REVIEW OF THE YEAR.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5070, 31 December 1926, Page 3

REVIEW OF THE YEAR.

- HAURAKI PLAINS PROGRESS. ■On th© Hauraki Plains the past year has been one of steady progress and improvement. Th ©re have not been the startling developments .that marked some, previous years, but - rather a consolidation and settling down to a system o'f steady improvement such as marks all established ■ progressive districts. So regular, has been the progress that after the hectic years of the past the signs Of progress may have passed unnoticed. DRAINAGE. A rainfall much above the average has again been experienced, and this, above all things, has been, detrimental ■to the-district, but despite this and ? other reverses the opinion is more ' firmly held,.than ever that in the Hauraki Plains there is a district • which will become outstanding in the 'hear future. It is" generally recognised that much will have to be done, to make the district what it should be. The Lands Drainage Department did an enormous amount in transforming the Piako Swamp into the Hauraki Plains, .and it . is for the settlers to ; carry on. Much work.and money has been expended, and much more will have to be expended before the soil is - brought to that, physical condition > necessary for the <best results, but when .that is achieved there i.s little doubt that the district will be second ■ to none in New Zealand. The progress is slow, but it is surely proceeding, ? and the steady increase in th ©..amount of production is an indication of the general improvement despite the, adverse weather, conditions. The increase is not due to greater areas bqing farmed, but to the securing df better returns from old farms. The greatest factor in improving the production of the district is attention to drainage, and there is no doubt that 'more, attention has been . paid during, the past y©ar to drain- ' age matters than during any previous year. In the Horahia Drainage Board’s territory a comprehensive scheme has b®en carried out, and the betterment has been very apparent. Greater efficiency should be df■fected by the amalgamation of the two drainage, boards early in th© new ■year., .■ - .- With the idea of carrying the Lands Department’s works to a greater state ; of- efficiency the settlers of th© land " west of the, Piako River ahd north of Ngatea have started a movement to - assume control under the provisions ■ : of the Lands Drainage Act.' In th© southern part of the Plains the necessity of better drainage facil- ■ ■ ities was one of the‘factors leading to an investigation by a parliamentary committee. The committee’s import is expected to .be of far-reaching nature. , - Beyond-the annual maintenance of existing works the operations of th© • Lands Drainage Department have been confined to preparing further lands for opening up for settlement. ■ ‘This is becoming more and more difficult, and though it is a considerable time since any lands were thrown open for selection it is unlikely that a ballot will be held 'in the near future. - -

In the Netherton aind Awaiti districts, the problem Of improving the <lrain a igo is now being tackled seriously by the. best brains available, and it is sincerely hoped that much good will result. .< A development of considerable importance which was temporarily deferred by the arrival of summer was th© discovery and demonstration that electrically driven pumps could be very Advantageously employed tor the quick unwatering of'land." With th© experience gained from the pumps which were installed last winter, and with the. assistance and co-operation of th© Thames Valley. Electric Power Board; it is anticipated that next ’.winter will see many such plants, in operation. If improved outlets and ■ the utilisation of pumps will ensure. . that the water level is kept down the farming .problems will, automatically disappear and Tull use will be •able to be made of the. splendid soil of the Hauraki Plains. In drainage matters the past year will be remembered as the one. in which’adverse circumstances beyond the control o’f farmers caused it to become generally recognised that effi-

cient drainage w'as.of paramount importance as being the only firm foundation of progress and prosperity. Comparatively little work has, yet been carried out, but a sure, start has - been made and it is very unlikely thAt ■settlers will cease agitating until "the - whole drainage, system of the. district is beyond reproach. THE COUNTY COUNCIL. In County Council affairs the year . has been characterised by quiat, steady progress. Harmony has prevailed among the new councillors, be- . tween the council and-its staff, and - between the council and its ratepay-ers;.-The new council, realisipg the . wisdom of careful advancement and the need 'for greater economy, has adopted a policy of efficiency and consolidation df its position rather than of piling up liabilities. No new big schemes havebeqn undertaken during >the year, but the works previously .authorised, have been continued. .Faith and trust in its executive offi<cers have led to less interference by '.the council in business and in more Ibusiness being completed by th© council.

Two road loan polls taken during the year. One for .the metalling of Ngataipua Road was tunned down, and the result of the Pekapeka and .Wairaw roads metalling proposition is still in doubt. ' A good start h'as been made with the carrying out df the Netherton riding roading scheme. A great deal of maintenance has. been carried aiid -'the district 'has thereby earned a good-name for the smoothness of its highways. Alfter being discussed for very many years a, ferry was established at Plpiroa during the past year. Criticism has been levied against the council for this expenditure, but when the utility-is considered the small loss on working is amply offset by the saving >on wear and tear of the longer road. The biggest undertaking of the

council of the year was the commencement d£ a water supply scheme for the between Waitakaruru. and Ngatea. Of the need for. this service and the soundness of the proposition there is no doubt. A smaller water supply scheme was also put in hand for the settlers of Pekapeka Road. WORKS' BY OTHER BODIES. A notable work undertaken by the Public Works Department during the year was th© metalling of a section of the Waitakaruru-Pokeno portion of the main highway. " The work is not yet completed, as a deviation is to be made, but communication has been possible all through the winter. As an indication - of the enormous increase in the amount df traffic through the country due to the work ©n this road, it is worthy of mention that the road is traversed daily by ten service buses. Two other, daily service runs to' and from Auckland are. also mooted.

Rapid progress is being made by the Public Works Department with the erection of the Hauraki Bridge over the Waihou River at Kopu, .a work which w.as commenced during the year. • The reticulation of the Hauraki Plains as W as was necessary was completed during the year by the Thames Valley Electric Power Board, and a sub-station was opened at Turua a few days ago. The construction df a Jink line through Patetonga will be commenced shortly. The Public Works Department is now constructing dine to connect Bombay and Waikinq, and with its completion a feeder station will be established at Kerepeehi to supply the Power Board’s lines incases of necessity. BUILDING. The amount of building undertaken during ,the year has been somewhat less than in previous years. Notable structures erected are the Turua Town Hall and the Kerepeehi Hotel. Only one new shop was, opened in the county during the year. Minor additions were, made to the public halls at Kaihere Pind Ngatea. TRANSPORTATION. The greatest development during the year has undoubtedly been in means of transportation. Five, motorbuses capable of conveying about 70 passengers run daily to and from Thames. On all these services the fares .are very reasonable. Only to Paeroa, the nearest railway station and shopping centre, is the service really deficient. / THE FUTURE 1 . The foregoing retrospection, may not appear as pleasant as that Of previous years, but there is no need to. be pessimistic. The district is not going back but is striving to go forward, and although comparatively little is being accomplished the spirit is right, and so long as that spirit prevails all will be well.