534
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 13

All in the Land District of Auckland; as the same are more particularly delineated on the plan marked P.W.D. 23614, deposited in the office of the Minister of Public Works, at Wellington, in the Provincial District of Wellington, and thereon coloured as above.

As witness my hand, at Wellington, this fourth day of February, one thousand nine hundred and ten.

R. McKENZIE,
Minister of Public Works.

Notice of Intention to take Land in Block X, Orahiri Survey District, for the Use, Convenience, and Enjoyment of Waitomo Caves House.

NOTICE is hereby given that it is proposed, under the provisions of “The Public Works Act, 1908,” to take the land described in the Schedule hereto for the use, convenience, and enjoyment of Waitomo Caves House. And notice is hereby further given that the plan of the land so required to be taken is deposited in the Post-office at Waitomo Caves, and is there open for inspection. And notice is also hereby given that all persons affected by the taking of the said land should, if they have any well-grounded objections to the taking of such land, set forth the same in writing, and send such writing, within forty days from the first publication of this notice, to the Minister of Public Works, Wellington.

SCHEDULE.

All in the Auckland Land District; as the same are more particularly delineated on the plan marked and coloured as above mentioned, and deposited in the office of the Minister of Public Works, at Wellington, in the Wellington Provincial District.

As witness my hand, at Wellington, this fourth day of February, one thousand nine hundred and ten.

R. McKENZIE,
Minister of Public Works.

“The Statistics Act, 1908.”—Second Interim Return of Corn and Green Crops, 1909–10.—Notice No. 1378.

Department of Agriculture, Commerce, and Tourists,
Wellington, New Zealand, 18th January, 1910.

THE following is an estimate of the area under certain crops, and the condition of the crops, on the 10th January, 1910:—

WHEAT.
Area for Threshing.

Year. Acres.
1909–10 .. .. .. 311,000
1908–9 .. .. .. 252,391
————
Increase .. .. .. 58,609

OATS.
Area for Threshing.

1909–10 .. .. .. 377,000
1908–9 .. .. .. 406,908
————
Decrease .. .. .. 29,908

BARLEY.
Area for Threshing.

1909–10 .. .. .. 41,500
1908–9 .. .. .. 48,853
————
Decrease .. .. .. 7,353

RYEGRASS.
Area for Seed.

1909–10 .. .. .. 56,550
1908–9 .. .. .. 50,126
————
Increase .. .. .. 6,424

COCKSFOOT.
Area for Seed.

Year. Acres.
1909–10 .. .. .. 29,500
1908–9 .. .. .. 32,705
————
Decrease .. .. .. 3,205

POTATOES.

1909–10 .. .. .. 30,500
1908–9 .. .. .. 29,919
————
Increase .. .. .. 581

TURNIPS.

1909–10 .. .. .. 522,550
1908–9 .. .. .. 530,636
————
Decrease .. .. .. 8,086

RAPE.

1909–10 .. .. .. 225,035
1908–9 .. .. .. 220,240
————
Increase .. .. .. 4,795

There is a large increase in the area of peas in Marlborough, and of maize in Auckland and Taranaki.

The weather during the month since 10th December has been generally dry, but relieved in most districts towards the close of the period by nice showers. At the end of December high winds did some damage to crops in exposed situations, but had a good effect in removing rust from cereals. Caterpillars were destructive in the Wairarapa, Marlborough, and parts of North Canterbury districts, but the rapid ripening of the grain checked their ravages. Hessian fly has appeared in several localities, but the damage from this pest has not been great. The effects of the absence of rain have been most serious in North and Central Otago and on parts of the Canterbury Plains, where the condition of the crops is now several bushels per acre lower than in December. In districts where the conditions have been favourable the crops, many of the earlier of which have been harvested, are even better than they appeared a month ago. Consequently the modifications in the present report compared with that of December are not of great magnitude, the most important occurring through the stunted growth and premature ripening of grain in North Otago.

Turnip and rape crops in Canterbury and North Otago were in a precarious condition from want of moisture, but have been greatly benefited by the recent rains. Pastures have been similarly improved. The hay-crop was secured in the best of condition, and was generally of fair bulk.

Potato-disease made no further spread until the close of the period under review, and then in few localities. The condition of the main crop is better than for some seasons past.

The appended table gives the figures for the several districts. It must be noted that the prospects of the crops are based upon the condition of the crops on 10th January, and are expressed in average yield per acre, as being the simplest form.

A further interim report will be issued in February.

THOS. MACKENZIE,
Minister of Agriculture, Industries and Commerce, and Tourist and Health Resorts.