5

H.—2

for about 10 chains, and about 40 chains of low-tension lines were erected to give supply to a dairyfarm. The range load has increased steadily, and has meant a good deal of extra work rearranging the distribution-lines where required. Along with the new work, a good deal of maintenance has been carried out, so as to keep the distribution system up to the required standard. Our main supplies during the year have been drawn from the Public Works Department powerstation at Horahora, but considerable use has also been made of the Okere power plant. Early in the year the Public Works Department made arrangements with this Department for the Okere plant to be operated sixteen hours per day, six days a week, so that the output from the Okere plant has been much increased. Regular maintenance work has been carried out on the plant, and extensive repairs were made to the buildings, flumes, handrails, &c., and the plant is in as good order as can be expected considering its age and service. The Diesel plant has been called into service on two occasions—once during the fire at Horahora, when it was in service from eight to sixteen hours per day for over a week, and for a few hours on a Sunday when supply was not available from Horahora. Jt has been maintained in good order. Maintenance work has been carried out at the baths and Sanatorium, and for the gardens mechanical equipment. The motor generator set for the electro-medical apparatus in the Main Baths, and the storage battery, were removed from the basement and re-erected in a new generator and battery-room. The Department's transport equipment was added to by the purchase of a five-seater new-model Ford car, and the old car was converted to a light delivery-truck. The following table sets out the units purchased and generated, the new load connected for the year, &c. : —

Number. Watts. New consumers —Light .. .. .. .. .. 104 51,450 Heat .. .. ..81 81,700 Extensions —Light .. .. . . .. 82 13,710 Heat .. .. .. ..40 47,800 Ranges .. .. .. .. .. .. ..34 188,000 Motors .. .. .. .. .. .. ..54 86,713 Connected load for year, 469-4 kw. Peak load for year, 512 kw. (6.30 p.m. on 30/3/29). From the above figures it is obvious that there has again been a substantial increase in the units purchased and generated, and also in the connected load, although during this year no new areas have been given supply. That such increase can be made seems to indicate that there is a good deal of development going on in the area which we supply, and that our tariff charges are low enough and our service good enough to encourage consumers to make a liberal use of the facilities at their disposal. Acclimatization. For the sake of overseas readers, and so that extracts for publication may be conveniently made, 1 have made a feature in this report of this section, and am indebted to Ranger Cobeldick for the information. Ranging.—During the year ended 31st March, 1929, all work pertaining to the acclimatization branch of this Department's administration was carried out in a thorough and painstaking manner. The ranging by the Department's rangers, both honorary and salaried, was effectively attended to, and the wide area of the whole of the extensive district controlled by them was well patrolled in an earnest endeavour to prevent or detect any breaches of either the game or fishing laws. The extra rangers appointed have had a considerable deterrent effect oil the activities of many of the poaching fraternity, and a very large portion of their time was occupied in investigating numerous reports of alleged irregularities. Sufficient evidence in law to substantiate some of these cases was not forthcoming, but in some eight others a prosecution was taken before a Magistrate's Court. Nine convictions were obtained for these offences, and the total fines amounted to £20, together with £5 14s. costs. The diminishing number of Court prosecutions compared to previous years can be attributed in some measure to more efficiency in ranging. Deer-shooting. —This season opened on the 26th March and closed on the 26th April, 1928. Stalking under separate regulations was allowed in the deer herds at Mahia Peninsula, Waikaremoana country, Whakatane County, Galatea district, Rotoiti-Okareka, Taupo County, and at Tokaanu reddeer areas. The number of licenses available was only limited in the cases of the Mahia, Whakatane, and Tokaanu herds. In the Taupo and Galatea herds a limit was imposed on the number of animals allowed to be taken; but there was no limit to the number of licenses for issue, or on the number of

Generated. Purchased from m , , 'lotal. Horanora. Okere. Diesel. 1928 .. .. .. 1,028,030 678,923 5,360 1,712,313 1927 .. .. .. 1,186,990 j 201,018 .. 1,388,008 Increase for year .. .. j .. .. 324,305