LAKE ELLESMERE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20107, 10 December 1930, Page 17

LAKE ELLESMERE.

drainage work COMMENCED. tractor and scoop operating. Alter having; considered many schemes for the drainage of Lake Filesmore—ranging in cost from £,:>O,OUU uowmvanl.s—the Ellesmere Land Drainage board recently accepted the offer of Messt.y A. !>. Paterson and Co. to give a demonstration. Messrs Paterson and Co. s tender for £"250 has been accepted a ik. the work of draining the lake was commenced yesterday, a caterpillar tractor and revolving scoop being used. It is anticipated that the work will be completed within two or three days. A deputation of lake .settlers who waited on the Board recently, stated that thev had not had ''a good year" l;\OJO acres of land are under water and when the lake is reduced to a low level this land will be usable for grazing during the remainder of the summer. hollowing upon a succession of southerly weather and heavy seas, the outlet to the lake closed on September 11 ill, c.l tor having remained open for lour woe!»s. At the time of clos.ng the water registered lOiu on the gauge —lit Gin above the normal closing level. The Hoard had then every reason to believe that the channel would remain open 10 or 12 weeks and also that, when closing, the water would be at a low level. As the result of two tides a bank over Gft high and chains wide formed. Later there was a rise of nine inches in 17 days. The bank was 7ft 6in h'.'gh and three chains wide. Farmers in the district have foli for some time tha't something should he done for the relief of settlers in the low-lying lands. Some hold the viev. that the land will improve 5(1 per cent, if the lake can he kept in its basin.