D.—l.

Waiotu Stream Willows. —2 m. 3 oh. of this stream was cleared of willows. Progress was greatly impeded by successive floods. Sand-dune Reclamation Work. —At Te Kopuru an area of 75 acres was planted in marram-grass. Further work in the vicinity of Kaitaia was in the nature of 310 ch. of fencing to keep wandering stock off the plantations. Auckland District. Taupiri Drainage Scheme. —Drainage work on the Taupiri drainage scheme, an area embracing 146 square miles of flat land and 88 square miles of hill country, was continued for the third successive year. On the main drains, Mangawara River, Tauhei and Komakorau Streams of a total length of 41 m. 15 ch., a length of 2| m. has been completed. The subsidiary drains, totalling 62 m. 55 ch., are located mostly in peat land and have been opened up over the full length. A second lift of 30 m. and a third lift of 4 m., all in swamp land, have also been completed, while a fourth lift has been commenced on one section. Consolidation up to 5 ft. has already been obtained after a period of two years. Wet conditions during the summer hampered operations, but progress generally has been fair, and over 75 per cent, of the work has now been completed. Approximately 400,000 cubic yards were excavated during the year, making a total of 1,400,000 cubic yards to date. Two drag-line machines were employed on bottom-lift excavation in the main channel, and the balance of the work was carried out by hand labour under the co-operative contract system. (In areas adjacent to completed drains minor flooding only occurred during the year, and the channels generally are functioning very satisfactorily. Te Kawa Drainage Scheme.—The work under this scheme was continued during the year, but progress was retarded very considerably on account of the heavy rainfall which was spread over the greater part of the year. The total rainfall recorded on these works during the period was 58-75 in., the wettest month being February, when a.reading of 9-35 in. was registered. The work carried out consisted of the widening and deepening of 3 m. 32 ch. of drains the bottom width of which varied from 4 ft. to 8 ft. Despite the exceptionally heavy rainfall no flooding occurred in any portion of the completed drains. Paewhenua Drainage Scheme.—The Department has in hand the construction of 5 m. 55 ch. of drains in order to improve an area of 215 acres of swamp land to be used for farming purposes. During the period a total length of 121 ch. of drains were completed. Akaaka Swamp Drainage. —During the year a commencement was made with the widening and deepening of a further 88 ch. on the Eastern drain, and work duly completed brings the total length dealt with up to 11 m. 10 ch. Upper Waihou River Clearing.—'The clearing of this stream was continued during the year from one large camp with two steam log-haulers in operation. The work carried out over the period consisted of the clearing of large willows from both banks and the removal of heavy snags from the waterway over a length of 3m. 64 ch. All timber and rubbish was stacked and burned. Ohinemuri River Stop-banks.—The work of raising these stop-banks was commenced during the year. The right bank stop-bank round Paeroa Borough was raised over a distance of 82 ch. and 173 ch. of similar work was carried out on the left bank. The former work was completed just prior to the severe flood which occurred in February, and was the means of preventing the serious flooding of the Paeroa Borough area. Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement (Maintenance). —Operations were continued under a single men's camp scheme during the year, and the clearing of stop-banks between Mangaiti and Tirohia was carried out over a distance of 4 ni. 50 ch. In addition to this work, the drains were excavated on the inside of the Lower Waihou right bank stop-bank over a length of 2 m. 16 ch. between Ngahina and Netherton. Hoteo River Clearing. During the year a survey party was engaged in carrying out a survey of the Hoteo River and its tributaries in connection with the proposed willow clearing and general improvement to the drainage of the adjacent areas. The survey was carried out over a length of 48J m. and plans have been completed to date over 30 m. Sand-dune Reclamation Woeks. In addition to the season's planting programme, the work carried out in previous years was maintained, and replanting was also given attention where necessary. South Kaipara Heads.—Approximately 100 acres were replanted in marram, and 1,000 lb. of lupin-seed was gathered and sown during the period. A considerable amount of work was also carried out in the removal of mounds to prevent wind-channels. Woodhill-Muriwai-Helensville.—During the period a further area of 630 acres was planted in marram-grass and 4J tons of lupin-seed was collected and sown. The total area planted to date has now reached 8,290 acres, and, in addition, 760 acres have been replanted in various areas. The exceptionally heavy gales and storms experienced during the early part of the year caused considerable damage to marram and lupin plants, and a total of 760 acres was replanted in the various areas. Both marram and lupin are making fairly good progress. The nursery was enlarged during the year, and at present 70,000 pine-seedlings are lined out. There are also 8,000 two-year-old pines ready for planting out. During the year 24,000 pines were planted in Rimmer's Block. Pakiri Sand-dune Reclamation.—A total of 155 acres of marram and lupin was planted in this area, approximately half of which is located at the mouth of the Pakiri River with the object of preventing the sand-drift from silting the stream. In addition to this work 1J m. of fencing was erected to protect the planting at the mouth of the river. Both marram and lupin are thriving.

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