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Poukawa Drainage Area (15,567 Acres), Hawke's Bay Drain-maintenance work was carried out during the year, and I am again indebted to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Napier, for the preparation and inspection of drain-cleaning contracts and payments made to contractors. Maintenance expenditure charged against the Rate Account for the year, £458. Rates struck : Special, £999 ; general, £3ll. Rates collected, including arrears : Special, £725 ; general, £226. Applications for charging-orders for outstanding Maori rates came before the Maori Land Court at Napier towards the close of the year, and it is hoped that this will result in some progress being made towards their collection. The amounts shown in this report as expenditure on maintenance may be subject to slight variation on completion of accounts. I have, &c., E. Taylor, Chief Drainage Engineer. The Under-Secretary for Lands, Wellington. STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS A statement of accounts is published in parliamentary paper 8.-l [Pt. IV].

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given; printing (563 copies), £6 10s. By Authority: E. V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington.—1948. Pricp 3i.]

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