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No. 18, Monighan Dredge : This plant, after being idle for some time, was placed in commission on the Kopeopeo Canal, and. to date has done a creditable amount of work under fairly difficult conditions. The spoil excavated is being placed on either side, and one bank will eventually be used as a roadway and the other as a stop-bank, both serving to prevent the escape of flood-waters on to the adjoining low-lying country. The distance covered during the period was IIIJ chains, a total of 90,600 cubic yards of spoil being excavated. No. 21, Bay City : This dredge was put into commission early in the period to excavate a drain to serve low-lying country in Sections 137 a and 140, which cannot economically be drained into the Omeheu Drain. This was completed after two months' working, and the plant was again laid up. This plant will shortly commence maintenance work in the Tarawera Western Drain. The length of canal completed during the period was 70 chains, 17,500 cubic yards of spoil being excavated. Bridges, Flood-gates, <&c. —In addition to the large Kopeopeo flood-gate, three small flood-gates and seven sill bridges were erected during the year. Drains and Stop-banks.— -The only new stop-banking carried out in the period was that done by the dredges and already enumerated. A length of 87 chains of existing drain was taken over and improved. Drains in Operation.. —The total length of drains in operation is as follows : Dredge cuts, 67 miles 35 chains ; main outlet drains, 106 miles 24 chains ; road-drains, 30 miles 46 chains. Roads opened. —The total length of roads opened is 113| miles, of which 85 miles have been constructed by the Department. Buildings. —These consist of Engineer's cottage, and twelve cottages and huts for workmen, office buildings, machine-shop, smithy, store, sheds, &c. All men occupying quarters pay rent for same. Workshops. —The workshop and smithy have been kept fully employed on repair work for dredges and general machinery, and the ironwork for general construction-work. Rolling-stock. —The Tliornycroft lorry, now in its seventh year, has done practically all the general cartage of supplies throughout the works. Plant and Machinery. —This consists of two Priestman grab dredges, two Monighan walking dragline, excavators, one Bay City walking dipper, one Priestman pontoon, two coal-punts, three oillaunches, and six small boats and punts. Summary of Work Done: — M. Ch. Cub. Yds. Cleaning drains . . . . .. .. .. 107 0 Deepening and widening .. .. .. .. 3 17 5,140 Spoil dredged .. .. .. .. .. 9 68J 359,080 Levels taken .. . . .. . . 66 50 Survey traverses .. .. . . .. . . 7 0 Proposed Works. —Completion of the Tarawera stop-banking and river improvement; Kopeopeo diversion excavation, flood-gates, bridges, and road formation, and general maintenance included in which is the redredging of the Tarawera Western Drain. Rates. —Some 725 demands for rates were issued during the year covering a total sum of £4,716 14s. Bd. During the year rates collected amounted to £7,133 os. 6d. Works Expenditure (General). —The total amount of expenditure recorded for the year was £16,550 6s. 10d., day labour accounting for £8,651 3s. Id., and. forty-six piecework contracts totalling £1,394 16s. 9d. The sum of £9,486 Is. 7d. was paid from Whakatane Imprest Account. I have, &c, R. G. Macmorran, The Under-Secretary for Lands, Wellington. Chief Drainage Engineer.

RANGITATKI LAND DRAINAGE ACCOUNT. Receipts and Payments Account por Year ended 31st March, 1928. Receipts. Payments. To Cash in Public Account, Ist April, £ s. d. £ s. d. By Drainage-works, stop-banks, cleaning channels, £ s. d. 1927 .. .. .. 4,839 4 4 and other expenditure incidental to drainage Cash in Investment Account, Ist . operations .. .. 10,921 8 11 April 1927 .. .. 10,000 0 o Engineering and administration expenses .. 540 3 1 14,839 4 4 Fuel .. .. .. .. .. 1,380 12 9 Proceeds from sales and transfers Le.eal expenses .. .. . . . . 6 0 0 of plant, &c., to other works .. .. 602 5 9 Material and stores .. .. .. 1,808 4 7 Subsidy from Consolidated Fund Plant and machinery . . . .. 166 7 4 for maintenance of completed Refund of rates .. ... .. .. 1,205 13 3 works .. .. .. .. 3,200 0 0 Travcllii.«-oxpenses .. .. .. 41 12 3 Rents .. .. .. •. 132 7 10 Interest on debentures recouped to the Consoli"Thirds" .. .. .. .. 10 4 8 dated Fund .. .. .. .. 5,010 0 0 Rates .. .. .. .. 7,213 2 11 Interest on investments .. .. 574 2 8 Balance — £ s. d. Sundries .. .. .. .. 316 7 0 Cash in Public Account .. 3,807 13 0 Investment Account .. 2,000 0 0 5,807 13 0 £26,887 15 2 £26,887 15 2