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Thorndale (Locality : Edievale). —Area, 1,766 acres. Acquired, 4th April, 1946. Subdivided, three sheep and cropping farms. A considerable area has been regrassed, and final allotment awaits completion of building programme. Difficulty is being experienced in obtaining a builder for this purpose. Viewmont (Locality : Waikaka). —Area, 1,175 acres. Acquired, 12th April, 1945. Subdivided, two sheep and cropping farms. Development has almost been completed and a new dwelling is in course of erection. When this is completed the block will be settled, one section to be balloted for and the other has been allotted to the Grade " A " ex-serviceman manager. Willowburn (Locality : Clinton). —Area, 4,658 acres. Acquired, 12th April, 1946. Subdivided, three sheep-farms. Settlement is held up pending erection of buildings and fences. Commissioner of Crown Lands, Invercargill During the year three additional properties were acquired and six ex-servicemen were permanently allotted holdings on three blocks. The three properties acquired ■comprise the Dacre and Southdown Farm Settlements and an area of 1,319 acres added to Kenilworth Farm Settlement. There are now ten blocks under development comprising 17,298 acres, which will subdivide into forty farms. On all but two of the blocks the staff consists mainly of Grade " A " ex-servicemen who have a promise of a section when development is complete. Provision of accommodation has been a difficult problem. The shortage of materials is hampering rapid development and threatens to delay settlement of some blocks. On many of the blocks, however, the pastures are run out and ample work is available in regrassing. Farming operations continue satisfactorily, but the season has been unfavourable. Wet, cold conditions prevailed in spring and early summer, resulting in serious delays in getting crops sown. Excessively dry conditions obtained from January onwards, resulting in retarded pastures and accentuating the shortage of fattening-feed. Harvestingconditions were excellent and good hay crops were produced which will help to offset the mediocre root crops. Anderson Gift Block (Locality : Dipton).—Area, 600 acres. Acquired, 15th April, 1942. Subdivisions, two sheep-farms. This block was permanently allotted to two Grade " A " ex-servicemen in September, 1946. Balfour (Locality: Balfour). —Area, 1,363 acres. Acquired 21st January, 1946. Subdivisions, three sheep-farms. Development work necessary consists principally of renewal of run-out pastures, fencing, draining, and buildings. Some 302 acres are under cultivation and 100 acres of permanent pasture have been sown. Permanent allotment to the three ex-servicemen who are working on wages is expected to take place in 1948. Dacre (Locality: Dacre). —Area, 634 acres. Acquired, 10th June, 1946. Subdivisions, two sheep-farms. Two Grade "A " ex-servicemen are on wages with promises of sections. Some 219 chains of channels were dug with an excavator and 85 acres of bush and scrub were cleared with a bulldozer followed by the plough. Buildings are in poor order and a new house and a new implement-shed are required, and the existing house and wool-shed need extensive renovations. Charges will be fixed in 1948. Eastern Bush (Locality : Orawia). —Area, 938 acres. Acquired, 14th December, 1945. Subdivisions, two sheep-farms. When acquired the whole property was in run-out pasture, of which approximately 300 acres have been put into cultivation. Two houses and a woodshed have been renovated and 70 chains of new fencing and two new implement-sheds erected. Permanent allotment'' is expected to be given to the two ex-servicemen who are working on wages in the autumn of 1948, provided sufficient fencing-wire becomes available to enable essential fencing to be completed.

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