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to proceed with buildings, which, comprise six new houses and implement-sheds and three wool-sheds. Boundary and subsivisional fencing are required, and progress depends on supplies of materials. A manager and four ex-servicemen ballotees are employed on wages basis and have the right to sections, which will be decided by lot when the development programme is completed. Charges cannot be fixed before 1948 season. The following blocks are at present farmed by the Department but have not been set aside for ex-servicemen settlement: — Ohakea (Locality : Ohakea). —Area, 194 acres. This area adjoins the R.N.Z.A.F. Station at Ohakea, and as it was not required by the Air Department the Lands and Survey Department was requested to farm it. Lack of accommodation has precluded dairying operations, and the property has been grazed with dry stock. Approximately 100 acres was sown in wheat and barley, and the yield has been good. Tangimoana (Locality : Tangimoana).— Area, 5,664 acres. Comprises extensive plantations, grazing-land, and sand-dunes, and an area being developed experimentally. The cultivated area is now 118 acres on which the grasses are holding well, notwithstanding the meagre allocation of fertilizer over the past few years. Development hasnecessarily been slow, but results so far indicate that further development of this country is fully justified and can be done successfully. A caretaker and one general hand are employed, their duties being mainly fire-prevention, destruction of rabbits, maintenance of fences and drains, and care of stock. Whareroa (Location : Paraparaumu). —Area, 1,476 acres. Grazing of dry stock is carried out on the major portion of the area, which was not acquired for ex-servicemen settlement, and with the exception of the 200 acres of hill country was a military zone during the war. A considerable amount of reconditioning has been necessary, and the work so far completed comprises 1,200 chains fencing (new and renewed), 400 chains drains cleared, 22 acres cropped, and major renovations to house and outbuildings. One hundred acres lupin and 12 acres heavy gorse have been grubbed. Water-supply has been supplemented and reticulated. An ex-serviceman is managing the block and is assisted by six ex-servicemen who are employed in reconstruction of fences, &c., and care of stock. A dairy herd has been established and is milked on a share-milking basis by an ex-serviceman for town milk-supply. Commissioner of Crown Lands, Blenheim To present date eighteen estates have been acquired for the settlement of ex-servicemen, totalling approximately 25,901 acres, and these will provide thirty-seven units. Seventeen have already been settled on fixed charges, eleven were settled on wages, but two men subsequently withdrew, leaving eleven units on hand. These should be balloted for on a wage basis during the year. A considerable number of properties have been under consideration, and negotiations for purchase have been almost finalized in the case of several, while Part II action has been gazetted in the case of two others. Most of this land will be suitable for sheep-farming, but one block is expected to cut into about three dairy units. Development work is proceeding as fast as possible, consistent with the supply of fertilizers, fencing-material, and building-supplies, while the labour position has been met by taking men on on a wage basis. A big difficulty is that of getting buildings erected within a reasonable time. Greenhills Farm Settlement, twenty miles from Kaikoura. Area, 4,909 acres. Purchased, 28th March, 1944. Subdivided, two sheep-farms. The work of regrassing,. renewing fencing, and erection of buildings has substantially progressed during the year, and the new dwelling and outbuildings are almost completed. For private reasons one of the two ex-servicemen employed on wages basis withdrew, and this section will be reballoted for during the year. Valleyfield Farm Settlement, twelve miles from Blenheim. Area, 2,505 acres. Purchased, 28th February, 1946. Subdivided, three sheep-farms. Three ex-servicemen are employed on wages, one of them acting as manager. Substantial progress was made with the erection of the new cottages, but work was held up for some time on account

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