PROGRESS OF WORKS IN NAPPIER

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 210, 21 September 1937, Page 8

PROGRESS OF WORKS IN NAPPIER

I *»! ■ I — Comprehensive Tour By Harbour Board Meinbers AHURIRI LAGOON SCHEME A comprehensive tour of the dovelopment works in the Napier district in. which the board is directly interested, was undertaken yesterday afternoon by members of the Napier Horbour Board* The tour embraced the Marewa Block, the Richmond Farm Settlement, the Ahuriri Lagoon and the harbour construction scheme at the Breakwater. ^ During their visit .to the Ahuriri Lagoon board members had the assistance of Mr F. R- Burnley, Commissioner of Grown Lands at Napier, as represen tative of the Small Farms Board, and 31r A.. Dinnie, district engineer of Publie Works at Napier. Both • officetrs explained variou3 aspects ot the schemes as they affected their rdspective departments. Marewa Residential Area. The first point to claim the attention of the p'arty was the 31arewa Block, in the residential area of which -no fewer than 95 sections have been disposed of and a large number of attractive new liomes erected. 3!eimbers inspected the roading on the block, the headquarters of the Hawke's Bay Lawn Tennis Club, the newly-developed Marewa Park and the drainage system which is being / piaced in operation. At the Richmond Farm Settlement, members of the board were greatly impressed with the state of many of. the five-acre farms and the high standard of cultivation and deveiopmant of their. holdings wliich is being maintained by the settlers. On arrival. at the Ahuriri Lagoon opportunity was taken of traversing a number of the newly-cons'truc-ted back Toads as far as the pumping stations on the main gravity outfall channel, where an informal discussion took place between members of the board and Messrs Burnley and Dinnie, Fertiliser Experimentation . Keen interest was evinced by members of the party in -fertiliser experimentation which is being carried cmt on a small area of the lagoon. On this area 10 distioict strips of land, each about three chains long, -have been set aside for treatment, and as was explained by Mr Burnsley, fertilisers of various types were put down on August 27 Jast. The types of fertilisers einployed, and tbe results obtained during the period since August 27, were stated to be as follow*. — No 1 strip : Super, laid at tho rate of 3cwt per acre. Little response as yet. No 2 strip : Super (3ewt) and sulphate of arfimonia (2cwt). Area very; green, enabling it to be well grazed. Rye growth predpminates. No 3 strip: Sulphate of ammonia ('3cwt),* Responding well. Rye growth good and white clover strong. No 4 strip: A check strip (no topdressing). Both rye growth and clovers poor. No 5 strip : Basic slag (4cwt). Brown, but growth good. Rye fair. No 6 strip: Basic slag (2cwt) and sulphate of ammonia (llcwt). Showing good growth; colour good- Both rye and clover growth good. Area well grazed. No 7 strip : Burnt Iime (5cwt). Clovera showing well, but colours not good yet. Rye growth good. No 8 strip: Sulphate of ammonia (3cwt) and burnt lime (5cwt). Rye growth fair and clovers showing fairly well. No 9 strip : Super (3cwt), burnt lime (ocwt). Little response yet. Rye. only fair. Clovers beginning to show. No 10 strip: Check strip. Quick-Acting Manure Before the iertilisers were applied the areas being treated showed only a fair growth of ryegrass, with oceasion^l bare patclies and signs of brownness. The strips showing the best results today are those on which sulphate of ammonia, a quick-acting manure, has been 0 used. It will be necessary to wait for some months to see which is really the most effective top-dressing manure. As far as stocking" is concerned, members of the party wero interested 111 the progress of the flock of 1100 breeding ewes and the 100 liead of cattle at present quartered on the «>outheTn end 'of the lagoqn. It is anticipated that when the lambing season coneludes there will be about 850 or 900 lambs on the area. Appreciation of Effortfc The opportunity was taken by the chairman of the board, Mr Trevor M. Geddis^ to eonvey to Messrs Burnley and Dinnie tlie appreciation of tho members of the board of their enthusiasm and synipathetic interest in cho dovclopinent scfieme. Among tfieir numerous duties the brealring-in and drainage of the lagoon lands had, virtually aiuounted to a hobby with them, iie said, and those sconnected with the scheme were grateful for their untiring cfforts, Mr Geddis 's remarks met with the applause of those present. Members of Ino party were impressed by tlie transformation whicli has taken place on the lagoon, where sheep and cattle are now grazing on an area once covercd by water. General satisfaction was vo.'.ced at the manner in which the programiue has been carried out. and at the ivonderful potentialities of the board 's endowment. The party later visited the Breakwater, where they inspected the works in progress, notably the plant which has been piaced in position in readiness for the construction of the No. 3 wharf. The operation of the plant was explained by tlie board 's engineer, Mr G. W. B. Lowson.