THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 1922. THE AWAITI BEOCK.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4421, 31 May 1922, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 1922. THE AWAITI BEOCK.

The policy of the Lands Drainage Department in concentrating its efforts on the Awaiti block is undoubtedly a commendable one. Of the seven dredges at present on the Hauraki Plains, four are working on this block. Some of the work of this modern machinery has already had a most beneficial effect on the land in the immediate vicinity, though it will be some time yet before it will be ready for settlement When the land is opened up in about a year,or eighteen months' time, it is expected that it will be -the most valuable on the iHauraki I’lains. it' is indeed very rich soil and may well be termed the garden of the Plains. The great help this block will be to the growth and prosperity of the nearest settlement, Kerepeehi, and the nearest town, Paeroa, is evident. In the 2,500 odd acres there is room for 50 fifty-acre farms. Kerepeehi has long looked forward to the day when it can be popularly known as the centre of the Plains and to those who wish the settlement to aspire to that honour, it may be, perhaps, predicted that that day is not far distant. The load which is now being commenced from Kerepeehi to Kaihere landing will not only open up a la-ge portion of this block but will also bring Kerepeehi closer to Kaihere and Patelonga and be on the main road from those places to Paeroa With the progress of the Awaiti scheme there is yet another important work that can be done. Patetonga’s present isolated position demands more suitable, easier and quicker .access to the outside world. The present distance by road to the nearest town, Paeroa, is about 32 miles, whereas with a road across the swamp, the distance could be reduced to about 9 or 10 miles, or less than one third of the distance. Of course it is well nigh impossible to make such a road over the swamp land as it is at present but there seems to be no apparent reason why this should not be the Department’s first work a r ter the opening up of the Awaiti. Besides giving access to the present settled portions of Patetonga and the northern part of Tahuna, it would open up an exceptionally large amount of hitherto unsettled land. Though the Department’s immediate objective is 2500 acres of the Awaiti it is evident that it is -only a portion of the larger scheme to drain the entire swamp. It is therefore the duty of settlers aud townspeople at present concerned to keep the proposal in view to see that the Department doos not fo-get it