C.—B

Kaihere Ferry The ferry service across the Piako River at Kaihere lias been continuously maintained. PIJMPrSTATION The drainage-pumping-station serving the Kerepeehi Blocks operated for 223| hours in June, July, August, September, and October. Surveys and Office Work Engineering surveys carried out on the Hauraki Plains during the year required 2.3 miles 23 chains of' levels, 2 miles 75 chains of traverse lines, and the taking of 92 cross sections. ' The clerical staff of the Kerepeehi office is responsible for the preparation of vouchers and fortnightly payment of wages and contract-moneys, ordering and distribution of stores, and the accounts and works costs connected with drainage and land-development operations on the Hauraki Plains and Waihi Drainage Districts. Summary The principal works carried out during the year on the Hauraki Plains have been summarized in the following schedule Length. Excavation. Miles. Oh. Cubic Yd. Drains cleaned by manual labour .. . . 124 35 Drains cleaned by weed-cutting launch . . 21 19 Drains widened and deepened by manual labour 7 32 11,781 Canals and stop-banks improved by machines .. 5 0 131,934 Acrea. Area of swamp harrowed or rolled with tractor .. 679 Area of swamp sown in grass . . .. .. 408 Expenditure and Rates.—Maintenance expenditure for the year amounted to £3,219, while £7,590 was expended on other works. The rates struck amounted to £3,085, and the collections, including arrears, totalled £3,290. I have, &c., R. L. Innis, Chief Drainage Engineer. The Under-Secretary for Lands, Wellington. STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS A statement of accounts is published in parliamentary paper 8.-l [Pt. IV].

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given; printing (508 copies), SA 10s.

By Authority: E. V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington. —1944,

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