a—B

3

Details are not available of the value of cream produced, but the totals must be well over £30,000. In addition, the rattening of stock has been pursued, and likewise this has been very successful. In spite of the dry summer recently experienced, there were very few instances' of stock having to be sold or sacrificed through, a shortage of feed. Taking the plains from end to end, the settlers have made very good progress, and the older-settled portions are now assuming the look of farms. It is very pleasing to record the fact that a large area of the peat country is now being brought into good grass, and it is generally admitted that this country in future will be quite as valuable as any other. The metalling of the roads that has been carried out during the last two years has revolutionized the whole appearance of the country, as well as improved the access to the plains. During the next year the area to be thrown open will be very small, as it is unreasonable and unwise ti> place settlers on land of this class without the chance of a fair access-road within a short period of their taking up the land. Details of each work are described under the different headings as at % 31st March, 1915, and in must eases totals of the works that have been carried out since the inception of the scheme are appended. I'IiIBSTMAN DI!BDGERS• Both dredgers No I and No. 2 have been employed during the past year on various works between Kerepeehi and Patetonga Landing, a total of 176,196 cubic yards being dredged and deposited "ii the hanks along the side. The total cost oi' this work, was £1,962 16s. 3d., which gives an average cost per yard of 2'677d. This cost includes all wages, running-expenses, repairs, etc., but not depreciation. The work carried out comprised the widening of the Piako River, improvements at Patetonga Landing, deepening of portion of the Waikaka (.'anal, and the commencement of the Ngarua Canal and also the Await i Canal. All these works are treated separately under the different headings. No. I dredger excavated for the year 85,746 cubic yards, at. a total cost of £970 14s. 6(1. for the ye.-v, averaging 2'727i1. per cubic yard; whilst No. 2 dredger excavated 90,4.00 cubic yards, at a total cost of £992 Is. 9d., averaging 2'63d. per cubic yard. The dredgers are both in very good order, and the expenses during the coming year for maintenance should not be above the average. During the greater part of last year's operations (lie coal had to be punted some distance, and in some cases transhipped, which necessitated a higher cost of working. This state of affairs will apply to both dredgers during the coming year, as at present both art; dammed in so as to obviate the rise and fall due to tidal influences. Both dredgeinasters deserve great credit for the excellent manner in which their work has been carried out, as well as fur the low running-costs. PIAKO L'ivki; [mpbovE-lENTS . In 1912 a vote of £2,000 for two years was passed for improving both the Piako and the Waitoa Rivers. During the year ending 31st March, 1913, £465 was spent on these works; during the following year, £2,07.3 13s. sd. ; and this year the sum of £1,044 1.55. _d. was spent. All this sum was expended in widening the Piako River between Kerepeehi and the Waikaka Canal, a distance of nearly five miles. Throughout this distance the river has been widened, on an average, 20 ft., so that throughout it is at least 66 ft. wide. The effect of this dredging has been beneficial both to the drainage of the land and to some, extent, tn the navigation of the river. Although then: has out been a fresh since the work was completed, I am certain that this is partly due to the fact <if the cross-section of the river being improved. Of course, it is admitted that the past year lias been, remarkably dry, but during last March 1067 in. of rain were recorded at. Kerepeehi. and in spite of the fact that practically all the rivers in the district were in fairly high flood the Piako only rose a few feet at Kerepeehi, During the coming year it is intended to dredge portion of the Waitoa River to the south of the junction with, the Piako River, as in this particular locality there are several bars and banks that prevent the even flow of the river. In addition, the water-weeds have grown very prolifically, and need to be removed by the roots. Patetonga Landing. At this point in the Piako River launches and larger boats had great difficulty in lying alongside the wharf when the river was low. The berth, as well as the approaches to the berth, were dredged down to the level of the centre of the river, and there is consequently a decided improvement. In addition, a short cut of about 9 chains was excavated parallel to the approach to the wharf. This not only provided a turning-basin for the larger boats, but also provided spoil for the road-formation in th. vicinity. In carrying out this work 12.730 cubic yards were excavated. Waikaka Canae. The lower end of this canal was deepened for a short distance, as at this particular point there had been a bar left when tiie canal was originally dredged. In this work IJIO cubic yards were removed.