The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, January 25, 1913. UP-RIVER LANDS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1055, 25 January 1913, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, January 25, 1913. UP-RIVER LANDS.

One o( the most enjoyable outings

that comes within reach of local residents is the delightful up river trip in Messrs Levin and Co’s, flax boats. The steamers, of light draught, tow the barges or punts to the flax-cutting areas some twenty miles up—a short distance from the Shannon bridge. The flax transport beyond this point is accomplished with an oil launch drawing a few inches. The river runs through almost flat and fertile country, with here and there a clump of native tush. During flood time the country lor miles is inundated. There are vast areas of land suitable for dairying purposes other than the flax areas. The river twists and turns —like a professional politician—around this fat land and in flood time becomes congested and overflows its banks. A comprehensive scheme to keep the Mauawatu within bounds should not be an insuperable difficulty, but until this point is settled the land will remain comparatively unproductive. A commission was set up some time ago to deal with the subject and cuts were suggested at various points in order to give the river a straight run to the sea. The matter ended there. It seems a pity that such eminently suitable land for closer settlement should be so handicapped. The benefactor to his country is the man who makes two blades of grass to grow where previously one sprouted, and it remains toi those holding such large areas up the river to do something to justify such monopoly even under existing conditions. The up-river trip provides food for thought in more directions than one.