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Wairarapa Catchment District Assisted financially by the Council, the Catchment Board made an experimental opening of Lake Onoke at a site not tried before on account of expense. This was so successful, and has been maintained so cheaply, that throughout the year maximum lake-levels, except during a flood, have been no higher than the previous minimum levels. This has permitted the grazing of a considerable area of marginal land that could previously only be used for short periods at long intervals. A heavy flood occurred in the Ruamahanga River in May, and had it not been for the new lake opening, extensive and prolonged inundation in the neighbourhood of Lake Wairarapa would have caused considerable damage and loss of production. The flood caused erosion at many points in the upper reaches and damaged a number of the Board's works. At Allsop's Bay a length of 89 chains of stop-bank has been set back on the west side of the river to provide a greater flood channel. This follows on after similar work on the east side done the year before. Further similar work is contemplated in a programme for the stage improvement of the channel between Lakes Wairarapa and Onoke. Besides a number of bank-protection works in the Ruamahanga, the Board has also carried out work in the Waipoua, Waiohine, Tauherenikau, Tauranganui, and the Waiorongomai, and minor works have been completed in other streams. Together all these works total 47 chains of willow-clearing, 75 chains of heavy bank-protection, 1 mile 29 chains of light bank-protection, 2 miles 6 chains of diversion cuts, and 1 mile 4 chains of stop-banks. As a result of the May flood, which was the biggest in living memory in the Tauherenikau, the scheme for diverting this river was amended and stop-banking extended farther upstream. This scheme has been approved and a subsidy granted. Negotiations are in progress regarding a loan to cover the local share of the cost, and it is intended to start work next summer. Nelson Catchment District A major scheme has been drawn up for the lower reaches of the Motueka River and negotiations for finance completed. The scheme provides for the protection of rich alluvial flats on which most of the Dominion's tobacco is grown. Although work has not begun in earnest, several urgently needed parts of the scheme have been carried out, consisting of 29 chains of rip rap, 35 chains of stop-banks, and 14 chains of willow-planting. In various places a total of 25 acres of willows have been cleared. Willows have been cleared from a choked length of the Anitoki and from two sections of the Waingaro River. In the Takaka River two cuts have been made and a bar at the entrance to Page's Cut removed. Good results have also been achieved by the removal of hard bars at the entrances to cuts at Fennel Island and Pugh's which has permitted the use of willows and retards to protect Pugh's Bend instead of the expensive rip rap previously proposed. Work is in progress on the Aorere River involving bank-protection, stop-banking, and channel-clearing. Together with twelve .minor works in various rivers and streams, these works aggregate 7 miles 52 chains of channelclearing, 56 chains of heavy bank-protection of anchored trees and willow-planting, 32 chains of light bank-protection, 38 chains of diversion cuts, and 58 chains of stop-banks. North Canterbury Catchment District As with Lake Wairarapa, low levels have been maintained in Lake Ellesmere throughout the year. This has been possible, partly due to the clemency of weather conditions, but also to the use of earth-moving plant which has been able to open the lake cheaply and expeditiously when conditions were suitable. For both these lakes,

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