G.—lo.

Development of the areas made available was dealt with by breaking up the raupo and rush covered land on those portions which were not subject to leases to Europeans or retained by the Natives for the carrying of their own stock. It was hoped that by cropping these areas the Department would be reimbursed for its outlay, and, while the first season's operations were successful, it has been found that, with the return of wet seasons throughout Marlborough, cropping on such low-lying land must always be attended with a considerable risk. However, cultivation during two or three seasons has resulted in the major portion of the area handled by the Department being now in good heart for pastoral farming, and it is hoped to establish grass on approximately 150 acres during this coming season. An area of 97 acres retained by the Native owners is at present covered with heavy rushes, and it is hoped to break up and recondition this portion during the next year. To realize the ultimate objective of the scheme and establish the Native owners as self-supporting farmers, further improvements are required by way of subdivisional fencing, grassing, and the planting of shelter-belts. The land is ideally suited, both as to quality and location for dairying, and to this end future activity will be directed. The area under the scheme at the 31st March last was 828 acres, on which 18 men supporting 40 dependants were engaged. The receipts for the past season totalled £909. The year's activities embraced 18 chains of new fencing, with 120 chains of repairs ; 94 chains of new drains, with the cleaning of 800 chains of old drains.

STATISTICAL DATA ON IKAROA AND SOUTH ISLAND SCHEMES (SCHEME AND UNIT).

77

Subject. Heretaunga. Kaiwliare. Manawatu. Southland. Wairau. Totals. 1. Date first gazetted/acquired .. .. Aug., 1931 Dec., 1935 Aug., 1931 July, 1930 April, 1931 2. Number of schemes . . .. .. .. ., .. . . .. 5 3. Area gazetted to date .. .. Acres 2,000 514 809 2,500 828 6,651 Area developed to date .... .. Acres 2,000 300 617 1,600 280 4,797 Area ultimately to be developed .. Acres 2,000 514 809 900 480 4,703 Native area improved by flood- Acres . . . . .. .. 675 675 protection 4. Units: Tenure not settled .. .. 17 . . 5 18 . . 40 Additional labourers .. .. .. .. 7 . . 13 18 38 Other dependants (wives and children) .. 78 20 44 63 40 245 Total dependants .. .. 95 27 49 94 58 323 5. Unemployed labourers (included above) .. .. 7 . . .. 18 25 6. Live-stock tallies— Cows .. .. .. .. 196 .. 190 355 .. 741 Cows in milk at flush season .. .. 196 .. 176 355 .. 727 Other dairy stock .. .. .. .. .. 15 115 .. 130 Run cattle.. .. .. .. .. 60 .. 30 .. 90 Sheep— Rams .. .. .. .. .. 3 .. 13 .. 16 Other .. .. .. .. .. 100 .. 336 .. ' 436 Horses .. .. .. .. 15 .. 8 16 .. 39 Bulls .. .. .. .. 13 .. 8 11 .. 32 Pigs .. .. .. .. .. .. 51 .. .. 51 7. Carrying-capacity (estimate)— Cattle .. .. .. Acres N/A N/A i | Sheep .. .. .. Acres N/A N/A .. N/A 8. Receipts— Butterfat—Total poundage .. .. lb. 32,510 .. 27,369 37,222 .. 97,101 Department's proportion £ 579 .. 770 518 .. 1,867 WoolWeight .. .. .. lb. .. .. .. 596 .. 596 Total proceeds .. .. £ .. . . .. 34 .. 34 Sheep sales .. .. £ .. .. .. 491 .. 491 Cattle sales .. .. £ .. .. 55 137 .. 192 Crops and sundries .. .. £ 237 22 10 16 909 1,194 Total cash to Department £ 816 22 835 1,196 909 3,778 9. Year's activities —• Bush felling and clearing: Year Acres 400 300 .. 285 .. 985 Fencing— New .. .. .. Chains 715 118 60 77 18 988 Repairs . . .. .. Chains 200 186 200 50 120 756 Draining— New .. .. .. Chains 140 .. 30 78 94 342 Cleaning.. .. .. Chains 225 20 260 9 800 1,314 Grassing—■ New .. .. .. Acres 80 22 .. 20 .. 122 To date (approximate) .. Acres 160 22 150 308 .. 640 Other cultivation— New .. .. .. Acres 40 .. 20 12 .. 72 To date .. .. .. Acres 85 . . .. .37 265 387 Roading and repairs .. Chains 20 .. 190 0-5 .. 210-5 Cottages erected — Year .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 .. .. 3 To date . . .. .. .. 4 .. 6 .. .. 10 Cow-sheds erected to date .. .. 8 .. 4 .. .. 12