G.—lo

stations aggregating 132,703 acres, art area, of 72,000 acres, is, cut up into some twenty-five farms which are leased, and there is approximately a balance area of 20,000 acres, still undeveloped. The stock figures for the year ended 30th June, 1942, varied slightly from those of 1941, the tallies being: Sheep, 137,939; cattle, 16,253. More breeding-stock of both sheep and cattle is being run. The wool sold for the 1942-43 season amounted to 3,471 bales. The fat stock killed for the year ended 1942 was as follows: Lambs, 15,698; sheep, 17,613; cattle, 196.. There will be a large increase in the killing of fat cattle during the 1942-43 season. Again during the past year over one thousand sacks of potatoes beyond the requirements of the stations were grown and disposed to advantage. In addition, the Commissioner acquired for beneficiaries one thousand sacks of seed, which were distributed, and added materially to the potatoes grown for the Maoris' own use and for supply to the market. The Maoris were also assisted to produce large quantities of kumara, and to this end a special " Oliver " tractor plant has been operating in the Wairoa district on small areas of lands owned by Maori beneficiaries. On the Mahia Peninsula the owners in the Tawapata Block requested the Commissioner to supply them with facilities for fishing. A fishing-launch and two boats were procured, and in addition to a very large quantity of fish being caught for the Maoris' own use, over five thousand terakihi were caught and dried and forwarded to a Wairoa firm which enclosed the fish in air-tight tins, packed them in crates, and forwarded the supply through the National Patriotic Fund Board to the Maori Battalion in the Middle East. The Maoris of the Tawapata Block have now secured fishing licenses, and intend to endeavour to augment the supply of fish to Wairoa, Gisborne, and Napier. The season throughout has been, on the whole, a very favourable one, and good returns have been shown from all stations. On Omapere Station, of the Mangatu Block, a veiy fine Polled Angus stud is being developed, and on the Pukutarewa Station a Hereford stud, so practically the whole of the bulls required for the Trust will, in the future, be bred on these two places. A liomncy stud has been established for a number of years, and now supplies a very large proportion of the rams required. The sawmill established some years ago on the Mahurangi Station, Te Reinga, has for the past year been practically engaged the whole time cutting rimu, birch, and other timbers for war purposes and white-pine for the supply of pelt and tallow casks under special direction from the Timber Controller. During the past year the East Coast Commissioner invested a further £10,000 in war-loan securities on behalf of beneficiaries.

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