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linking four dwellings was erected during the year. An area of 245 acres of grass was sown, but pasture life is short on this light land in a low-rainfall area unless irrigation water can be used. Waikakahi (Locality: Waimate). —Area, 766 acres. Acquired, 22nd August, 1940. Subdivisions, five dairy-farms. Four new houses, cow-sheds, and implement-sheds have been completed, and the houses are occupied by ex-servicemen employed on wages. One dairy herd has been established and milking carried out most of the season. The erection of a milking-shed on the homestead section and the demolition of the surplus buildings is still to be carried out. Four sections should be available to the settlers on permanent tenure in the coming spring. Waratah (Locality: Fairlie). —Area, 4,743 acres. Acquired, 15th May, 1945. Subdivisions, two sheep-grazing farms. Further buildings are still necessary on this block. Two ex-servicemen are employed on wages, and it is hoped to allot on fixed charges both sections at an early date without waiting for completion of the building programme. A considerable area has been limed. Wingfield (Locality : Rakaia). —Area, 1,500 acres. Acquired, 20th March, 1945. Subdivisions, three sheep-farms. Two new dwellings have been erected and two sections have been offered on wages. With this extra labour and two tractors on the farm, progress should be more rapid. It is hoped to make a start sowing down next year, but owing to the depleted and twitch-infested state of the ground, allotment cannot be considered for at least two years. Winchmore (Locality: Ashburton). —Area, 3,375 acres. Acquired, 1944-47. Subdivisions not yet finalized. This block, within the Ashburton-Lyndhurst irrigation scheme, extends from Lauriston to Dromore. Three additional properties purchased have been added to the block during the year and an area of 762 acres was transferred to the Department of Agriculture. A total of 397 acres were levelled and border-dyked and 374 acres were sown down to border-dyked pasture, making approximately 760 acres of irrigated pasture and lucerne to date. The carrying-capacities of irrigated areas have been high. Throughout the summer 212 acres were irrigated regularly. Stock have done well, but require special attention while on irrigable pasture. Lambs have fattened slowly. Crops, in the main, were average. Development will possibly be slower next year, as most of the men now employed will be required for watering and sheep work next summer. Development can only continue as houses are built, and this problem is a pressing one. Three discharged servicemen are at present employed on wages, and more will be appointed as soon as dwellings are available for them. Present indications are that an area of 300 acres to 350 acres will provide an economic unit. Irrigation experiments with small areas of ridged crops —potatoes, swedes, and chou moellier —have been encouraging. Winchmore (Detached) (Locality : Ashburton). —Area, 299 acres. Acquired, Ist July, *1946. Subdivision, one irrigated fat-lamb unit. Previously part of Winchmore Irrigation Development Block, and has been used this year as a separate unit for costing and management information. It is now fully developed, except for more permanent fencing and head-gates. The outstanding crop under irrigation was lucerne, which, for a 10-acre crop, yielded over 5 tons per acre. Potatoes grown under irrigation methods promise well. As much valuable data is being secured on this unit, it will be some years yet before allotment on permanent tenure can be made to the discharged-serviceman manager. Experience so far tends to confirm the impression that the area required for an economic irrigated unit on Dunmore land will be in the vicinity of 300 acres. Commissioner of Crown Lands, Dunedin At the beginning of the year eleven blocks comprising 16,223 acres were under the control of this office, but by 31st March, 1947, the number of blocks totalled nineteen, aggregating 43,075 acres, and estimated to provide sixty units.

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