HAURAKI SWAMP LANDS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4397, 31 March 1922, Page 2

HAURAKI SWAMP LANDS.

PROGRESS OF DRAINAGE. ROADING THE DIFFICULTY. AREAS OPEN FOR SOLDIERS. The drainage work at Hauraki were the subject; of some remarks, in Auckland on Wednesday by the Minister for Lands, the Hon. D., Hr Guthrie, who said that sincei the new machinery imported, from America had been employed excellent progress had been made. , .Mr Guthrie said there regained some 40,000 acres to be drained, and when the scheme was completed there would be between 80,000 and 90,000 acres o£ first-class; agricultural and pastoral country which should be wonderfully productive. Up io the present a total of 45,000 acres had been drained and disposed of. The main difficulty was in getting suitable roading material. The roads were mostly* of peat formation, and some trouble was experienced in get? r-ting a sufficient quantity of clay to cover them. It would take time to provide the reclaimed area with suitable roads. Within a few months 1000 acres of land in this area Would be-offered for selection, and as. other blocks became available they would be opened up. The lapd would, in the first instance, be offered to returned soldiers, and if it was not taken up within a reasonable period it would, be disposed of under the Lands for Settlement Act.