DRAINING KAWA SWAMP.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 60, 13 December 1907, Page 3

DRAINING KAWA SWAMP.

Proposed Draifaage Board

The Kawa Swamp, situated between Te Awamutu and Otorohanga, comprises about six thousand acres, most of which is at present flax bearing, and all of it capable of beingbrought into use as excellent agricultural or pastoral land. Practically all of the Swamp is Native-owned, and from the earliest times in local histoiy, portions of it have contributed largely to the Maori food supply in the shape of the toothsome eel. However, with the advance of civilization into the Rohe Potae, the food procuring methods of the Maori have changed considerably, and the eel weirs are now but little used. With the opening of the country, and the granting of facilities for the leasing of Native lands, it was not long before the potentialities of the Swamp attracted the attention of enterprisingmen, particularly in the direction of flax growing. About two years ago Mr J. W. Walsh opened up negotiations with the Native owners with a view to securing the Swamp on lease, and Mr Walsh has now completed arrangements for the lease of the greater portion of the property. The negotiations were conducted by Pepene Eketone. and incurred a vast amount of work and travelling to secure the necessary signatures to the leases. Having obtained the leases the question of draining the Swamp became the most !important feature of the undertaking:, and as a number of other settlers were affected by the proposed work, it was decided to convene a public meeting for the purpose of discussing the advisability of setting up a Drainage Board under the provisions of " The Drainage Act, 1904." The meeting was held at Mr George Kay's residence on Thursday, December sth, when all the European settlers interested, with one exception, were present. Mr J. W.Walsh was voted to the chair. Mr John Ormsby, convener of the meeting, explained its objects, and suggested that the first thing to be considered was whether or not the draining of the Swamp would be beneficial, not only to those present, but to the district as a whole. If they decided in the affirmative, then those present would be asked to sign a petition to have the proposed Drainage District (as shown on the map) defined under the Act, and the necessary steps would be taken to form a Board'of Trustees. After considerable discussion, the following motion, proposed by Mr Tippet, and seconded by Mr Bertram, was carried,—" That this meeting is of opinion that the drainage of tl}e Kawa Swamp will be of widespread benefit, not only to the settlers immediately concerned, but to the district as a whole, and that steps be taken at once to have a Drainage District defined under the Act, and a Board of Trustees appointed to cany out the work." On the motion of Mr Walsh, seconded by Mr Redfern, Mr John Ormsby was appointed Secretary, pro. tem.

The matter of the eel ponds, at the outlet of the Swamp, was brought forward by Mr W; Coffin, and'after consideration, Mr Coffin was' advised to discuss the question with the owners, and submit a proposal in connection therewith.

At the conclusion cf the meeting a hearty vote of thanks, to aiid Kay, only for allowing the ' meeting to be lipid, at'their house, but also for the generous hospitality extended to those present, was carried by acclamation.