D.—l.

Tauranga District. Tarawera River Stop-banking. —Substantial work was done on this stop-bank to make good damage done by flood. Gisborne District. Land Improvement.—A large volume of productive land-improvement work managed by the Public Works Department has again been carried out in the various groups throughout the district by unemployment relief workers. The cost of this work has been shared by the settler and the Unemployment Board. The work has all been done by co-operative contract, employees being mostly single men. A summary of the total quantities of the various classes of work done during the year is as follows : Bushfelling, 36 acres ; scrub-clearing, 12,325 acres ; rush-clearing, 150 acres ; fencing 54 m. 59| ch. ; drain-digging, 4m. 14J ch. ; forming farm roads and tracks, 3m. 37 ch. ; creek-clearing (Waikura Stream), 1 m. 69 ch. . Waivaoa River Willow-clearing—This rather urgent work was continued again throughout the willow-killing season. Married workers were transported from Gisborne daily, the work being carried out on co-operative contract basis, wages being found by the Unemployment Board. During the year 572 chains of river-bank were cleared. The beneficial result of the work so far done is marked. Taruheru Creek Clearing— This work is being managed similarly to the Waipaoa River work, and during the year 157 chains of the stream were completely cleared of large willows. Napier District. Kumeti Drain. —A moderate amount of maintenance-work was carried out. Water-supplies.—The Department investigated on behalf of the Lands Department schemes for farm water-supplies to five different areas. In two cases small works were arranged for and carried Tutaekuri River Diversion. —This work, which was started in March, 1934, was carried on in a vigorous manner throughout the whole year. The work is controlM by the Hawke's Bay Rivers Board, under the supervision of the Public Works Department, finance being found by the Public Works Fund,'the several local authorities, and the Unemployment Board. During the year approximately 420,000 cubic yards of earthwork were built into the stop-banks, 11 miles of permanent fencing were erected, and 4 miles of protection belts planted. Arrangements are in tram for tlie erection of BrookfLelds Bridge to span the full width, of diversion channel, and the Main Highways Board has let a contract for the Washout Main Highway Bridge in reinforced concrete, length 800 ft., roadway 24 ft. wide, situated near new outlet of river to sea. Taumarunui District. Mokau River Willow-clearing.—The special single men's camp, with an average establishment of thirty-two men, continued this work of felling, poisoning, removal, and burning the willows obstructing the stream. Nine miles of river-bank have been so treated, and maintenance-work has been done on 3 miles of stream previously treated. _ . Mokauiti Willow-clearing. —A commencement was made on similar work on the Mokauiti Kiver, 205 chains of river-bank being so treated. Mangapu Drainage District, Willow-removal— The same class of work has also been continued on various streams in this area under the management of the Mangapu Drainage Board under Government financial assistance. Stratford District. Stumping, Land-clearing, and Drainage, Taranaki Area. —The work of improvement of farm lands, commenced during the previous year, was continued throughout the whole of the year covered by this report. No. 5 Scheme labour has been used on full-time employment, co-operative contract basis, and good work has been done. During the year 1,365 acres have been stumped and cleared ready for pasture, and 11J miles of drains have been dug. Wellington District. Eastbourne Water and Sewerage Scheme. —This installation has been built by the Department on behalf of the Eastbourne Borough Council. During the year No. 3 pumping-station and the remainder of the sewers were completed, and the whole scheme put into operation and handed over to the Borough Council. . . Eastbourne Foreshore Protection. —This work is being financed in conjunction with the Unemployment Board and the Eastbourne Borough Council. The protection will consist of a stone wall and apron and a system of timber groynes over a length of 25 chains of foreshore. A contract has been let for quarrying and delivering stone, and a start has been made with building the wall and groynes. Sand-dune Reclamation between Manawatu River and Ohau River.—A nursery was established in August, 1934, and planted with seeds of suitable trees for protection and breakwinds. This season 10,000 seedling trees have already been transplanted out, and it is expected that about 50 of trees will be planted this season. Forty acres of marram-grass have also been planted, as well as sowing of lupin-seeds, construction of windbreak fences, &c. Makowhai Stream Improvement.—The work of straightening, widening, and deepening of the Makowhai Stream and drain system was continued during the period, 25,734 cubic yards of earth being Land-clearing, Te lloro.—The single men's camp on this work was closed down towards the end of the period. During the time it was in existence 104,391 cubic yards of boulders were removed from 1,590 acres, and river-protection works were also carried out.

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