The Hokitika Guardian WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 1922. SWAMP LAND DRAINAGE.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 August 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 1922. SWAMP LAND DRAINAGE.

An important report on land drainage methods in America was presented to parliament lately, from the pen of Mr J. B. Thompson, Chief Drainage Engineer of the Dominion, who visited the United States with the object of securing suitable plant to expedite swamp land drainage in New Zealand. Tho report is of special interest to Westland where there are many areas of swamp land, not of great extent, but in the aggregate constituting a very large area of country. Their reduced size should be some encouragement to set about tlieir effective drainage, for it is recognised the swamp lands generally are of good guality when drained

and as the works are not extensive nor prohibitive in initial cost, there is the encouragement to undertake the task, and so add to the available settlement land. Mr Thompson in times past, has visited the district and was impressed with the necessity and suitability for swamp land drainage, and under his recommendation proposals have been prepared by an officer of his Department for the works suggested. In the past Gvoernment drainage of swamp lands I'.i'i been confined chiefly to the North Island, where extensive areas have been reclaimed and converted into pasture land. It is very interesting to note that comparing the results with those of the United Statas. Mr Thompson is well pleased with what New Zealand has achieved in drainage work. While in America the Engineer purchased a good deal of plant which is to be distributed on arrival in the North Island, and will facilitate work in that quarter. In closing his report, Mr Thompson writes of the future of the land drainage movement in New Zealand and goes on to say, referring to the past his. tory as follows : In the initial stages of the movement comparatively small areas of swamp lands were being drained by community or private enterprise working under the Land Drainage Act. The reclamation of large areas could not well be financed without Government aid, and finally parliamentary sanction was obtained to the proposed development of what was then known as the Piako Swamp, but now as the Hauraki Plains. An enabling Bill was brought down for this particular area, and later for the Rangitaiki Plains area and the results obtained by the drainage operations called forth applications'from many districts for similar aid. Tho old procedure of individual empowering Bills was then decided to be too cumbersome and the Government of the day decided to bring down a measure which would enable it to handle subsequent applications. This measure was finally placed on the statute book as the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915, the Hon. Minister of Lands being the administrative authority. To date, the drainage operaCarried out undor Government control have resulted in bringing previously useless swamp laud to profit, and expectations have been more than realised. These operations ore incomplete ns regards present undertakings, and there are many areas untouched; which it will pay to take in hand. One cannot be too enthusiastic in the matter of land-reclamation and the watching of seemingly irreclaimable areas coming to profit is very’ heartening. There is a big field of undeveloped possibilities in New Zealand, that can be best carrie- 1 out by tile Government under its own Swamp Drainage. Act, 1915, or by community enterprise working under the machinery of the Land Drainage Act, 1908. There are many purely swamp areas throughout the Dominion, perhaps small individually, hut large in the aggregate, which must, in the ordinary course of events, bo reclaimed. Then come the large tracts of marsh lands on the foreshores of the ooast. The periodically flooded bottom lands in the flood-plane slopes of rivers is another avenue for development. Fortunately, gravity drainage governs the large proportion of future possible reclamation projects. Installation of low-lift pumps will ho necessary’ to deal

with certain of the areas. Generally, the field is a broad one, and offers every inducement for investigation. There will without’ doubt come a time when necessity will demand intensive cultivation of swamp and marsh areas; 'holdings will become smaller, and the necessity for close drainage of same will arise. To meet these conditions tile drains will be required, in sizes of"6in. and upwards. Their use has been most successful, and they will eventually largely replace open ditches, which occupy so much land. It is recognised in Canada and in the United States that practical assistance by the respective Governments is required in the direction of providing reliable data for information of Drainage Boards, settlers and engineers, and to this end there exists an investigation staff. The > Dr inage Investigations Bureau of thp

United States is a most v aluable branch of the Federal Government and might well be adopted as a model for requirements in New Zealand and elsewhere. Although practically all officers of the Land Drainage Branch are construction men, yet it should be possible to incorporate with their duties some measure of investigational research, pro. vided junior assistance is given them in tne way of avoiding tho personal daily round of visits to tue various instruments, recorders, test pits, etc. It is suggesteu that tne time is ripe to undertake local investigations in regard to tue lollowiug; j/iecipitation (raniiahi; i un-off; evaporation; soil nioas- ! ture; subsidence of drained, land; how t of water in artificial canals and ditches; saturation; water taole research. At I present our means of determining the | run oh of ally particular watershed are meagre, and tue approximate deductions ! arrived at unreliable. Tnis branch siiouid be in a position to offer sound ; advice to drainage districts upon these most important questions, for upon it depends tlic size ol ditches necessary (to accommodate storm water, the spacing of same, aiid the depths ik- | cessary to enable a wntertable as possible being maintained. The value j of sucli work would be greatly enhane- | od by the issue of bulletins from time i to time.

Tjue meeting held on Monday afternoon in respect to the projected exhibition to mark the, diamond jubilee of Westland indicates that the matter is kept rather more than steadily in view, and that there is an earnest desire to see the important event brought to pass in due course. It will be a mast important happening for the whole West Coast, focussing as it will Dominion attention on the district. The opening of the through Midland railway’ will mark an epoch in the history of the Coast of outstanding prominence, and the occasion is worthy of the fullest recognition. The form of commemoration is a noteworthy one, for it will enable a real celebration to mark | the progress and above all, the potenj tinlities of the Coast. The gold rush i of tho sixties brought population to i the Coast which resulted in the opening up of the district, “the new rush” at the end of sixty years rendered possible by the railway connection with the whole of the South Island system, will be no less notable In bringing great crowds of jicople hero to see tho country. This friendly Invasion cannot be otherwise than good for the place, and increased settlement and a growth of population will result. The exhibition movement should have the fullest support from all classes of citizens for it will cater for all. In every walk of life the impetus to business will bo most marked, and the benefits of the increased trade will he reflected all round. At the moment, the movement centres round the support- to be rendered by the Industrial Associations ■ of the Dominion, and that afforded the success of the exhibition will be assured. There is already-, practically, the promises by the Canterbury Progress League of Mr Climie’s services as director of the exhibition, and with that material help available from our East Coast friends the whole project promises to be launched very satisfactorily.