I). 1,

XVII

Agriculture. The steps taken by the Agricultural Department to provide a course of training for lads in practical farming at the experimental farms have proved popular. At Ruakura, where the scheme was inaugurated, all the available accommodation has been taken up, and there are numerous applications on hand for vacancies. Some expenditure was necessary last year in completing and equipping the buildings ; but, with the demand for places, it will be necessary to consider the provision of additional accommodation. Further drainage-work was carried out on the farm. Owing to the wet nature of the land, expenditure on drainage will be necessary for some time to come. The cost is, however, amply repaid by the increased productivity of the soil. At Waerenga Experimental Farm the provision of an adequate and permanent water-supply was completed. The Department's lease from the Native owners of portion of the Moumahaki Experimental Farm ran out year, and it was decided to purchase the area and add it permanently to the farm. Considerable improvements had been effected by the Department on the land acquired. At Weraroa Experimental Farm the stumping of paddocks previously under bush was continued, thus increasing the area available for cultivation. Some alterations were carried out with a view to providing accommodation for a few learners. A fumigation-shed was erected at Invercargill in order to enable the fumigation of fruit and plants to be carried out there, thus avoiding the necessity for sending consignments to Dunedin for this purpose. DEVELOPMENT OF WATER-POWER. The installation of the electric-power plant at Lake Coleridge for the supply of Christchurch and Canterbury generally has been pushed on during the year. The following contracts for necessary headworks and plant have been placed :—

Plans and specifications for the power-house buildings are ready for issue, the excavation for the foundation is already in hand, and this work will be completed by October, 1913. Owing to the proximity of excellent shingle in the Rakaia River bed and to the cost of transport of other materials, the power-house has been designed entirely in ferro-concrete. A site for the main substation near the Addington Workshops is being acquired, and the substation building will be completed by September, 1913. These will complete the necessary contracts with the exception of the trans-mission-line poles, tenders for which have been received, under which delivery is to be made within eight months. It is thus anticipated that the whole of the necessary plant will be to hand between March and July of next year, when erection and installation will be proceeded with at once.

iii—D. 1.

Contract. Contractor. Amount. Contract Date for Completion. Staff cottages Penstock gates Main insulators Mills and Kepple Eichardson, Blair, and McOabe National Electrical and Engineering Com- £ 2,846 1,336 3,795 Oct.. 1912. Feb.. 1913. March. 1913. Transformers Water-wheels and accessories Generators and accessories... Lightning-arresters pany Ditto Australian Metal Company Grey Thorne George ... National Electrical and Engineering Com9,673 4,195 5,561 2,588 April, 1913. May, 1913. Bitumen ... Pipe-line... Overhead conductors Insulated cables ... Switchboard and accessories Tunnel ... pany Neuchatel Asphalts Company ... Dunedin Engineering and Steel Company Eichardson, Blair, and McCabe P. E. Baillie and Co. ... Turnbull and Jones ... J. McWilliams 1,087 17,623 13,100 3,765 4,746 53,172 ] June, 1913. July, 1913. August, 1913.