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St. Leger Farm Settlement (Locality: Hangaroa).—Area, 5,681 acres. Acquired, 4th June, 1946. To be subdivided into four sheep-farms, but extensive development is necessary before property can be settled. Commissioner op Crown Lands, Napier In the Hawke's Bay District the season was extremely favourable to wool growths giving a clip both brighter and heavier in yield than average, also the ensuing spring and summer were particularly favourable for fat-lamb production, being considered by the freezing trade one of the best on record. During the year the Totara Grove and Sandy Creek Farm Settlements were allotted to ex-servicemen. Ahuriri Lagoon (Locality : Napier). —Development was commenced in 1934. Of the area being farmed, 500 acres has been disposed of to the Napier Borough Council as an aerodrome, 90 acres allocated for the settlement of ex-servicemen graded for marketgardening, and 16 acres disposed of to the Disabled Servicemen's League as a vocational training centre. All sheep came off the shears in good heart, the clip being bright, above average, and topping the price for wether wool at the first Napier sale. Lambs did extremely well and many were got away off the mothers at satisfactory weights for the light nature of this country. The cape-barley harvest was good, and for the 65 acres harvested a yield of approximately 40 bushels to the acre was attained. Two paddocks totalling 51 acres were harvested for perennial rye-grass, of which 18 acres was maiden rye, and a good yield was obtained. The older established rye-grass of 33 acres showed a big proportion of weed growth, but the actual seed dressed was good and well up to standard in purity and germination. Sufficient seed was obtained for all pasture sowing on the Lagoon, 40 acres for another block, and leaving some 150 bushels to be held over for the 1948 pasture sowing. Crewan (Locality : Hastings).—Area, 1,475 acres. Acquired, 27th March, 1945. Subdivided, three sheep-farms. During the year two of the ex-servicemen who had been on wages since June, 1945, were permanently established following completion of the development programme. The third section, which was vacated by the ex-serviceman who had been on wages, will be balloted for selection by an ex-serviceman in May next. Gowrie (Locality : Waipukurau).—Area, 1,479 acres. Acquired, 11th February, 1946. Subdivided, three sheep-farms (tentative). The fencing programme has been delayed by the shortage of fencing-materials. The block has been top-dressed and 40 acres of chou moellier has been sown for winter feed, but the subdivision has been delayed by the negotiations for a portion of an adjoining property. These negotiations are proceeding satisfactorily and the subdivision should be finalized and the block settled early next year. HaJcowhai (Locality : Puketapu). —Area, 1,637 acres. Acquired, 28th March, 1945. Subdivided, three sheep-farms. Pastures on this block were of poor quality, being infested with ratstail, and cattle were grazed on the property to combat this and no ewes were carried for twelve months. This has greatly benefited the pastures, and the country should show better results with the ewes next season. Some 40 tons of superphosphate and 50 tons of lime were applied, and 120 acres have been laid down to permanent pasture and 40 acres of chou moellier sown for winter feed. It is anticipated the homestead section will be balloted for and disposed of in the near future. jHampden Farm Settlement (Locality : Tikokino). —Area, 932|- acres. Acquired, 4th February, 1947. Subdivisions, three sheep-farms (tentative). The country, which responds well to top-dressing and sowing in subterranean clover, should prove to be excellent fat-lamb-producing country. The property is watered by races from an irrigation scheme. Approximately 100 acres of gorse country near the river will require development. Hendley (Locality : Patoka). —Area, 4,398 acres. Acquired, Ist August, 1945. Subdivided, five sheep and cattle farms. This settlement was balloted in June, 1946, and five ex-servicemen are employed on wages. A top-dressing programme has been carried out and development is nearly completed, although the building programme suffered

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