C—4

1917. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY: SWAMP DRAINAGE. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1917, TOGETHER WITH STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS.

Presented to hoth Houses of the General Assembly pitrsumrt to Section 13 of the Swamp Drainage Act,' 1915.

Sir, — Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, Ist June, 191.7. In pursuance of section 13 of the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915, I forward herewith the report of the Chief Drainage Engineer upon the operations carried out under the above Act for the past year, together with a statement of accounts. I have, &c, T. N. Brodrick, Under-Secretary. The Right Hon. W. K. Massey, P.C.j Minister of Lands.

REPORT BY CHIEF DRAINAGE ENGINEER. Bm,— There are now three drainage areas gazetted under the Act, and I give a short report on each. It is almost unnecessary to state that development-work has been seriously hampered in many ways. War conditions have prevented delivery of two Priestman dredgers from England, not to mention the difficulty of obtaining labour and generally staffing the various works. When the above difficulties are got over our programme of development will be actively prosecuted and many important works set in motion, as they are all in train to this end. Waihi Drainace Area (22,720 Acres). Work on the Waihi Swamp is progressing satisfactorily. The Priestman dredger during the year completed 195 chains of dredging, an average width of 27 ft. being maintained throughout. The amount of spoil removed was 120,713 cubic yards, at a cost of 2-54 d. per cubic yard. The season has been an exceptionally wet one, retarding progress considerably. Difficulty in obtaining suitable labour was experienced, and settlers in the vicinity were employed in widening ni (I deepening the Kaikokopu end Mangatoetoe Streams for a distance of 45 chains, and also widening <>;>k for a, distance of 24 chains. The effect of this will be to give the settlers towards the south ample fall, and the beds of the streams have been lowered considerably. The expenditure oh works dining the year amounted to £1,182 14s. 7d. Poukawa Lake Dratnace Area (13,567 Acres). Work in this locality lias been held up on account of the impossibility of obtaining the Priestman dredger (on order) from Englard owing to war difficulties. Good progress, however, has been made with the preliminary work. Plans of the engineering surveys have been completed, as have also plans of the proposed schemes. Regarding the survey work. Eorty-one miles of connecting levels have been completed, and twelve miles of engineering surveys and levels. The lake has been traversed, showing an area of 635 acres; the " wet area " of the lake comprises 3,252 acres. During the year 33 chains of road have been formed and crowned, two small bridges have been constructed, and also one pontoon (61 ft. 5 iii. by 24 ft. by 5 ft. 6 in.) has been built on the works and floated and is ready to receive dredger. The buildings constructed include an office, workmen's quarters, and a tool-house. Progress work is at present al a standstill, due to the non-arrival of the necessary dredge machinery for carrying on same, and also pending the acquisition of certain Native lands. Meanwhile a responsible overseer is in charge of works. The expenditure on works during the year was £1,538 4s. 6d.