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A further 4,000 acres of the undeveloped area is to be grassed by the spring of 1950, and there will be progressive development of the remainder of the block. From 1951 onwards it is hoped, subject to availability of necessary materials, to prepare for settlement twenty to twenty-five sections each year. Murupara, at Murupara, 180 acres. Acquired, July, 1933. One hundred acres are •considered suitable for development. This block is the remaining portion of the old established Murupara Small Farm Scheme, and its final disposal has not yet been decided, as it may be required in connection with State forest proposals in this district. In the meantime, the grassed area is let on temporary tenancy to neighbouring farmers for grazing. Ngongotaha, at Rotorua, 287 acres. Acquired, August, 1948. Objective: One mixed sheep and dairy unit. This block is badly reverted, and in the course of development will be controlled and crushed out by travelling stock belonging to the Department. Ngutuwera, at Tokoroa, 1,301 acres. Acquired, March, 1941. Subdivisional scheme not finalized, but should provide six or seven units. Development programme : Grassing, fencing, buildings, and water-supply. Progress : Forty acres of new pasture established and approximately 100 acres old pasture oversown and fences repaired. Development of the remaining area now in fern and scrub will be undertaken next year. Settlement should be possible in 1951-52. Pongakawa, at Pongakawa, 1,055 acres. Crown land set aside for development, ■September, 1948. Objective : Subdivision scheme not finalized, but it is expected that this block will provide six mixed farms. Development: The whole block which has reverted to scrub, fern, and second growth, is to be regrassed and buildings, watersupplies, and roads are to be provided. Puketurua, at Putaruru, 544 acres. Acquired, April, 1946. Development completed and three ex-servicemen established on dairy units in July, 1948. Putiki, at Edgecumbe, 1,326 acres. Acquired, June, 1946. Development completed and fourteen ex-servicemen settlers were established on dairy units in July, 1948. Rerewhakaitu, at Rotorua, 12,067 acres. Acquired : 9,474 acres in 1944, and 2,593 acres in 1945. Practically all capable of development. Subdivision not yet planned. Long-term-development block. Present access is unsatisfactory, and provision for better roading must be made before settlement can be considered. This is a picturesque block of country, lying between Mount Tarawera in the north and Kaingaroa State Forest in the south. It is easy rolling country rising to peaks of 700 ft., and the lower flat area lies round Lake Rerewhakaitu. A large part of this land is covered with Rotomahana mud of varying depths and with a sprinkling of Tarawera ash, and it should after development provide a large number of high-producing farms. The immediate objective is to grass the whole area, and to date 1,500 acres have been sown and a further 1,500 acres of virgin country are now being cultivated for new grass. Apart from the value of this development for farming, the grassing of the block will provide a fire-break which will give highly desirable protection to the adjoining State forests. Tokoroa, at Tokoroa, 5,201 acres, all of which is capable of development. Acquired in 1938 and 1944. Subdivision only partially completed, but estimated that will eventually subdivide into twenty-five farms, comprising fourteen dairy, ten mixed, and one sheep. Development to the settlement stage of nine units (eight dairy and one mixed), is practically complete and will be allotted July, 1949. In addition to the full range of new buildings erected for these sections, a new community wool-shed has also been erected. A further 1,470 acres of new country has been grassed and will be consolidated. The remainder of 794 acres undeveloped lies to the west of the Putaruru-Taupo Main Highway, and work on this area will be commenced next year. The final development should be completed in four years.

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