C.—l

Farming Operations : One hundred and twenty cows were milked in six sheds by hand milkers on wages. Returns were exceptionally good until February, when feed became scarce due to flooding, and cows have now lost condition, with consequent drop in supply. The returns of butterfat up to the end of March amount to 16,993 lb., which must be considered satisfactory considering that the cows milked were all first-calvers. In the early summer 50 acres of excellent hay was harvested, and pastures maintained by harrowing and topping with mower. Stock : Two hundred and ten head of cattle are at present on the area, and some additional cattle were carried for the greater part of the year. Three hundred sheep were also grazed for some months, of which ninety lambs were fattened and sold for killing. A surplus of feed existed generally, but the area has been overstocked for the last two months owing to loss of some of the best pasture, and it is doubtful if any further stock can be accommodated for some time. Proposals for the ensuing year are to erect further houses and cow-sheds ; complete draining, fencing, grassing, and water-supply for further areas ; and continue farming operations with stock on hand. The principal works carried out during the year, together with the total work completed to date, are as shown on the following schedule : — During Year Total to ended 31st March. 31st March, 1936. 1936. Number. Number. Camp erected .. .. .... 1 Concrete troughs erected .... 7 7 Battens split .. .. .. .. 5,000 Culverts installed .. .. .. 8 11 Bridges erected .. .. .. 12 17 Trees planted .. .. 1,000 4,000 Cow-sheds erected ...... 7 7 Houses erected . . .. 6 6 Artesian bores sunk .... 15 15 Pig-shelters erected ...... 1 1 Cattle-crush erected .... 1 1 Implement-shed erected .... 1 1 Footbridges erected ........ 2 Floodgates installed . . .... 3 Chains. Chains. Fences erected .. .. .. 475 695 Road formed .. . . .. 242 242 Road cleared of bush and stumps .... ' 200 Road blinded with sand .. .... 45 Road fascined . . .. .... 8 Drains cleared .. .. .. 300 300 Acres. Acres. Clearing wiwis .. .. .... 185 Stumping and levelling .. 4 129 Harrowing and disking .. . . 60 260 Cutting scrub and burning . . .... 15 Grass-seed sown .. .. .. 80 260 Gorse cut .. .. 10 23 Bush felled . . .. . . 1 ' 7 Area top-dressed with lime .... 90 90 Area harrowed .. .. 20 20 Tea-tree cut .. .. 95 95 Hay cut and stacked .... 50 50 Cubic Cubic Chains Yards. Chains Yards. Clearing and widening drains .. 6 30 476 12,650 New drains, part .. .. .. 6 200 202 2,540 New drains completed .. .. 346 9,179 912 35,469 Old drains deepened. . .. .. 110 3,000 313 9,190 Stop-banks erected .. .. .... 20 650 Road-bank formed .. .. .... 61 4,500 Miles Chains. Miles Chains. Roads metalled . . .. . . 4 8 4 8 Hoe-o-tainui Small-farm Settlement. —Authority to commence operations on the above block was received in June, 1935, and ten horses were purchased in July for agricultural work. Some delay was experienced in obtaining suitable men, and the camp was not established until September, when seven men commenced work. In October this number was increased to eleven. On Ist February, 1936, five additional horses were transferred from Hauraki Plains works, making the total number of horses on the block, fifteen. An area of 23 acres was cleared and ploughed and sown in grass in September for a horse-paddock. A further 264 acres has since been cleared, ploughed, and cultivated, and about

24