8

1949 NE W ZEALAND

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY SWAMP DRAINAGE REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1949

Presented to Both Houses of the General Assembly Pursuant to Section 13 of the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915

Sir, — Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, 22nd June, 1949. In pursuance of section 13 of the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915, I have the honour to forward the report of the Chief Drainage Engineer covering operations on lands proclaimed under the Swamp Drainage Act and amendments. I have, &c., D. M. G-reig, Director-General of Lands. The Hon. the Minister of Lands.

REPORT OF THE CHIEF DRAINAGE ENGINEER Sir, — I have the honour to submit my annual report for the year ended 31st March, 1949, on the areas proclaimed under the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915, and its amendments. Arrangements have been made for the field and engineering work associated with the Department's drainage activities to be undertaken by the Ministry of Works as from Ist April, 1949. Kaitaia Drainage Area (61,430 Acres), Mangonui County The cleaning of main drains and repairs to flood-gates have been the principal activities carried out in this district during the year ending 31st March, 1949. Drains widened and deepened by manual labour include West's and Wild's Drains and portion of Matthews', Puckey's, and Reed's Drains. A new f-cubic-yard drag-line excavator, which had been on order for nearly three years, arrived in Kaitaia on 9th February and commenced work on Puckey's Outfall, This machine will be employed on drain-improvement works, which will occupy about four years. Consolidation of the peat land is causing drainage difficulties, particularly in the Lake Tangonge Basin, where the land-drainage and flood-control problems are inseparably connected. The permanent reclamation of this area will require further floodcontrol works of some magnitude, and preliminary surveys are now being carried out by the Ministry of Works.