arranged for their transport to freezing-works at Gisborne and Wairoa, where they were treated free of charge and passed for export. As a result a consignment of 78 carcasses of,wild pork was shipped to the United Kingdom Ministry of Food as a gift from the East Coast Trust beneficiaries. Owing to the scarcity and greatly increased cost of grass-seeds of all kinds, the Commissioner proposes during the coming season to set aside certain suitable areas where a large part of the seed required annually on East Coast Trust properties can be produced and will thus ensure a certain supply at a reasonable cost. Summary: East Coast and Mangatu Trusts 1. Number of stations . . .. .. . . .. 28 Number of farms on leased lands .. .. .. 21 49 2. Area— East Coast Trust— A eres. Acres. Stations .. .. . . .. .. 69,904 Leased 44,977 Occupied by owners .. .. .. .. 355 Undeveloped .. .. .. .. .. 1,770 117,006 Mangatu No. 1— Stations .. .. .. .. .. 85,046 Leased .. .. .. .. .. 2,884 Occupied by owners .. .. .. .. 431 Undeveloped .. .. .. .. .. 14,554 102,915 Mangatu No. 3: Area, 3,680 acres, now farmed by Mangatu No. 1 . . Mangatu No. 4: Undeveloped .. .. .. 5,994 225,915 3. Number of permanent employees on stations— East • Coast Trust.. .. .. .. .. 53 Mangatu No. 1 . . . . . . .. . . 86 139 4. Number of beneficial owners — East Coast Trust.. .. .. .. .. 6,948 Mangatu No. 1 .. .. . * .. 976 7,924

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