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Waimana and Rangitaiki River Stage Recorders. —Sites have been selected, but the' erection of these recorders has been held up pending receipt of special steelwork which is being fabricated in Auckland. Wairere Stream, Whakatane Borough.—This stream runs through the borough,, floods frequently, and causes damage to business premises in the main street. It is proposed, with financial assistance from the Council, to widen the channel and line 6A- chains of it with concrete. The work of increasing the waterway at the bridge is being; subsidized by the Main Highways Board. The work will be undertaken by the Whakatane Borough Council, but has not yet been put in hand. Waiotahi River, Opotiki County (Wilson). —Clearing of 15 chains of willows has been completed. Waioeka River Erosion (Murray).—Heavy willow protection was carried out by Mr. Murray last year, but was delayed owing to difficulty in obtaining fencing-wire. The work is to be completed during the coming winter, the most suitable season for willow-planting. Waioeka River Erosion (Maxwell). —Heavy willow bank-protection will be carried out during the coming winter. Otara River Erosion (Mesdames Wingate and Steele). —A small amount of work was done last year, but the remainder has been deferred till a suitable season for willow-planting. Otara River Erosion (Thompson). —This work was mostly completed last year, but some willow-planting remains to be done when fencing-wire can be obtained. Huntress Creek, Opotiki County.—The County Council has been granted financial assistance to strengthen stop-banks and to restore floodgates, but has not yet been able to start the work. Nurseries. —Shipmast locust planted at Whakatane are doing well and a considerable amount of propagation has been successfully undertaken. About 250 rooted plantswill soon be ready for planting out. Plantations of bitter willow and poplar have also been established. Napier District Hikuwai River: Willow Clearing (Poverty Bay Catchment District). —A further 4 miles of river has been cleared of willows, bringing the total to 8| miles. Local farmers and the main highway have been given a large measure of relief from flooding. Experiments have shown ring-barking to be effective after two years, and poison has been used effectively to control second growth. Maintenance of this scheme will probably be taken over by the Poverty Bay Catchment Board. Waipaoa River: Te Wairau Bend (Poverty Bay Catchment District). —The severe flood of July, 1947, destroyed a large portion of the protective work then under construction. Repairs have been carried out. Waipaoa River: Groyne near Mouth (Poverty Bay Catchment District). —One hundred feet at the end of the groyne has been restored and has brought about the steady retreat of the bank opposite. Tides have had a tendency to scour the land on the back of the groyne, but this has been successfully countered by placing scrub on each section of the groyne affected. This groyne worked very satisfactorily during the flood of May, 1948, but requires extending a further 250 ft. Waipaoa River Improvement Survey. —A survey has been carried out on behalf of the Poverty Bay Catchment Board to the north of Tietjen's Bend. Meeanee Drainage (Hawke's Bay Catchment District). —Practically no additional work has been carried out during the year. Plans for the necessary reinforced-concrete culverts are being prepared by the Hawke's Bay County Council, and it is anticipated that they will be available during the current year. Investigations are still being made into the discharge into the Inner Harbour area.

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