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Commissioner of Crown Lands, North Auckland Araparera Farm Settlement (Locality: Helensville). —Area, 389 acres. Acquired,. 20th November, 1944. Subdivision, two dairy-farms. It was hoped to purchase an adjoining area to provide two dairying units independent of the undeveloped area, but this has not been possible. It is now intended to allot the improved areas as a single unit to the discharged serviceman who is on wages with promise of a section as from Ist July, 1947, and to develop the area of 209 acres, which will make an economic dairy farm when fully improved. A new water-supply has been installed on the improved area and the old cow-shed is being replaced by a new building. Dairying operations have been carried on since Ist July, 1945. Batten's Block (Locality : Waipu).—Area, 1,576 acres. Acquired, Ist March, 1938. Not subdivided. This block, which comprises sheep- and cattle-grazing country, is an abandoned discharged soldiers' settlement security formerly farmed under the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1929. A considerable amount of scrub-clearing and grassing is required to bring the property to full production, but it has not been possible to proceed with this work over the past few years owing to shortage of labour and manures. Satisfactory returns have been received from sheep-farming and grazing of run cattle. It is now intended to allot the area in its present partly improved condition to a suitable discharged serviceman. Matariki Farm Settlement (Locality : Whangarei).—Area, 334 acres. Acquired, Ist February, 1945. Subdivided, three dairy-farms. The necessary buildings have been erected and all fencing required has been completed. A water-supply is now being installed and the clearing of stone preparatory to grassing is proceeding. A large part of the block was covered with stones when it was taken over. A herd of about sixty cows has been milked since Ist July, 1945. Two discharged servicemen who have been allotted the subdivisions containing the partly improved area are working on the property on wages pending completion of the development programme. Ngamahanga Farm Settlement (Locality : Pakaraka). —Area, 325| acres. Acquired, 29th March, 1946. Subdivided, two dairy-farms. A new house and other buildings, including two cow-sheds, have been erected. A water-supply is being installed, and the two subdivisions will be allotted to discharged servicemen as from Ist July, 1947. The ex-serviceman manager of this property has the promise of a section. Purapura Farm Settlement (Locality: Puni). —Area, 151 acres. Acquired, 13th August, 1945. Single-unit dairy-farm. This property was allotted to a discharged serviceman as from Ist July, 1946. Riponui Farm Settlement (Locality : Whangarei).—Area, 301 acres. Acquired, 13th December, 1945. Subdivided, two dairy units. Two new cow-sheds have been erected, and barns and piggeries will be constructed shortly. A water-supply is being installed and subdivisional fencing is in course of erection. The Housing Construction Department has not yet been able to arrange for the erection of the new dwelling required. Dairying has been carried on since Ist July, 1946, simultaneously with sheep and cattle grazing, and it will be necessary to continue these operations during the 1947-48 season. One ex-serviceman is employed on wages with the promise of a section. Ruawai Block (Locality : Ruawai). —Area, 395 acres. Acquired, 25th September, 1944, and 31st May, 1945. Subdivided, three dairy-farms. Two houses and two cowsheds and other necessary buildings have been erected. A water-supply has been installed and subdivisional fencing erected. Charge will be fixed on Ist July, 1947, and the sections permanently allotted to the three ex-servicemen who have been working as sharemilkers since Ist July, 1945. Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland All development areas in this land district are controlled by the Superintendents of Land Development, Auckland and Te Kuiti. This season was a marked improvement on that of 1945-46, and this was evidenced in the increased returns of most small-farmers, and with the exception of a few of the

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