C—4

1948 NEW ZEALAND

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY SWAMP DRAINAGE REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1948

...Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 13 of the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915

Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, 23rd June, 1948. Sir, — In pursuance of section 13 of the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915,1 have the honour to forward the report of the Chief Drainage Engineer covering operations on lands proclaimed under the Swamp Drainage Act and amendments. I have, <fcc., D. M. Greig, Under-Secretary for Lands. The Hon. the Minister of Lands.

REPORT OF THE CHIEF DRAINAGE ENGINEER •Sir,— I have the honour to submit my annual report for the year ended 31st March, 1948, on the areas proclaimed under the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915, and its amendments. Kaitaia Drainage Area (61,430 Acres), Mangonui County Work in this district has comprised the maintenance of drains, stop-banks, flood--gates, the deepening of a small portion of the main drains, and some land-development work. As the result of subsidence of the peat swamps, most of the drains require widening and deepening. A drag-line excavator ordered for this district about ten months has not yet arrived. This machine is required for urgent drain-improvement works, which include reconstruction of stop-banks and enlarging main drains. The work of replacing metal culverts and flood-gates with concrete structures has been commenced, and is to be continued next year. Repairs to the control weir at the head of the Whangatane Spillway have been completed. Considerable quantities of silt have been -deposited in the bed of the spillway during recent years, particularly between the weir •.and the Kareponia Bridge, where there is a prolific growth of weeds. It will therefore be mecessary to redredge this portion in the near future.