5

C—B.

Cattle. The cattle purchased during the past year numbered some 550, consisting of steers, cows, and heifers. The first two lots were brought by a scow, bul the last herd was driven'joverland to the ground, the animals arriving in better condition than those sent via the sea. The stockmen, since taking charge of the cattle, from October last, have been assiduous in their duties, and no losses have been reported. 1 anticipate a substantial profit at the clearance sale of stock to be held on the l'.lth .May next. The,,presence of the cattle has been of great benefit to the land, having consolidated it greatly in many ways. Even if the. Department only realised the cost of stock, the experiment would have proved successful. 1 not only for the above reason, but also on account of the advertisement the property has obtained through the public seeing the excellent condition the cattle are now in. A more suitable object-lessonjjjcould not be found as to the ultimate value of the lands. Surveys. Three survey parties have been at work during the past year, and their energies have been fully taxed. Before any subdivisional scheme could be draw njjout, some 110 miles of existing drains and stop banks h.e.l to be traversed. I tun pleased to say thatjvery little of the existing drains was wasted. Up to the :51st .March. 1910, some 16,881 acres has been subdivided into 106 rural sections, 45 town ship sections, 30 suburban sections, and 19 reserves for various purposes. The plans are almost complete, and a tracing for photo-lithographic been made. In addition to the above, many of the Crow n awards were also cut out, and some ten miles of road on the eastern side of the Piako River was also laid out to give access to Turua, Paeroa, &c. Some of tiiese roads were taken under warrant, and others tinder the Public Works Act. LAMIi NOW READ'S Fill: SELECTION. All area of 16,398 acres is to I ffered about tic middle of May next, and the valuation of same totals £75,660. This is very satisfactory, and is a fairj f value in every instance. I am very sanguine of a record number of applications being received lor all sections, especially as the land is to be opened under the optional system. As you arc aware, all the works arc not complete, bul will be so by tin' spring. The fad ofthe Department maintaining and improving all drains,|jj&(\, for two years on the area to be opened should prove very saUsfai tory to the fortunate selectors. The country has also been greatly improved by the stock running on the same. The financial aspect proves thai your early expressed opinion has been fully justified, and that the Dominion his a very valuable asset in the Hauraki Plains. LAM) PROPOSED TO BE OPENED. Regarding laud that can be made available during the current financial year, 1 estimate the ana at. say, 12,0(X) acres, which will come in the following order : 4,300 acres on eastern side of Piako River ; 2,000 acres in the locality of Waikaka ; and 5,700 acres a.t extreme southern end of Hauraki Plains. Preparations aie in progress for the suitable dr.lining ol ihese areas, and a great deal of the work is now in hand. These areas are all good land, and should command keen competition. The firstmentioned area will be ready by late spring, and the others by early autumn. Of course, everything depends upon a good season being experienced for the drainage operations. Main Arterial Roads. The roads shown on the plan do not cover all those necessary in this direction, but I consider it better that such proposals should be shown from year to year, as many circumstances have to be taken into consideration in laying them off. Carriage of Stores and Timber. During the past year the Department purchased the s.s. " Hauraki.'' and this vessel has been steadily engaged carrying timber and all stores to the various works on the Hauraki Plains, from both Thames and Auckland. Three oil-launches are also engaged on the various works, and arc in active commission every day on the rivers and streams. Principal Works proposed. The principal works to be carried out during the current financial year are as follows : — 1. The completion of stop-banks, Hood gates, culverts, bridges, wharves, and roads immediately connected with the area to be opened next May. 2. The continuance of dredging operations on Maukoro-Waitakaruru Canal, this wotl< being the key to the whole scheme. 3. The construction of overflow on Puhanga Canal, which work affects the ultimate success of drainage-works. 1. The formation of roads between Kerepeehi and Turua to open up further Crown lands. 5. The const met ion of mil falls through ( 'tow n lands to enable the Waitoa Drainage Hoard to carry out their drainage proposals. This work will also open upjjour own country loi settli ment. 6. The furt her construction of stop-banks along the Piako River, together with necessary wharves, &c.