o.—B,

6

Plant, Machinery, and Stores. No important additions were made to the plant during the year, which is the same strength as last year, and comprises ten dredges and excavators, seven launches, steam-tug, two metal barges, four general-service barges, six tractors, extensive road and general construction plant, and machineshop equipment. The workshops and stores at the Kerepeehi depot have been busy with general construction work, repairs and alterations to dredges and other plant. Stores are all received at Kerepeehi and distributed to the various works. Surveys and Office-work. Engineering and land surveys carried out during the year required 14J miles of theodolite survey (chiefly in connection with flax-planting areas), 3J- miles of compass survey, 80 miles of levels, and 16f miles of cutting. Over 300 cross-sections of river and canals were taken, and 130 borings, varying in depth from 4 ft. to 20 ft., were made for subsoil investigation. River stage records and discharge measurements were obtained as required for flood-control investigations. Summary. . The total length of the subsidiary drains constructed in connection with the Hauraki Plains drainage-works is now 613 miles. The principal works carried out this year are summarized in the following schedule : — Length. Excavation. Miles ch. Cub. yd. Drains cleaned by manual labour .. .. .. . . . . 134 14 Drains widened and deepened by manual labour .. .. .. .. 18 49 27,174 Drains —new construction by manual labour .. .. .. .. 5 7 15,441 Stop-bank repairs by manual labour . . .. .. . . .. 0 10 408 Total spoil excavated from drains by manual labour .. .. .. 43,023 New canals constructed by machines .. .. .. .. .. 7 0 308,073 New stop-banks constructed by machines .. .. .. .. 065 35,928 River and canal improvements, machine construction .. .. .. 571 275,910 Total spoil excavated by floating and land excavators .. .. .. 619,911 Stop-banks raised and strengthened .. .. .. .. .. 4 21 New roads formed .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 55 Roads regraded and improved .. .. .. .. .. .. 535 Roads disked and graded .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 20 Roads metalled .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 30 6,063 Clay ballast carted for peat roads .. .. .. .. . . . . 1,262 Fences erected .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6 63 Levels taken .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 80 0 Traverses .. .. • • ■ .. .. .. .. 18 0 Number. Bridges constructed (pile foundation) .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 Buildings erected or moved .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 Small wharf constructed .. .. .. .. .. .. . . 1 Flood-gate, 4 ft. diameter barrel .. .. .. .. .. . . .. 1 Road-culvert, 3 ft. diameter barrel .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Acres. Area planted in flax .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 568 Area cleared of scrub .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 278 Area sown with grass-seed .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 551 Flax Leases. Some nine flax leases are in operation, covering a total area of 3,095 acres, on which the annual rental totals £1,587 3s. The actual revenue received for the year amounted to £590 17s. 3d. Grazing-areas. The area leased for grazing purposes under temporary tenancies is 9,931 acres, held by fifty-two settlers. The annual rental totals £567 75., and £516 6s. Id. was collected during the period. Future Proposals. The principal works to be carried out during the next financial year, are — (1) Piako River dredging and improvement of stop-banks. (2) Continuation of Waitakaruru-Maukoro Canal. (3) Continuation of Elstow-Awaiti flood protection, drainage and road work-. (4) Construction of stop-bank on southern boundary of Kerepeehi Block. (5) Construction of drainage canal on Pouarua Road Reserve. (6) Completion of Ngatea-Kaihere Road metalling, and continuation of Patetonga Main Road metalling