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Oeddes' Block (838 Acres). (Control: Superintendent of Land-development, Te Kuiti.) This section was until recently held under renewable lease subject to a mortgage to the State Advances Corporation. The lessee was unable to carry on, and following forfeiture of the lease the property was offered to the Small Farms Board, which decided to acquire the interest of the mortgagee and proceed with reconditioning. A start has not yet been made with the work. Jacobs' Block (250 Acres). (Control: Superintendent of Land-development, Te Kuiti.) This section was practically all reverted and was very badly ragwort infested. Work commenced about a year ago, and has been confined to clearing and fencing. Seven acres have been sown in swedes, 245 chains fencing have been erected, approximately 80 acres of scrub have been cut and burnt, and a total of approximately 150 acres have been surface sown. No new buildings have yet been erected on this section, on which the work is about 50 per cent, completed. The block is in the Totoro Survey District, Waitomo County. Stock carried : Sheep, 245 ; run cattle, 48. Nicol's (163 Acres). (Control: Superintendent of Land-development, Te Kuiti.) This was a forfeited section infested with ragwort and blackberry and partly reverted to short manuka, and in addition there were 43 acres of heavy manuka. Work has been in progress for about a year, and* the following has been completed : The house has been renovated, 70 acres cleared, 26 acres cultivated, 157 chains new fencing erected, and 21 chains of drains dug. A gravitation water-supply has been installed. Work is approximately 75 per cent, completed. The block is situated in the Totoro Survey District, Waitomo County. Eleven men are employed. Stock carried : Sheep, .396 ; run cattle, 51 ; dairy cattle, 2 ; horses, 4. Mapara Block (211 Acres). (Control : Superintendent of Land-development, Te Kuiti.) This was a forfeited section- badly reverted and ragwort infested. Work has been proceeding for approximately eighteen months. One house has been renovated, 100 acres cleared, and 150 acres cultivated, of which 44 acres have been sown in new grass ; 335 chains new fencing have been erected and 130 chains drains dug. The work is approximately 50 per cent, completed. Six men are employed. Stock carried : Sheep, 126 ; dairy cow, 1 ; horses, 4. Large numbers of sheep and cattle have been carried intermittently. Ngatamahine Block (2,733 Acres). (Control: Superintendent of Land-development, Te Kuiti.) This block, situated at Wairere Falls, Waitomo County, was acquired from Messrs. Tucker and Wilson in 1933. It was one of the original purchases of the Board. Development was started by the Public Works Department, but the Superintendent of Land-development, Te Kuiti, has now assumed the complete control. During a period of five years, eleven houses and seven cow-sheds have been erected, five separate water-supplies installed, 1,065 acres has been cleared, 626 acres cultivated, 824 acres sown in new grass, and 1,540 acres of old grass has been reconditioned. The new fencing erected totals 2,073 chains and. in addition, 887 chains of old fencing has been repaired. A drainage system involving the cutting of J ,109 chains of new drains has been completed. One set of sheep-yards with dip has been provided. The work on this property, which is providing employment for fifty men, is approximately 85 per cent, completed. Stock carried : 3,660 sheep, 419 run cattle, 312 dairy cattle, and 21 horses. Separate herds are being milked in seven sheds by prospective settlers. Northcott's Block (514 Acres). (Control: Superintendent of Land-development, Te Kuiti.) When the lease of this section was forfeited in April, 1937, it was decided that the Small Farms Board should purchase the interest of the mortgagee, the .State Advances Corporation, and proceed with reconditioning under the control of the Superintendent of Land-development, Te Kuiti. One hundred and eighty-six acres of Crown land adjoining was also set apart for the purposes of the scheme, and the two areas are being worked as one section.

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