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Educational Endowments. The primary- and secondary-education endowment reserves which came under the jurisdiction of the various Land Boards and the Department upon the passing of the Education Reserves Amendment Act, 1910, have received careful administration during the past year. As much as possible of the remaining unlet reserves were advertised for selection, and every effort was made to dispose of the lands at satisfactory rentals. The area taken up was 6,831 acres by 136 selectors, the annual rental payable being £1,401 7s. 8d. During the year the leases of 111 holdings, covering an area of 9,831 acres, annual rental £1,216 19s., expired. Eighty-four of these, covering an area of 8,537 acres, were again renewed at increased rentals totalling £ 1,824 Is. 2d. The gross receipts during the year were £71,398 3s. 3d., £63,023 18s. 9d. being received from " primary " reserves, and £8,374 4s. 6d. from " secondary " reserves. Further particulars of these endowments are given in Table 31 in the Appendix. Cemeteries. Trustees were appointed for seven new cemeteries during the year. The number under the supervision of the Department is now 498. Fifty-eight warrants appointing trustees for existing cemeteries were also issued. The Department as far as possible endeavours to arrange the vesting of cemeteries in the local authorities, as when this can be effected routine work is lessened, the Department being no longer concerned in supervision and the appointment of trustees. Public Domains. During the year eleven new domains, comprising 655 acres, were brought under Part II of the Public Reserves and Domains Act, 1908. This brings the number of domains administered under the Act up to 531, containing altogether 83,332 acres (including a domain of 33,000 acres on the banks of the Wanganui River). The Boards controlling these domains are, generally speaking, administering them in a satisfactory manner. A synopsis of their reports will be prepared and laid before Parliament as usual. Kapiti Island, The Department's caretaker resident on Kapiti Island reports that the past year has been a splendid one for birds, the nesting season being good, and food plentiful. Three kakapos and seven kiwis were liberated on the island, and these birds should do well there, although it will be some years before it is possible to report progress. Noxious weeds have been well kept down; only one patch each of brier and blackberry were found and dug out. The young forest-trees are growing well. Land-drainage Operations. The Land Drainage Branch has been kept very busy during the past year with matters pertaining to land-drainage and river protective works, &c. Special reports and examinations were made in connection with the Hikurangi Swamp and Waihi Swamp, and a survey, estimate, and report, along with plans, were made in connection with the proposed Kaueranga channel improvements. A flying engineering survey of portion of the Hikurangi also made to enable an estimate being made of the probable cost of a drainage scheme. • Inspections of works constructed by local authorities out of Government grants and subsidies were made, and vouchers totalling £2,640 9s. were certified to fe»r payment. Plans were also approved as sent forward in the above connections. The engineering survey of the Waikato River was taken in hand, Mr. Allan Morpeth being in local charge, with an assistant and two field parties. This is an extensive survey, as all descriptions of stream velocities and gaugings, tidal observations, and levelling data had to be obtained. Up to date the following services have been performed : Thirty-one miles of theodolite traverse; twenty miles of compass traverse; 700 soundings taken; and many tidal-gauges established and simultaneous readings taken at same. The work will occupy the parties until about next December. A great deal of the above professional work was done under tidal conditions. The cost of work to date is £839 0s. 8d., which includes purchase of an oil-launch at £200. A small plant was also installed at Kaingaroa prison camp.

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