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Wanganui District In the Wanganui River near Taumarunui two cuts have been made totalling 48 chains in length, one at Mananui and the other at Winter's Island. Nine chains of light bank-protection has been completed in the Mangarohoe and Waitewhena Streams where debris from an opencast coal-mine was causing serious aggrading. The planting of the spoil dump to prevent further slumping is being done by the Mines Department. Wellington District The excavating of a channel for the Otaki River by means of a tower excavator was completed during the previous year. This year the plant has been dismantled and 70 chains of stop-bank built containing 29,000 cubic yards of material. An 8-chain •diversion cut has been made and 2,375 lineal feet of rail groynes built. The berms have # been planted with willows. In the Hutt River, flood-damage repairs have been carried out both by the Ministry •of Works and by the Hutt River Board. The latter body has also built two timber and two stone groynes and a gabion weir 15 chains in length. Christchurch District In the Inangahua River further bank-protection has been carried out, a stop-bank was built near Cronadun, and some small cuts have been made and snags removed to improve the channel. In the Maruia River two protection works have been satisfactorily ■completed. Near Westport 40 chains of Bradshaw's Creek has been cleared of snags and enlarged. Two cut-offs totalling 9 chains have been made. In the Little Totara 4 chains of protection and 22 chains of channel improvement were completed. Repairs have been effected to 3 chains of eroded stop-bank and 6 chains of breached bankprotection in the Waiau River near Spotswood. Willows have been cleared from islands in the Kowhai River near Kaikoura. In all, this work amounts to 1 mile 5 chains of heavy and 3 chains of light bank-protection, 41 chains of diversion cuts, 8 chains of stop-banks, and 1 mile 62 chains of channel-clearing. Dunedin District In the Waitaki Soil Conservation District at Duntroon 10 chains of bank-protection work has been completed in the Waitaki River. STAFF The Council wishes to express its appreciation of the enthusiastic work of its small but efficient staff. During the year resignations have caused a slight reduction in staff, and difficulties have been experienced in effecting replacements and additions necessary to ensure that the work of the Council is fully effective. APPRECIATION The Council desires to record its deep appreciation of the assistance willingly tendered by Departments of State, Catchment Boards, local bodies, and farmers within New Zealand and particularly to soil conservation and river control authorities in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, United States of America, India, and South Africa, without whose experience and information progress would be slow indeed. Signed on behalf of the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council: W. L. Newnham, M.1.C.E., Chairman.

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