FESCUE AND FLOOD.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4981, 31 May 1926, Page 1

FESCUE AND FLOOD.

PLIGHT OF ORONGO SETTLERS. DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. On the occasion of the; visit of the Minister of Lands (the Hon. A. D. McLeod) to Paeroa on Thuisday the opportunity was. again taken to advance the cause df the Orongo soldier settlers. Mr J. C. Miller, Kopuarahi member on the Hauraki Plains County Council, explained that owing to the growth of fescue on the block the land was becoming water-logged, a,nd effective drainage was Imost impossible at present. He said that the area affected was about 2000 acres, and the council could not push the soldier settlers unduly for their rates considering the plight they were in. He believed that considerable relief could be afforded if the. department would erect a flood-gate a,t either end of the main drain. Something would have to be done at once. The settlement was, becoming tabooed, and settlers, Laced with the apparent hopelessness of their plight, were abandoning their holdings. With the provision of flood-gates valuable land would be saved, the settlers would be encouraged ,to carry on, and further settlement would follow. The request was put forward for the earnest consideration of the Minister.

In replying the Hon. Mr McLeod said that he was fa.mil,iar with the circumstances, but he was desirous of going more Tully into the matter. The engineers had advised him that the provision of flood-gates would not effectively deal with the problem. The department was not prepapred to spend a sum approaching £2OOO on a useless undertaking. He was anxious to assist the soldier settlers to make, a. living from their holdings, and closer settlement was desirable. He would send an engineer to make a further investigation of the whole position and submit a report. As soon as this was available no time would be lost in acquainting the settlers of his decision. If it was possible. to help them effectively he would do so.