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Valley field Farm Settlement (Locality: Waihopai Valley). —Area, 2,505 acres. Acquired, February, 1946. Subdivision, three mixed sheep and cropping. Development programme completed with the erection of two new cottages, implement-sheds, and renewing and erecting new fences. Charges fixed and sections allotted as from July, 1947. Wairau Farm Settlement (Locality : Wairau Valley).—Area, 15,872 acres.. Acquired, September, 1947. Subdivision, five sheep units. The merino stud flock and the stud farm portion of 4,694 acres will be allotted to an ex-serviceman on Ist April, 1948. Development work of fencing, buildings, and water-supplies is proceeding. Commissioner of Crown Lands, Nelson . Four Rivers Farm Settlement (Locality : Murchison). —Area, 228 acres. Acquired, August, 1946. Allotted on fixed charges in August, 1947. Orinoco Farm Settlement (Locality : Appleby).—Area, 828 acres. Expected to provide three units each of 30 acres of tobacco land and some sheep for each unit on hills. Eight acres tobacco were harvested, the estimated amount of leaf being 2,500 lb. The return for next season should be very much better following the continued workingup of the ground. Since acquisition a full range of buildings requisite for a tobacco-farm have been completed on one unit. The block is stocked with approximately 300 ewes, 22 dairy cows, and young stock. Tobacco area is mainly Grade IV land and experiments being undertaken to ascertain whether ex-servicemen can be established as tobaccogrowers on this land. Saxton Farm Settlement (Locality : Stoke). —Area, 76 acres. Acquired, June, 1946. This has been grazed by two ex-servicemen pending decision on final utilization. Te Namu Farm Settlement (Locality: Karamea). —Area, 430 acres. Acquired, July, 1947. Of this, 124 acres is in bush and will be withheld. Subdivision, two •dairying units. Two discharged servicemen are working on wages. A new dwelling and •extension of the existing cow-shed on one unit is required. It is hoped to fix charges and settle the units at Ist July, 1948. Commissioner of Crown Lands, Hokitika Whitcombe Block (Location : Koiterangi, 20 miles east of Hokitika). —Area, 443 acres. Reconditioning pastures has proceeded. The erection of boundary fences is held up owing to lack of wire. A contract for the erection of buildings has been arranged and it is "hoped to offer three units by June, 1949. Commissioner of Crown Lands, Christchurch Progress with erection of dwellings and farm buildings has improved during the year and contractors now appear more willing to accept country work than they have in the past. However, the lack of buildings is still a big factor in delaying settlement in this district. Fencing-wire is still in very short supply and it is impossible to carry ■out the subdivision necessary for successful settlement of smaller holdings. Fertilizersupplies were again erratic, but little difficulty was experienced with lime-distribution. Ashlyn (Locality: Lyndhurst).—Area, 582 acres. Acquired, 28th July, 1947. Subdivision, two irrigation farms. This property was in a very-run-down condition when acquired and will need cleaning and building up before any new pasture is sown. An area of 261 acres has been fallowed and sown with fodder crops this season. Building -contracts have been let for renovations and erection of a new house and combined store wool-shed. An ex-serviceman manager is employed with promise of permanent tenure.

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