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1948 NEW ZEALAND

RANGITAIKI LAND DRAINAGE REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1948

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly in pursuance of Section 10 of the Rangitaiki Land Drainage Act, 1910

Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, 21st June, 1948. Sir,— I have the honour to submit herewith the report of the Chief Drainage Engineer on drainage operations on the Rangitaiki Plains for the year ended 31st March, 1948, pursuant to the provisions of the Rangitaiki Land Drainage Act, 1910. I have, &c, D. M. Greig, Under-Secretary for Lands. The Hon. the Minister of Lands.

REPORT OF THE CHIEF DRAINAGE ENGINEER Sir, — In accordance with the provisions of the Rangitaiki Land Drainage Act, 1910, I have the honour to submit a report of the work carried out during the year ended 31st March, 1948. From the point of view of the farming community the year just closed should have proved a very satisfactory one. The rainfall has been fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. There were rather dry conditions after Christmas, but sufficient rain fell to keep pastures in good condition. There was heavy rain during July and some flooding from the Whakatane River. The Rangitaiki River, though high, did not overflow. The rainfall for the year ended 31st March, as gauged at Thornton, was 52-21 in., which fell on 106 days. This is slightly above the average, which over the last thirty years is 49-78 in. The wettest month was July with 7-49 in., and the driest February with 1-08 in. Practically all the work carried out during the year has been confined to the usual maintenance and improvements of main outlet drains. As most of these drains cross peat areas and pass through sand ridges the annual cleaning for removal of weed-growth has to be periodically supplemented by deepening and the removal of silt deposits. This work is usually carried out with a drag-line excavator. At the end of the year there were six excavators employed in the district. One new plant, an R.B. 19 drag-