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Wangantji Works District On a badly slipping area on Mount Messenger, willows and poplars have been planted and 5 chains of cut-off drain dug. At themouth of the Waitara River, 100 ft. -of boulder wall has been built to extend old concrete work and prevent erosion of sandhills The job have been most successful. A survey has been made for the extension and improvement of the Eltham Drainage Board's works in the Pukengahu and Ngaere Swamps. Wellington Works District For the first nine months of the year the Otaki River, from the railway bridge to the sea, was maintained by the Ministry of Works. It was then handed over to the Manawatu Catchment Board. The chief work in the Hutt River was the 25-chain diversion opposite Barton's Bush, which is now a successful operation. A total of 51 chains -of heavy willow bank-protection weighted with stone sausages, and 10 chains of light protection, have been completed. A number of new nurseries of willows and poplars have been established. Nearly three hundred shipmast locust trees were distributed by the Ministry of Works nursery at Waitarere to the Wairarapa, Rangitikei, and Manawatu Catchment Boards and to farms. Generally, good growth has been observed, and they appear to be resistant to stock damage. Another five hundred will be available for distribution next year. A 600-acre property on the Wither Hills is being treated in a similar way to the Wither Hills Conservation Reserve. When the success of the work is established, it is planned to encourage the same treatment on 10,000 acres of similar country. The trial terracing and contouring of sloping vegetable and fruit-growing land at Onahau (Sounds area) was successful. The pasture furrows constructed at Kekerengu have been effective in checking further erosion. At Molesworth an inspection was made of the -oversown plots in Acheron Valley and the Campden areas. The results are very encouraging, and it is hoped to aerially sow seed on some of the region, in co-operation with the Lands Department. Christchurch Works District A survey of the Waiau-uha River at Spotswood is in progress, and a willow nursery has been established there, In the Clarence River the permeable groyne above the railway bridge is being repaired. The groyne, originally a temporary measure, was breached in 1945, and later an undesirable channel developed through the gap. On the West Coast 12 chains of fascine and sausage work and 11 chains of stop-bank were built on the Inangahua River. Twelve chains of similar protection and 13 chains of stop-bank were completed on the Maruia River. New nurseries for willows and poplars have been established. Dunedin Works District The whole of this district is covered by catchment districts and the Waitaki Soil Conservation District. Waitaki Soil Conservation District The Waitaki River has been photographed from the sea to the dam, and an aeria mosaic is in course of preparation with a view to designing a scheme for the gradual control of the river from Hakataramea downwards. Forty chains of the Awamoko Stream have been cleared of willows, 60 chains of stop-banks have been built on the Ahuriri River at Glenburn Station, and a 15-chain diversion cut made on the Quail Burn.

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