C—B

During the months of April, July, and August the Kerepeehi Block drainage pump operated intermittently for a total period of 267 hours. The longest period of continuous operation was 62 hours. The pumping-station has provision for two pumps, but only one pump of 31,500 gallons per minute capacity has been installed. As the result of floods in the Piako River, flood-gate action at Kerepeehi was restricted for a period of twenty-two days, but fortunately there were only two days when there were no flood-gate discharges and the pump was able to cope with the drainage. The Piako River ferry service has been in continuous operation at Kaihere. Patetonga-Tahuna District. A working-party of five to seven men has been continuously employed on drain construction and maintenance in the Patetonga district: 30 miles 25 chains of main drains were cleaned and 21,069 cubic yards of material excavated for the improvement of 10 miles 60 chains of drains. During the summer months two gangs have been employed removing the willows on the banks of the Piako and Waitoa Rivers which had previously been killed by ring-barking and poisoning. Both banks of the Waitoa River have now been cleared for a distance of 3 miles 40 chains downstream from Whakahoro Road, and a reach of the Piako River 6 miles 70 chains in length between Whakahoro Road and a point 1 mile below Barnett's Bridge has now been cleared of willows and snags. During the summer an accidental fire caused the destruction of 2,000 acres of flax which was the principal source of supply for a large flax-mill which has been operating intermittently for a number of years at Patetonga. Establishment. In the office, workshops, and store at Kerepeehi a very competent staff has been busily engaged on work connected with the drainage operations and also several land-development schemes in progress outside the Hauraki Plains district. Engineering surveys carried out during the year required 114 miles 43 chains of traverses and 75 miles 48 chains of levels. Summary. The total length of subsidiary drains constructed on the Hauraki Plains since the inception of the scheme is now 855 miles 59 chains. The principal works carried out during the year, under review on the Hauraki Plains are summarized in the following schedule : — Length. Excavation. M. Ch. Cubic Yd. Drains cleaned by manual labour .. .. . . . . 76 00 Drains widened and deepened by manual labour .. 52 19 86,303 Drains constructed by manual labour .. .. 60 71 11.4,238 200,541 Drains cleaned by weed-cutting launch .. . . 10 27 Drains improved by machines .. .. .. .. 069 7,748 River and canal and stop-bank improvement by machines .. 4 0 130,323 Clay ballast delivered on peat roads by light railway .. .. 16,518 Clay ballast delivered on peat roads by motor-lorries .. .. 10 17,320 Number. Sleepers out and delivered for tramway .. .... . . 6,860 Road-formation .. .. .. .. 2 33 Road-metalling— Cubic Yd. Resurfacing .. .. .. .. .. 1 10 166 Two courses .. .. .. .. 0 40 1,080 Acres. Area cleared of scrub, rushes, &c. .. .. .. .. 955 Area sown in grass .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,274 River-banks cleared of willows and scrub . . .. 4 58 I have, &c., R. L. Innis, The Under-Secretary for Lands, Wellington. Chief Drainage Engineer.

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