G.—lo.

The station was badly infested with blackberry, and the annual cutting represented a heavy charge. A herd of goats was purchased and the result has exceeded expectations, the blackberry being now well under control. The carrying-capacity has been increased as follows : —

The prices obtained for the various classes of wool sold during the season and the average price per bale are shown in the table appended at the end of Part 111 of this report. Advantage was taken of unemployment contracts to effect improvements, and the following works were completed : Cutting and pulling scrub over 780 acres ; bridge repairs ; 130 chains of fence renewals ; 101 chains of new fences ; 150 acres of bushfelling ; sowing a new burn of 150 acres ; and regrassing 30 acres. Hakurenga Station. The blocks comprising the above station—viz., Waipiro A 15, A 16, A 20, and A 21, containing a total area of 2,817 acres, were vested during 1930 and 1931 under section 25 of the Native Trustee Act, 1930. The Native Trustee was previously interested in Waipiro A2O as mortgagee, and as this land could be worked to advantage with the other blocks it was decided to farm the four sections as one station. The lands had for many years been farmed by the Native owners, but for want of further capital the properties were slipping back, the stock was deteriorating, and the owners approached the Department with the request that the management should be taken over. This was done, and a general rehabilitation programme was taken in hand. The following comparison between the carrying-capacity of the first year and the stock carried during the last winter shows the progress that has been made : —

The prices obtained for the various classes of wool sold during the season and the average price per bale are shown in the table appended at the end of Part 111 of this report. A fair proportion of the area is ploughable and each year ten to fifteen acres are ploughed, cropped with swedes, and regrassed. During the year 80 chains of new fences were erected and 816 acres of scattered scrub were cleared. Other improvements consisted of the erection of a new shearers' accommodation and laying down 8 acres of new grass. To bring the property back to full productivity will require many years of careful handling and stocking. Recurrences of heavy losses in hoggets have caused setbacks, but with the cleaning up of the scrub and the renewal of pastures with good English grasses the position is rapidly improving. Rent is paid on portion of Waipiro A 15, but only to those owners who are not interested in the Incorporated Blocks—viz., Al5 (part) and A 21. Until the rehabilitation of the area is well in hand the question of annual payments to the owners of the Incorporated Blocks must stand in abeyance. It is considered that the first duty is to increase the carrying-capacity, and that all surplus receipts must either be reinvested in the property for this purpose or be used in reducing the overdraft. The financial position is quite satisfactory. Motuweka Station. The actual Native blocks that comprise this station are set out in the G.-10 report for the year ended 31st March, 1936, and although the blocks are individually owned the Native Trustee is farming the six areas as one station under the provisions of section 25 of the Native Trustee Act, 1930. Three of the areas —Porangahau 1b 4o 1a (651 acres), Porangahau Ib 4o 3 and Mangamaire B 13b (931 acres), and Whawhakanga F 4 (832 acres) —are held under lease and rent is paid in accordance with the leases. The total area of Motuweka is 5,621 acres, and the lands are situated near Porangahau. The homestead, men's quarters, wool-shed, and main yards are situated on a section owned by a deceased Native's estate, and the other blocks, whilst not contiguous to the homestead portion, are all within reasonable distance.

85

Sheep. Bun Cattle. Wool. Breeding-ewes. Others. Breeding-cows. Others. Bales. Proceeds. £ 1925-26 .. .. 991 371 70 195 25 436 1936-37 .. .. 3,008 4,110 244 179 146 2,560

Sheep. Run Cattle. Wool. Breeding-ewes. Others. Breeding-cows. Others. Bales. Proceeds. £ 1931-32 .. .. 764 3,292 79 192 Sold prior to vesting. 1936-37 .. .. 1,741 2,012 158 252 82 j 1,788