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Spring Creek (Locality : Methven). —Area, 337 acres. Acquired, 2nd December, 1946. Subdivision, one sheep and cropping unit. It was proposed to acquire sufficient adjoining land to make two irrigation farms, but this was not possible, and it is now proposed to allocate the block as one unit. Eighty-six acres of new pasture have been sown and 215 tons of lime applied. Forty-seven chains of new fencing have been erected. Stonehaven (Locality : Ruapuna).—Area, 1,285 acres. Acquired, 23rd May, 1947. Subdivision, two sheep and cropping units. No contract has yet been let for the erection of a new dwelling and combined shed and renovations to the existing dwelling, but early offering is intended with temporary accommodation for one of the settlers. Stormlea (Locality : Methven). —Area, 1,017 acres. Acquired, 30th October, 1946. Subdivision, three sheep and cropping farms. A contract has been let for the erection of a dwelling and store-shed and renovations to existing dwellings and buildings. Two hundred and seventy acres of new pasture were sown and 400 tons of lime applied. Eighty chains of new fencing were erected during the year. Three ex-servicemen are employed with right to permanent tenure and it is proposed to allot them their sections within the next few months. StoivelVs (Locality : Esk Valley).—-Area, 570 acres. Acquired, 21st July, 1947. Subdivision, one sheep and cropping farm. No progress has been made with the securing of additional land and it may be necessary to settle this block as a single unit. An ex-serviceman manager is employed. Strathallan (Locality : Eairlie). —Area, 2,341 acres. Acquired, 23rd March, 1948. Subdivision, three sheep and cropping farms. The only development required is extensive alterations to three dwellings, farm buildings, and sheep-yards, and erection of one new implement-shed and 75 chains of new fencing. It will probably be necessary to settle on wages in the first instance. Templeton (Locality : Geraldine). —Area, 184 acres. Acquired, 14th June, 1943. Subdivision, one dairy-farm. During the year a new milking-shed and yard and a new concrete piggery have been built. The block is now fully developed and ready for settlement. It will be offered next spring. Tripp (Locality : Geraldine). —Area, 665 acres. Acquired, 20th May, 1940. Subdivision, one sheep and cropping farm. This block is now almost fully developed. Mole draining over a large area has shown good results. Consideration is being given to the question of suitability of the block for settlement of an ex-serviceman. VaUtta (Locality: Ashburton). —Area, 8,815 acres. Acquired, 1940-47. Subdivision, ultimately twenty-five irrigated fat-lamb units. This, block lies within the proposed Valetta-Tinwaid Irrigation Scheme. No irrigation water will be available for some years and the block is being farmed on a maintenance basis. Vieivbrae, previously named Chambers (Locality: Methven). —Area, 485 acres. Acquired, Ist October, 1946. Subdivision, two irrigation farms. An area of 70 acres to 80 acres is to be added to this block to strengthen the units, and the block will be settled as soon as this is done. Builders are working on the new dwelling and wool-shed. An ex-serviceman manager is employed with right to permanent tenure. Waikakahi (Locality : Waimate). —Area, 766 acres. Acquired, 22nd August, 1940. Subdivision, five dairy-farms. Four sections, totalling 611 acres, were allotted to settlers in August, 1947. The remaining section is to be settled next spring. A builder is at present working on the block and should soon complete the building programme. Waratah (Locality: Fairlie). —Area, 4,743 acres. Acquired, 15th May, 1945. Subdivision, two sheep-grazing farms. The two ex-servicemen employed on wages were allotted their sections on 28th July, 1947.

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