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Twenty-one minor river-works have been completed. In addition, larger works, some of which are still in hand, have been carried out in the Hinds, Temuka, Kakahu, Waihao, and Opihi Rivers and in Fairlie Township Creek. In all, this has involved 3 miles 16- chains of heavy and 3 miles 42 chains of light bank-protection, 65 chains of diversion cuts, and 3 miles 52 chains of stop-banks. In Chapman's Creek, in the headwaters of the Ashburton River, experimental work has been carried out in the control of high-country creeks. Two unusual winderosion jobs were undertaken in the Clyde River where blow-outs in sand-dunes threatened to cause major river diversions. The breaches in the dunes were blocked with drums of shingle backed up by brushwood fences. These are successfully trapping sand blown from the wide river-bed and restoring the dunes. Westland Catchment Board No big works have been carried out during the year in this district of numerous large and rapid rivers and heavy rainfall. In Big River a 12-chain diversion cut was made and is satisfactorily operating. A similar cut 3 chains long was made in the Mawhera-iti. The heavy protective work completed last year in the Taramakau near Inchbonnie is functioning satisfactorily. Half the area between the stop-bank and the river was planted with willows and poplars during the year and further planting is to be carried out during the coming winter. In the Poerua, 8 chains of rip-rap protection has been completed and existing work strengthened. In the Kokatahi River a 15-chain stop-bank was built and was being protected with fascines. It was breached by a flood in December and repaired. In February a heavy flood carried away the new work before it had been adequately protected, and then proceeded to wreck the whole bank. Proposals have been prepared for very heavy work at this point. Otago Catchment District This Board held its first meeting in November and has yet to obtain staff before it can become fully operative. However, a considerable amount of work has been done in the district, mainly by the Lower Clutha River Trust. Some work has also been carried out by the Taieri River Trust and by County Councils under the direction of the Ministry of Works. It has consisted almost entirely of the maintenance of existing works, repairs to flood damage, and some very small river-works. The Lower Clutha River Trust suffered a severe flood in November. In March there was another high flood which was just contained within the stop-banks. Inchclutha has experienced a series of large floods of recent years and, except for a few small drainage works, the whole of the activities of the Trust have been directed towards the repair and strengthening of the flood-protection works. The Taieri River Trust has completed the repair of the flood-gates at the Outer Area, Henley. This has amounted to almost complete reconstruction. Further work has been done to improve Lee Canal. A total of 1 mile 20 chains of the Waipori River has been cleared of willows. Channel improvements have been carried out in the Kyeburn River over a length of about a mile, and in the Hopwood Burn 300 ft. of training-bank has been repaired and -a further 500 ft. constructed.

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