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Progress with erection of dwellings and farm buildings remains slow, and this is undoubtedly the principal bottle-neck retarding settlement in this district. Very few contractors can be induced to accept country work, particularly in South Canterbury, and the possibility of using rehabilitation carpentry trainees is being investigated. Only nine dwellings, two wool-sheds, two cow-sheds, and ten other farm buildings were fully completed during the year, but a further five dwellings and three cow-sheds are approaching completion. Fencing-wire is practically unobtainable, and the position grows increasingly serious with every new block purchased. Supplies of fertilizer were erratic, and lime-distribution difficulties resulted in some areas of pasture requiring to be sown without lime or not at all. The deficiency will be remedied by top-dressing. Acton (Locality : Ashburton). —Area, 550 acres. Part Ashton Block. Subdivided, one sheep-farm. This area, comprising the balance of the Ashton Block, was allotted to an ex-serviceman on fixed charges in August, 1946. Barkerjield (Locality : Hinds). Area, 1,922 acres. Acquired, March, 1947. Subdivisions not yet decided. This block comprises light plains land and is included in the Mayfield-Hinds irrigation scheme. Development in prospect comprises erection of buildings and fences, and establishment of irrigated pasture as soon as irrigation water is available. Under irrigation, five or six units should be possible. Broadfields (Locality: Prebbleton). —Area, 624 acres. Acquired, Bth October, 1940. Subdivisions, two mixed farms. A very good season has been experienced on this block, on which an area of 360 acres remains to be allotted. Returns from farming operations during the past year have been satisfactory and the development programme is well forward. Three hundred and sixty acres, comprising one mixed farm, will be ready for offering in May. Chambers Block (Locality : Methven). —Area, 485 acres. Acquired, Ist October, 1946. Subdivisions, two irrigation farms, after establishment of sufficient irrigated pasture. This block is within the Ashburton-Lyndhurst irrigation scheme. One discharged serviceman manager on wages with promise of permanent tenure is employed, and the remaining section will be offered on wages as soon as a satisfactory dwelling is available. Cheviot Hills (Locality : Cheviot). —Area, 5,001 acres. Acquired, 28th February, 1946. Subdivisions, four sheep, one dairy. Four ex-servicemen are on wages, and an endeavour is being made to allot on permanent tenure later in the year, although delay with the building programme may cause postponement. Two new houses and one new cow-shed are in course of erection, and a contract has recently been let for the balance of the building work comprising dismantling and re-erection of farm buildings on new sites. One hundred acres of new pasture was established. The fifth section will be offered for selection not later than autumn, 1948. Dromore Block (Locality : Ashburton). —Area, 665 acres. Acquired, 2nd December, 1941. Subdivision, one sheep-farm. An area of 139 acres which was undeveloped for many years has been broken up and a reasonable fallow has been obtained. After another year this block should be fully developed as an economic unit. It lies just outside the Ashburton-Lyndhurst irrigation scheme. Fighting Hills (Locality: Rakaia Gorge). —Area, 3,319 acres. Acquired, JulyAugust, 1946. Subdivisions, five sheep-farms. The building programme includes three new houses, two wool-sheds, two implement-sheds, and renovations to one existing dwelling and the camp quarters. The sections will be offered as soon as the new dwellings are completed. Henleys (Locality : Lincoln). —Area, 97 acres. Acquired, 15th May, 1946. Subdivisions, one dairy-farm. There are no buildings on this block, and it is necessary to erect a house, milking-shed, and store-shed. Wet weather resulted in wheat grown on this block being disappointing. An area of 50 acres of new pasture was established. Offering must await erection of buildings.

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