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1949 NEW ZEALAND

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

Presented to Both Houses of the General Assembly in Pursuance of Section 10 of the Rangitaiki Land Drainage Act, 1910

Sir, — Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, 22nd June, 1949. I have the honour to submit herewith the report of the Chief Drainage Engineer on drainage operations on the Rangitaiki Plains for the year ended 31st March, 1949, pursuant to the provisions of the Rangitaiki Land Drainage Act, 1910. I have, &c, D. M. Greig, Director-General of Lands. The Hon. the Minister of Lands. REPORT OF THE CHIEF DRAINAGE ENGINEER Sir,— In accordance with the provisions of the Rangitaiki Land Drainage Act, 1910, I have the honour to submit a report of the work carried out during the vear ended 31st March, 1949. . Distribution of rainfall and drainage conditions in the district have been satisfactory for two consecutive years. The Whakatane River on one occasion caused some flooding. This must be expected every year until further protection schemes are undertaken. The Rangitaiki River did not overflow. Some country was inundated in July -by a breach in the Tarawera River stop-bank. Although the level of this river was particularly high, the breach in the stop-bank was not due to overflow, but developed from a bad seepage which caused the bank to collapse. In pumping areas some ground lay under water for a time as the result of phenomenal rainfall during coastal thunderstorms. On one day during April 6-35 in. of rain were recorded on the rain-gauge at Thornton. It is fortunate that on those occasions when pastures have been submerged during the year the period of inundation has not, in most cases, been injurious to grassgrowth. The rainfall for the year ended 31st March as gauged at Thornton was 61-82 in., which fell on 112 days. The wettest month was May, with 12-78 in., and the driest January, with 0-45 in.