DRAINING THE PIAKO.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 375, 21 April 1908, Page 3

DRAINING THE PIAKO.

Flaxmining Prospects.

Mr T. M. Espagne, secretary for Messrs Morton Clark and Co., hemp merchants, Wellington, x gave a Dominion reporter some interesting facts concerning the Piako swamp, Thames, to which district he has lately paid a business visit. The Piako swamp, said Mr Espagne, extends over an area of 200,000 acres, which the Government is draining with a view to preparing the land for settlement and flax cultivation. The bulk of the swamp consists of peaty soil with some really good loamy portions. The peaty portions, when drained, would be very practicable for flax-growing purposes. Mr W, C; Breakell, the engineer in charge, has already got a large amount of draining done, and the work should be completed in about six years, but by .next year he will have about 8000 acres of good land ready for disposal for settlement. The work is already giving employment to hundreds of men, some of whom are making 14s a day, which is only reasonable when it is remembered that they are up to their middles in water all the time. This figure results in the mill employees receiving higher wages than they otherwise would, and this increased cost of labour is one of the reasons why the mills in that district closed down. Mr Breakell’s scheme also includes the deepening and widening of the Piako river, and when this work is done the river will be navigable for 40 miles by steamers of the size of the Tasman or the Stormbird. Regarding settlement, the reporter was informed that Waikaka, a place 30 miles up the river, was the most suitable spot for a township. From that place for a distance of four miles of the river bank Mr M. F. Bourke runs a tramway, and some of the people in the locality suggest that the Government should take this over, as it would form an excellent means of transport. Asked a question as to flaxmilling prospects in the district, Mr Espagne said that Mr Bourke and others would re commence about September next if prices were anything like promising. There was any quantity of flax, but it all depended on the market, which, at present, gave promising indications. Flax brokers were now expecting that flax would go back to something like payable prices now • that the Americans were operating and the financial crisis were practically over.