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I am glad to place on record the praiseworthy efforts of all classes of officers and men to give effect to the Government's policy of opening the Hauraki Plains area for settlement as quickly as possible consistent with safety. Mr. J. B. Thompson has shown an intelligenl interest in the whole scheme, and has been most indefatigable in givingeffecf to it. Be has had the able assistance <>l Mr. George Purchas in carrying OUI the engineering details. In future it is intended, as being a more economical procedure, to keep the control of the whole operations under the Districl Surveyor, Mr. J. B. Thompson, Mr. Purchas being transferred to the sfafV of the Chief Surveyor, Auckland. Statement ok Accounts (as required by Section 10 of the Hauraki Plains Act, 1908) for the Year ended 31st March, 1910. Receipts. i Expenditure. 1909 £ s. d. 1910. t 8 - «• April 1. To Balance —Cash in Public Ac- Mar. 81. By Expenditure— count 327 14 6' Salaries.. .. .. .'7B I;. 0 mii) Travelling allowances and Mar. 31. To Advances from Loans to expenses, oamp allowances. Local Bodies' account, and general expenses oi under clause 4of the Han- administration.. .. mi ih - raid Plains Act, 1908 .. 19,000 0 o Purchase ami equipment Advances made by the New of dredges and launches, Zealand State-guaranteed maintenance and working- _ Advances Office .. 10,000 0 0 expenses .. .. .. v Buildings, erection and maintenance of .. 363 610 Cattle, purchase of .. 1,129 16 fi Drainage - works : Clearing channels, building stop - banks, tramways, and all expenses incidental thereto 15,703 2 8 22,235 2 11 Balance—Cash in Public Account .. .. .. 5,387 6 1 Advances in hands of officers of the ■Government .. .. 1,705 5 6 7,092 11 7 £29,327 14 6 £29^887146 Loan Account. 1910 £ a. d. 1909. t »■ d. Mar. 31. To Balance 42,108 19 9 April 1. By Balance due Loans to Local Bodies Acoount .. 12,125 211 „ 16. Advance from Loans to Local Bodies' Account, under clause 4 of the Hauraki Plains Act, 1908 .. 1,000 0 0 May 7. Ditto .. .. 5,000 0 0 July 6 5,000 0 0 Sep. 20. „ 1,000 0 0 Oct. 10 2,000 0 0 Nov. 16. 5,000 0 ») 1910. Interest on above to 31st March, 191(1 .. 983 L 6 10 Mar. 21. Advance made by New Zealand State-guaranteed Advances (Hficc . . .. 5,000 0 0 „ 81. Ditto 5,000 0 0 £42,108 19~9 £42.108 19 9

REPORT UPON HAURAKI PLAINS DRAINAGE OPERATIONS FOR TEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1910, BY THE DISTRICT SURVEYOR IN CHARGE. SIR _ Thames, 25th April, 1910. In this my first annual report since taking control of drainage and survey operations, I would briefly state that on Mr. William C. Breakell, C.E., retiring from the service on the 30th September, 1909. I was appointed as District Surveyor in Charge of Drainage-works and Surveys, and, working under your instructions, have controlled same as from the Ist October, 1909. Mr. G. H. Purchas has been associated with me us Engineer in Charge of Drainage-works as from the same date. I have to report that the various operations curried out during the past year have been very sue ccssful both as regards drainage and survey branches. Many other works of an experimental nature have also been undertaken, and in the great majority of cases have been entirely successful. There has been sufficient work done to date to clearly demonstrate the fact that the expenditure so far undertaken has been more than justified ; that the ultimate successful settlement of the whole