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STATE DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES. TOKERAU MAORI LAND HOARD DISTRICT. The Tai-Tokerau or Northern district covers the entire peninsula North of Auckland, and fully one-quarter of the Maori population of Ao-tea-roa live within its boundaries. The lands of the settlers under individual occupation are in the majority small in area and poor to medium in quality. In this district the Department administers four large unit schemes, and thereby controls 860 Native farmers. In addition, there are sixteen large comprehensive schemes or stations embracing approximately 13,000 acres of grassland. In spite of a poor season from December onwards, dairy-production exceeded the record figures of the previous season. Cash proceeds to the Department from this source increased from £50,747 to £55,415. The live-stock generally wintered well, and this fact materially helped the stock to pass through the dry period in good condition. Throughout the district new development has been curtailed on account of the acute shortage of labour and essential materials such as fertilizers, fencing-wire, and building requisites. Of the two nominations for the Ahuwhenua Trophy submitted by the district for the annual competition, one competitor was placed fifth and the other eighth. The employment-promotion grants decreased during the year. The assistance was extended to a monthly average of 547 workmen, to which the Fund contributed £67,895, reflecting a decrease of £12,4-24 on the previous year. Until war restrictions were placed on building materials, the district building programme proceeded satisfactorily. The total number of cottages constructed during the year, under supervision of the Public Works Department, is 20, bringing the total number of houses erected to date to 483. The following table shows the progress made over the last six years : —

The principal features are summed up as follows : Area gazetted, 462,821 acres ; area developed and occupied by settlers, 124,242 acres ; area in grass on general schemes, 12,960 acres ; dairy cattle number 15,847 and other cattle run number 11,130 ; sheep carried number 17,977 ; while 349 bales of wool were produced. WAIKATO-MANIAPOTO MAORI LAND BOARD DISTRICT. The Waikato-Maniapoto or South Auckland district embraces the Waikato, Hauraki, and Kingcountry localities, and satisfactory progress has been made in all three areas during the year. The general weather conditions during the late summer were not favourable, and very dry conditions were experienced during January, February, and March. The total area gazetted is 65,758 acres, of which 29,674 acres have been developed and occupied by 227 individual Native settlers. The balance area includes 11,874 acres in grass and 562 acres in crops. These areas are administered as comprehensive schemes or stations. A steady increase in the number of live-stock carried is reflected in the reports for the undermentioned years: —

In spite of the unfavourable dairy season, the butterfat-production actually increased on last year's output. The table below shows the progress during the last six years Butterfat. Butterfat. lb. lb. 1937 .. .. 316,091 1940 .. .. .. 488,744 1938 . .. 361,611 1941 .. .. .. 719,834 1939 .. .. .. 448,140 1942 .. .. .. 785,068 The Aim when ua Trophy was awarded for the first time to a settler in the South Auckland district, the winner being Mr. Tame Pukunui, a Maori farmer near Te Kuiti. Another Native farmer in the Hauraki district was adjudged runner-up.

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1936-37. 1937-38. 1938-39. 1939-40. 1940-41. 1941-42. Season's butterfat-produc- 1,108,700 1,365,080 1,599,856 1,639,811 2,145,077 2,209,560 tion, in pounds Houses erected* .. 58 152 247- 391 463 483 Cow-sheds erected* .. 55 197 331 450 536 557 * Progressive totals.

1936. 1937. 1938. 1939. 1940. 1941. 1942. Dairy cows .. .. 1,800 1,945 2,370 3,041 3,263 4,053 5,177 g] leep 7,117 8,739 14,000 24,700 31,257 41,171 45,574 Run cattle 945 1,337 1,623 2,563 3,257 3,643 4,203