THE KEREPEEHI BLOCK.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5089, 16 February 1927, Page 1

THE KEREPEEHI BLOCK.

PROSPECTS FOR SETTLEMENT. BALLOT YEARS OFF. For many years the plans accompanying the annual report of the Land Drainage Departpient have shown as “land being drained, surveyed, and shortly .to be opened for selection” that, area south-west of Kerepeehi to a line running eastward from the Kaihere landing and between the Piako River and the Awaiti Canal. This Kerepeehi block has teen the fancy ot land-seekers for a long time, and many inquiries have been made as to when its 44 sections will be balloted for. - The soldier settlers Kaihere and Orongo who desire to be shifted off their present holdings have cast envious eyes on the Kerepeehi block, and c,n Friday last, twelve Orongo settlers inspected the area. QUALITY OF COUNTRY. The party crossed the Awaiti Canal at the bridge site near Kerepeehi and noted the piles of bridge timber and the formed approach road. They then walked across the block almost to the river at the Kiariere landing, but deviated from the metalled road many times to inspect areas that appeared different from the general aspect. The whole of the country was dry and the rough feed was about four feet high. All the well-known grasses were found to be well established s>mong the swamp weeds, and there were extensive areas of lotus major. Much of the land was carrying tall tj-tree, and thistles appeared to thrive all over <he. block. This was taken as a sign of sweet soil, which had not been Hooded for a long time. Many holes, were dug and drain banks examined to ascertain the nature of the soil, and everywhere there appeared to be three inches of black loam over a. bed of goad clay. Teh soldiers were quite satisfied with its quality and with their chances of making good farms on the block if given the chance. The only cause for apprehension was, the chance of flooding, and it was to obtain information on this that the Lands Drainage Engineer, Mr E. Taylor, was interviewed. Mr Taylor stated that there had not been ,any great amount of flooding during the past two winters, but at present it could not be said that, the block was safe, and it would be a long time, before it was r.ealy protected. The Kerepeehi block comprised about BBOfiO ,acres, and south of it was another block which was to be worked in conjunction, in that the present dividing canal was to be used as a reservoir from which the drainage from the two blocks was to te pumped to the Awaiti canal during the periods when there was no normal floodgate action. Until these pumps were installed .and t,he stppbanking was completed it could not be said that .the Kerepeehi block was safe from flooding. DATE OF OPENING. If necessary, and the additional expenditure was warranted, safety could pehaps be secured in about two years by the construction of a temporary stopbank along- the reservoir canal. The stopbanking of the southern block could not, be expedited except at great cost, as. peat country was being traversed. It was proposed to let the peat consolidate of its own accord after small drains had been constructed, but if it was necessary to erect the stopbank at once the peat would have to be removed. The Piako River was to be widened very considerably, and the permanent stopbanks would be constructed in the same operation. A special dredge was to be obtained for the purpose. The banks would be very substantial on account Of the large amount of spoil tci be removed from the rivter-ibed. Asked what were the chances, of flooding before the. work wa scornpleted, Mr Taylor said that prior to the. st,op-banking and the Waihou River stop-banking the block was frequently submerged. There was too much water during the last twe> winters to have had settlers on -h®- block. At one time during the winter of 1925 about 800' acres were inundated. Future floods in the river would not be. higher tjhan 3ft above land level in the southern end of the block dnd 4ft above the northern end land level. The pumps to be installed would effectively deal with all rain and water that seeped through the stop-banks, and the cost of operation would be very low. In the ordinary course of events it would be six or seven years before the blocks were opened for settlement, and by then they would be as safe from flooding as it, wals, possible to make them. , OPINION ON CfOST. In reply to a query as to the probable cost of the sections, Mr Taylor gave it as his opinion that the land would be fairly expensive. When fully protected it woud be beautiful country, but it had already cost a great deal to- bring in, and if temporary work was to be done to enable settlers to get on in a couple of, years the cost, would be greatly increased. The Kaihere settlers had recently been told by the Commissioner of Crown Lands that the sections would cost over £2O an acre.

The Orongo settlers commented that the price would evidently be too high ’for them, and as the Lands Department would not recommend expediting t,he opening up of the land they would have to. look about for something else.