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Winchmore (Locality: Ashburton). —Area, 4,067 acres. Acquired, November, 1944, to May, 1947. Subdivisions, not yet finalized. This block, within the AshburtonLyndhurst Irrigation Scheme, extends from Lauriston to Dromore. One property was added to the block during the year. This season an area of 245 acres has been borderdyked and sown with permanent pasture and lucerne, bringing the total area to 817 acres. During the summer approximately 500 acres was regularly watered and received up to 2 ft. of water. The dry season resulted in all irrigated pastures being heavily stocked, and they stood the test well. Stock have done well and lambs have fattened and killed at good weights. A builder has started on the erection of three new houses, and a contract has been let for repairs to two houses. Five ex-servicemen are employed on wages with promise of a section, and other offerings on wages are pending. Lack of fencing-wire is seriously impeding development in irrigation areas, as small enclosures are essential to control the irrigated pastures by rotational grazing. Wingjield (Locality : Rakaia). —Area, 1,500 acres. Acquired, 20th March, 1945. Subdivision, three sheep and cropping units. Four hundred acres of new pasture were sown this season with a ton of lime to the acre and 138 chains of new fencing erected. It is proposed to settle the block in autumn, 1949. Two ex-servicemen are employed on wages with a right to permanent tenure. Commissioner of Crown Lands, Dunedin The Department has made excellent progress with pasture renewal, but the continued shortage of fencing-materials and the difficulty still being experienced in having buildings erected is delaying settlement. Where possible, however, ex-servicemen are being employed on a wages basis with the promise of ultimately being allotted an undefined section. It is anticipated that five blocks, comprising nine farms, will be settled on fixed charges early in the forthcoming season. The remainder are mainly dependent on buildings being erected. Arclif (Locality : Clinton). —Area, 2,893 acres. This area reverted to the Crown in 1940. Development was completed in September and the two sections were allotted to two ex-servicemen on fixed charges. Awamangu (Locality : Balclutha). —Area, 2,945 acres. Acquired, 18th August, 1944, and 10th April, 1945. Subdivision, five sheep-farms. This block comprises undulating to hilly country suitable for fat-lamb production and agriculture. Extensive pasture renewal is almost complete and the only buildings now required are three implement-sheds. Sor-e fencing still requires to be erected, but it is anticipated that the sections will be balloted on Ist April next. Three ex-servicemen are at present employed with promises of undefined sections. Berivick (Locality : Berwick). —Area, 393 acres. Acquired, 2nd December, 1946. Subdivision, three dairy-farms. This block comprises rich flat on the Taieri Plain near Berwick. Pasture renewal has been completed and provision of buildings and extension of water reticulation is in hand. Two ex-servicemen are at present employed with promises of undefined sections. Brock Hill (Locality : Oamaru). —Area, 672 acres. Acquired, 17th December, 1945. Subdivision, two mixed farms. This block comprises good sheep and agricultural country in the Oamaru district. Development was completed in August and the two sections were allotted to ex-servicemen on fixed charges. Clinton (Locality : Clinton). —Area, 625 acres. Acquired, 3rd April, 1946. Subdivision, two sheep-farms. Development was completed in September and the two sections were allotted to ex-servicemen on fixed charges.

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