D.—l

The revenue on the Canterbury Schemes for the year was £266 and the workingexpenses £771. This revenue was mainly derived from the Redcliff Scheme, where the rates charged have not yet reached their maximum, the policy being to charge lower rates during the first few years whilst the schemes are being brought into operation to encourage farmers to prepare their land. The following graph shows the growth of irrigation acres under Government schemes in the last nineteen years : —

TOTAL AREA FOR WHICH IRRIGATION WATER IS AVAILABLE.

During the year legal and financial arrangements were finalized enabling portions of Levels, Waimate, Mackenzie, and Geraldine Counties to be brought within the scope of the Downs Water Supply Scheme commanding an area of 153,000 acres, and requiring 800 miles of pipe-lines to be laid to serve every property within the area with domestic and stock water.

XXVI