1).—1

Motueka River Survey. —A survey of this river from the point where it enters the plain to the sea, a distance of approximately 4 m. has been carried out with a view to designing a scheme for the protection of the Motueka Borough, the State highway, and the valuable farm lands in this area. The scheme will probably consist of stop-banking and protective works. The survey plans and reports have been finalized by the contractor and have been submitted to this Department for inspection and check. The survey has been carried out by the Motueka River Board by contract under a Government subsidy. Picton Foreshore (Reclamation). —Proposals for the reclamation of approximately 1 acre of the foreshore of Picton Harbour have been put forward by the Picton Borough Council as part of a reclamation scheme in this locality. The scheme is designed to beautify the foreshore and to provide increased recreational facilities for visitors to this popular resort. Permission has been given to the Council to carry out the work by day labour, and the job is now in progress. Wairoa River, Brighiwater (Protective Works). —Practically no construction work has been carried out during the year, but survey operations over the whole area from Wairoa Gorge to the sea have been pushed forward, about 20 m. of traversing and levelling have been completed, and numerous sections have been taken across the river. The field-work is now practically completed, and plans and report for a comprehensive scheme are now well advanced. Fireblight-prevention. —All camps were closed down towards the end of last year, and no further work has been carried out under this heading during the current year. Canterbury District. Ashburton and Hinds Rivers : Flood Control Survey.—During the year extensive surveys have been completed on the Ashburton and Hinds Rivers. These surveys will enable a proper scheme of control to be laid out so that all improvement work undertaken in future will fit in with a comprehensive long-range plan. Ashley River Control Works. —During the year the extensive programme of control work has been actively pursued, and the work is now in hand in a well-advanced state of completion. In view of the experience gained during the flood of March, 1936, the embankments and groynes have been raised above the previously designed heights. The work completed during the year is as follows : — Formation : North stop-bank, 3| m. raised and completed. South stop-bank, 6f m., raised and completed. The total earthwork involved is 261,500 cubic yards. Stone Gabions : 5,000 cubic yards of stone gabion work have been built at the various groyne heads. Willow Planting : 131 acres of planting have been done in an orderly manner to prevent erosion and add security to the work. Channel-clearing : 58 acres of channel have been cleared to give improved waterway where it is required. Other works comprise 26 acres of grassing, eight culverts, and 14 m. of fencing. Kowhai River Protection. —A small groyne was constructed to prevent local erosion. Opihi River Flood Control. —Protective works were established near the Levels Irrigation Scheme intake to fit in with future work when undertaken on that river. Tuahiwi Drainage Scheme. —This work was carried out in the Native Reserve under the No. 5 Scheme, employing Kaiapoi Natives. 171 ch. of drains have been completed, and, although this is only portion of the scheme, the benefits are already apparent. Greymouth District. Karamea River Control. —The lower reaches of the Karamea River have become silted to such an extent that almost continual flooding of the Karamea Township adjacent land has occurred, and the control of the river became an urgent matter. This silting was caused by large quantities of coarse granite sand being brought down from extensive slips that occurred in the upper watershed during the Murchison earthquake and partially filling the river-channel. The remedial measures comprise the construction of a rock wall at the entrance and at Otumahana Bend for confirming and training the river, and general stop-banking of the Karamea River flats. The work was authorized in August last, and the amount completed to date is 2 m. of tram-line, 2,100 lineal feet of trestle-work, 10,000 tons of stone training-wall, and 49 ch. of stop-bank formation, or approximately 14 per cent, of the total. Hokitika River Protective Work. —A large gabion protection was constructed to close a dangerous flood overflow channel at Camelback, which threatened a large area of pastoral land at Koterangi.

SMALL-FARMS SCHEMES. Auckland District. Mangawai Kauri-gum Reserve.—During the year good progress was made with the development of this block in continuation of the work carried out last year. In addition to roading, which has been reported elsewhere, 610 acres were cleared of scrub ; gum-holes were filled in and moulds levelled over an area of approximately 300 acres, 145 acres were worked up and sown in grass, and a further 80 acres have been ploughed. The main drain through the block, which is 18 ft. by 15 ft., has been deepened 6 ft. over a length of 1 m. 54 ch., 7 m. 35 cli. of interior drains averaging 3 ft. by 3 ft. 6 in. were excavated, and 2m. 65 ch. of standard fencing erected. The work is being carried out by this Department with unemployed labour.

54