C.—l

The improvements in the fat lambs, wool, and butterfat are no doubt in a large measure due to the use of fertilizers, the benefit of which is also evident in the composition and appearance of the pastures. Schedule 8 shows the amounts of lime and superphosphate used on the four main blocks as at 31st March, 1935, and 31st March, 1936 —the total being 208 tons of superphosphate and 402 tons of lime. The pulverizer installed at Waitanguru by the Public Works Department is now producing a crushed limestone of higher lime content and satisfactory fineness. In Schedule Bis also shown the return per acre of grass at Pururu and Lee's. This comparison is only an indication of the production and is confined to the two blocks as being the only ones of which all of the grass has been newly laid down. In the case of Pururu, approximately 100 acres of the 433 were mainly sown this autumn, and at Lee's about 60 acres of new pasture was in the same position. The figures indicate that the management in the two cases was approximately of the same value. Vital Statistics. —On the four main blocks an average of 331 men were employed. These included 42 prospective settlers who are living oil the schemes and their dependants, numbering 254. Schedule 9 shows that on all of the blocks under this Branch there were 506 men employed and that the total number of them and their dependants is 962 persons.

Schedule 1.—Improvements completed to 31st March, 1936.

Schedule 2. —Improvements effected on the Four Main Blocks as at 31st March, 1935, and 31st March, 1936.

Schedule 3. —Pururu, Ngatamahine, Lee's, and Mairoa Blocks. Stock carried on the above blocks as at 31st March, 1936, together with the value, both standard and market: — Stock. 1935. 1936. Sheep .. .. .. .. 3,224 2,800 Dairy stock .. .. .. .. . . 421 574 Run cattle .. .. .. .. .. 347 233 Horses .. .. . . .. . . 38 48 Pigs .. .. .. .. .. .. 31 148 The value of above at Department's standard value, £6,454. The value of above at a reasonable market value, £8,918.

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Improvements. Ngatamahine. | Pururu. Lee's. Mairoa. Totals. • I _ I. Fencing, new and repairs .. .. (chains) 941 1,412 684 l,375| 4,412£ Roads — Formed and metalled .. .. „ 194 97 106 \ „,1* Formed and unmetalled .. .. „ 31 56 ■ ■ I Clearing and stumping .. .. (acres) 165 617 170 237 1,189 Ploughing and cultivating .. .. „ 155 539 162 143 999 Pastures — Permanent .. .. .. „ j 075§ / 180 19 2,099 Temporary .. .. ,, .. 3 11J .. 14J Swedes „ 52 79 29 135 295 Green feed .. .... „ .. .. 14 . . 14 Hay .. .. •• •• (tons) 75 80 30 .. 185 Ensilage .. .. .. ... „ 30 .. 30 .. 60 Water-supply .. .. (sheds connected) 5 6 12 14 Top-dressed .. .. ■. (acres) .. 433 180 198 811 Drains .. .. .. .. (chains) 208 59 181 92| 540J Cowshed and yards .. .. .. (number) 7 9 4 3 23 Manure-sheds ....... 3 1 1 3 8 Houses „ 13 14 4 7 40 (plus 2 cottages) » Including 42 chains formed and 38 chains metalled. t Including 435 chains metalled and 129 chains formed. t 392 acres in new permanent pasture. § 1,075 acres in old grass, unploughed, patches scrub and fern, and requires logging and stumping.

31st March, 31st March, T 1935. 1936. Increase - I Houses .. .. • • ■ • (number) 40 40 Cow-sheds .. .. .. . • „ 18 23 5 Fencing, new and renovated .. .. (chains) 1,960 4,412 2,452 Draining .. .. .. . • ,, 160 540 380 Stumping and clearing . . . . . . (acres) 620 1,189 569 Ploughing and cultivating . . . . „ 577 999 422 Pastures, permanent .. .. .. ,, 750 1,024 274 Crops, swedes; &c. .. .. .. ,, 152 295 143 Hay harvested .. .. . . . • (tons) 100 185 85 Ensilage .. .. . • .. ,, 30 60 30 Roads formed and metalled .. .. (chains) 140 435 \ , a, Roads formed .. .. . . • • „ 300 129 /