The Makerua Swamp.

Manawatu Herald, 1 July 1902, Page 2

The Makerua Swamp.

Dr Chappie in an interview with a Times’ reporter, said The syndicate which has purchased the 12,386 acres of which the Makerua swamp is composed consists of Dr Chappie, Mr John Plimmer and Mr Alfred Seifert, the well known flaxmiller. The area which the syndicate has purchased consists of about 7000 acres of open swamp, about 5000 acres of bush swamp, and about 600 acres of dry land. All the flax in the swamp is undersized and undeveloped, except in the vicinity of the drains made by the company, where it grows luxuriantly. The royalty which the company has been taking off the land for flax and

bush has amounted to £ISOO a year. It is estimated that great results in flax-culture will accrue from an expenditure of £ISOO oh superficial drainage. For a further sum of £13,000 it is hoped to dredge and straighten the Tokomaru River in such a way as to cafry off the bulk of the flood-waters, so that a large portion of the land can be permanently reclaimed. The levels taken show, that the Tokomaru at the entrance to the swamp is 135 feet above sea level, in the middle of the swamp 133 feet, and at the entrance of the Manawatu river 100 feet. Dr Chappel is of Opinion that the danger from flooding is very much exaggerated, and points out that .when the drains are completed, even if an inundation does take place, stock can be removed, bedause it is possible to get thirty hours’ notice from Woodville of the approach of the flood waters. It is expected that a large revenue will accure from the royalty on the flax cut on the estate. At the present time this amounts to 3s per ton for the green article. There are now 600 tans of marketable flax available, The syndicate proposes to vigorously prosecute drainage works and develop the flax industry for what it is worth, feeling assured that When the flax is done with the land will'give a handsome profit for pastoral purposes. If flax maintains anything like its present profitable price of £3° to P er f° n L° n( lon, the land can be more profitably employed in growing flax. A mill and plant can be had for under £IOOO, and a mill can be kept constantly going on about 300 acres of flax, which costs about £l3 5s per ton to land in Wellington, From close inquiries _ which he has made add for a variety of reasons Dr Chappel is of opinion that flax prices will keep up to a profitable standard almost indefinitely. The syndicate is assured that after £SOOO has been spent on drainage, in three years’ time it will have eight thousand actes of flax.