UP THE PIAKO RIVER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4473, 29 September 1922, Page 2

UP THE PIAKO RIVER.

c THROUGH HEART OF PLAINS 1 . UNDEVELOPED SWAMP LANDS. THEIR FUTURE POSSIBILITIES For one who wishes to see the three stages of the transformation of. desolate swampy wastes in v to wonderfully fertile and extremely productive pastures it is best to make a trip up the Pirko River from the mouth to Tahuna- From the deck of a steamer one can. see for miles across the flat country; see in the lower regions every indication of prosperous and comfortab'c homesteads on the -cow per acre land; see higher up the wonderful dredging machines at work on the lands which at the present day are undergoing the transformation ; and see, higher up still, the sheets of stagnant water, clumps o( ti-tree, unfenced acres of flax —at present useless country, but which, when drained, will present a picture of prosperity equal; to that of the pleasant pastures near the river, mouth. The Auckland steamers'usually hitter the Piako River in the early morning when the sun is vising ovei the Coromandel range. It is a glorious picture. The wharves of Pipirpa and Kopuarahi come into sight, and close by are the settlements bearing the same names. The verdancy of the pastures and the red roofs of the houses and red rbad metal contrast well, making a beautiful picture. The land is all under cultivation, and mostly in small holdings. The steafaier continues on its way up the winding river, which becomes gradually narrower. By the time Ngatea is reached it seems hardly wide enough for the steamer to turn. Passing through the Ngatea bridge, the scene becomes less interesting, as a. thick growth of willows blocks the view. The only thing ot note is the Puhanga, Canal, which cuts off a Huge bend jn the river. This canal is sobn to be widened. The boat follows the river to Kerepeehi, the centre of the Lands Department’s drainage operations on the Hauraki Plains. Here there is a busy scene. On one side of the whaif there is a. large depot, and a. huge pontoon in the course of construction while on the other side can be seen the numeous huts. of the workmen. At this point a canal leading into the Awaiti block branches off. from the river. THE DREDGES. The most interesting portion fof the journey is between Kerepeehi and Kaihere. Within a few miles four of the latest dredges can be seen in operation. The results of some of their work can also be seen. It is maintained that these machines aie removing spoil, cheaper than it is done anywhere else in the world. Leaving Kerepeehi we see the first works of. the dredges. A high stopbank has been built on one side of the river. We, travel slowly on, rounding sharp bends, navigating difficult shallows, and almost touching the banks in places. Here and there we see a few pigs rooting in the soft earth beside the recently formed stop-bank. All along there is a litter of benzine tins discarded‘ by the dredge as it worked its way along. On the opposite side of the river we pass an occasional landing. There are visible a few houses and. only partly cultivated land. On the other side there is a stretch of what is at present waste land containing cabbage trees, rushes, and high ti-tree. . It »s soon, however, to be rich dairying country, among the most valuable on The Hauraki Plains. A few cattle are just visible above the high rushes and swamp growth on this portion, and further on more cattle arie grazing on an pld stop-bank. Here is the Bucyrus dredge which is forming the stop'bank, taking out with each scoop over a ton of earth. Another dredge is just visible above the cabbage trees and thick growth of ti-tree. This is the Rood -machine, which is digging a drain and forming a road frpm Kerepeehi to opposite the Kaihere Landing. Turning pur atteniton to the Other side aagin we find that a road has been winding with the river along the bank. Rounding a bend, we see another Bucyrus dredge gt work widening the and putting tne spoil; on the roadside to be used later for road formation. The whole machine swings round, the bucket drops with a splash, it is put. again, and the machine whirling round like a merry-(go-round. The bucket opens and the spoil drops out without the machine stopping until it has completed the circle and the bucket' is ready to drop into the water again. It takes up another bucketful, then stops to let the steamer pass. A little further on we come to a wharf and yet another dredge. The lattei, of the wa.lking dipper type, is some distance away, digging a drain which will eventually run round the. whole of the Awaiti block, containing about 5000 acres.

THE NARROW RIVER. We stop at the wharf, Kaihere Landing. It was just after a night of rain and the road was un meta lied. Horses and carts gathered therp were bespattered with yellow mud, while the men were in a similar plight. The river here is very narrow, and as we move further up, though it is still called a river, it becomes such a narow steam that it is a wonder how the man at the wheel can navigate the vessel without becoming embedded in the mud. In fact, as we leave the river and go through a canal we nearly touch each bank- There cannot be more than a foot or two to spare on either side. We have ’ now left all evidences of civilisation behind us excepting that we see a few stray cattle, if this can be called civilisation.

“This is Manga.whero,” explained the skipper. “Where ?” inquired the passenger. He might justly ask “where,” for there was no sign of wharf, shed landing, or settlement of any description- We pulled up beside the river bank and began to discharge a little cargo. So this was Mangawhero. A horse and cart could be seen coming down a rpughi track. Along that road, it was explained, were a number of homesteads. There

was soon to be a landing at that point. A mile or two further on is the Patetonga landing. Beyond this the Auckland boats do not go. A smaller form of river steamer and launches convey the cargo the remainder of the way. SWAMPY WASTES. .Above Patetonga the river winds about more than ever and the swampy wastes become more desolate. There is no civilisation, and not the slightest sign pf cultivation. There are large sheets of water, and large unfenced areas of flax and other swamp growth. At places weeping willows almost impede the passage of the boats. One might well ask what could be done with these thousands .of acres of desolate swampy wastes. It is certain, however, that in time this country will contain the flourishing farms which will accommodate the prosperous “cockies” like those which are seen lower down the liver. The cow per acre land of tjie northern portion of the Plains was once in the same state as that which we now see above the Patetonga wharf, The river now turns towards the hills, and we begin to see the first signs of civilisation. First, we pass the frame pf an old shack, while scrubby looking calves and. wild looking cattle are seen grazing along the banks. Here there is an orchard of blossoming peach trees shpwing the first signs of spring; then an old Maori canoe floating beside the bank. Next we pass a flaxmill, a timber mill, and comfortable looking homesteads, and soon the river becomes too narrow and too shallow to navigate. Here the land is well cultivated and productive, but there is little swamp country, as we are now near the hills. About a mile away is theJittle settlement of Tahuna, which is the southern extremity of the Hauraki Plains County.