G.—lo.

The scheme is badly infested with ragwort. Every endeavour is being made to control the pest by cutting and spraying. In a number of cases where the ploughable land has been badly infested, it has been necessary to resort to ploughing and cropping. At the 31st March, 1935, the following live-stock had been supplied to the scheme (particulars of stock owned by units prior to development is not available) : 30 bulls, 711 cows, 262 heifer calves reared, 42 horses, and 55 working bullocks. The butterfat-production for the year amounted to 22,471 lb., averaging 151 lb. per cow. TE Kaha. This scheme is situated on the Bay of Plenty and is divided into eight sections, extending northward from the Motu River to Cape Runaway in the following order : — (1) Te Kaha-Maraenui Section. —Area, 1,500 acres. This block was brought under development mainly for the purpose of controlling ragwort, which is being checked by cutting and treating with sodium chlorate and lime, and concentrating sheep on the areas affected. In addition to clearing noxious weeds, 50 chains of fencing were erected and 60 chains were repaired with the aid of subsidies from unemployment funds. (2) Te Kaha-Omaio Section. —Area, 1,139 acres. Work on this section was mainly confined to improving the land already under development. Sixteen units (supporting 111 dependants) are milking, and during the year an average of 140 lb. of butterfat per cow was maintained. Five new cow-sheds were erected, and a water-supply is at present being installed. (3) Te Kaha-Proper Section. —Area, 1,390 acres. No additional area was brought under development during the year, but the following is a summary of the work undertaken on the portion comprising 1,150 acres already improved : New fencing, 155 chains ; repairs to existing fences, 250 chains ; draining, 180 chains. In addition, five cow-sheds were erected. Twenty-four units are supplying to the local dairy factory, and the total butterfat produced during the year was 32,390 lb. It is estimated that settlers supported 103 dependants. (4) Te Kaha-Orete No. 1 Section. —Area, 1,389 acres. This area is in a similar position to the other sections, work during the year being confined to general improvement with a view to increasing production. A total of 43,423 lb. of butterfat was produced, resulting in an average of 127 lb. per cow milked. Three cow-sheds and one store-shed were erected during the year, and a water-supply is being installed. There are nineteen units on this section supporting ninety-nine dependants. (5) Te Kaha-Orete No. 2,— Area, 5,841 acres. In March, 1934, the future of this block was considered, and in view of the unsatisfactory co-operation of the Native owners, together with the large expenditure required for development purposes, it was decided to recommend to the Native Land Settlement Board that the stock be realized and the scheme abandoned. With the Board's approval the stock was disposed of to the best advantage by sales and transfers to other schemes, and no other work was undertaken during the year. (6) Te Kaha-Te Piki Section. —Although this scheme has a total area of 4,245 acres, only 282 acres can be classed as improved. No fresh land was brought in during the year, the main work carried out being stumping, digging and clearing, the formation of some 20 chains of road, the erection of 145 chains of fencing, the excavating of 230 chains of drains, and clearing of 80 chains of old drains. At the present time there are no units on the scheme, but twenty-one men, eighteen women, and forty-five children are maintained. These people come from the Whanau-Apanui and Ngati-Porou tribes and are good workers. They are quartered in huts in the meantime, but their health is reported to be good. (7) Te Kaha-Te Waiti Section. —Contains 770 acres. Work during the year was confined to repairing and improving the areas already developed, and 5 acres of maize were cropped and 35 acres of hay were harvested. There are three units on this section supporting thirteen dependants. The average of butterfat per cow was 150 lb. (8) Te Kaha-Whangaparaoa Section. —Area, 3,748 acres. No fresh development-work was undertaken during the year, but improvements to the areas already brought in were effected as follows : 100 acres of hay were cropped, 200 chains of new fencing were erected, and 400 chains were repaired. In addition, two cow-sheds were erected. There are thirteen units on this section supporting sixty-two dependants. The production of butterfat averaged 140 lb. per cow. A return of live-stock furnished at 31st March is as follows : —

3 —Gr. 10.

17

Section. Dairy Cattle. Run Cattle> Sheep * Horses. Maraenui .. .. ■ • • • • • 490 Omaio .. .. 453 176 36 .. 29 Orete No. 1 .. . • 499 218 22 250 40 Te Piki .. .. .. ■ ■ • • • • 9 Te Waiti .. .. 191 78 .. 780 9 Whangaparaoa. . .. 356 110 12 449 26 1,499 582 70 1,969 113