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1899. NEW ZEALAND.

MOMOHAKI EXPERIMENTAL STATION.

Return to an Order of the House of Representatives dated the 27th July, 1899. Ordered, " That there be laid before this House a return (in continuation of 0.-13, 1898) relating to the Momohaki Experimental Farm for the financial year 1898-99 ; with a separate return of the poultry-farm recently started on the same farm."—(Mr. G. Hutchison.)

EXPERIMENTAL STATION, MOMOHAKI. Retukn for the Year ending 31st March, 1899. 1. Area :— a. c. p. Freehold ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 254 2 13 Leasehold ... ... ... ... ... ... 39 0 6 Crown lands (grazing-rights) ... ... ... ... 86 2 0 Total ... ... ... ... ... 380 0 19 2. Value of the land, with improvements, at the time of the experimental station being started: — Value not stated. 3. The amount expended in— £ s. d. (a.) Buildings ... ... ... ... ... ... 157 18 9 (b.) Fencing ... ... ... ... ... ... 13 4 10 (c.) Cultivation (this includes the cost of seeds and plants, horsefeed, blacksmithing, manures, labour in connection with orchard-work, cleaning ground for turnips and other crops, draining, planting, grassing, &c.) ... ... ... 1,103 17 2 (d.) Stock " ... ... ... ... ... ... 415 10 5 (c.) Other purposes ... ... ... 151 18 7 4. The uses to which the land has been applied:— For investigating diseases in stock, the testing of seeds and plants and the raising of economic plants for distribution to settlers, testing the feeding-value of grasses, turnips, and mangolds, and the planting of resistant vines for distribution. 5. Number of persons employed throughout:— (a) Maximum, 10; (b) minimum, 7. Eates of salary or wages paid to each class : — £ s. d. Curator ... ... ... ... ... ... 140 0 0 per annum. Overseer ... ... ... ... ... 130 0 0 „ Carpenter ... ... ... ■■■ ... 080 per diem. Assistant nurseryman ... ... ... ... 070 „ Labourers ... ... ... ... ... 0 6 6 „ 0 6 0 „ Horseman ... ... ... ... ... 0 510 „ Boy 0 4 2 6. The number of stock now on the station:— 9 horses for farm-work. 45 cattle. 980 sheep for experimental and other purposes. 7. Returns :— £771, in addition to a number of vines, potatoes, and seeds distributed gratis,