PATETONGA NOTES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4371, 27 January 1922, Page 4

PATETONGA NOTES.

FACTS FROM SETTLERS. Moving round from one to another, quietly chatting about everything in general but nothing in particular, a person can often learn more about a district than he would pick up by an<’ other means. As a result of a few of these talks there ar,e revealed a few interesting facts, probably not of exceptional moment to the Patetonga folk, but to one not intimately acquainted with the district the ing facts may be of interest. They say that after heavy rains, four or five days elapse before the flood waters from the upper reaches of the drainage system, round about Morrinsville and. Tahuna, reach Patetonga. Some of the land west of Patetonga is in a slight basin, and easily flooded, and it is some time before the water can get away. That land may flood several days after the rain has ceased, and by the time tne flood waters have subsided rain is often descending again. It is said that the WaitakaruruMaukoro canal is the secret of the drainage system in that area. It was recently stated that the dredge at present working on the Waitakaruru end of the canal could dig only 12 chains per month, so that as there are 14 to 20 miles of drain to be dug and only two miles have been done already, it will be quite a time before the cana 1 is completed. Quite a number off Patetonga: people are indignant that Patetonga has been omitted from tile proposed Parliamentary tour itinerary? . They wonder why places of lesser importance have been included, but no menti.on made of Patetonga. Speaking about the Parliamentarians’ visit, the people not only in Patetonga but in several other parts of the Hauraki Plains would like to have the honourable members on 'the roads in the winter time. One man remarked that he Would like to see the Prime Minister and some of his colleagues, shod with gum boots, struggling round at the back of his farm. \ • Some of the peat lands, thle settlers say, have sunk six feet in seven years..