MAKERUA DRAINAGE SCHEME.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2500, 31 October 1922, Page 2

MAKERUA DRAINAGE SCHEME.

PONTOON DREDGE INSTALLED

The increased activity of the Alakerua Drainage Board along the Manawatu River in the vicinity of the l)ig tlax swamp is emphasised by the const ruction recently, of a new dredge at Kara Creek to.assist in a scheme of hanking to stay the inrush of water over the Makerua swamp lands during flood periods. To permit farming operations, provision must lie made.to render the district proof against Hoods, as this particular locality is rapidly inundated when the Manawatu overflows its hanks. To provide an effective safeguard an immense scheme of protective hanks had to he undertaken and this work is now in hand under the direction of the Hoard. The gigantic nature of the proposition and the immense sum oi money that is involved in the work give some idea ot the calibre and courage of the landowners forming the Board. It is intended to hank Iho southeast side of the Manawatu from Linton down to Shannon, whilst the same da.-s of' work will he thrown i:p on both sides of the dukoniaru River, from its junction with the Manawatu up to where it crosses the rail wav south of the lokomartt township. The scheme will also take in the Kara Creek, on the Main r..ad between Shannon and Malej enia. Both sides of the Kara Creek will he hanked, joining up mi the north side with the Tokomaru river works and on the south side with the continuation of the Tokomaru system, and further on will merge with the main Miutawatu river hank, which will then continue to the Sliamioii-Foxloti bridge over the river and sweep round in tin* vicinity of the road and finally reach itobjective along the Otauru Creek ju-t below Shannon. The work will enclose an area of 22,1)00 acres, ami ilie cost of the scheme C estimated at £1)0,000. Payment is secured by a special rat* struck over the whole area, the system of rating being on a sliding scale, the land most affected, the A class, carrying Hie heaviest rate, ’while the B and C classes are lighter in proportion and 1) lands are not rated, but in places this class of land will he utilised in order to secure straight lines for simplifying operations. The main hank of the Manawatu was commenced 21 months ago at Linton, and the Board's first excavator lias been employed on the work ever since. Sixteen miles of hanking have been completed, the machine having reached a point opposite Mr Ross’s mill at Moutoa. This excavation will continue the construction of the main hank to Shannon, whilst the Kara Creek dredge will lie used in that creek and then on the Tokomaru river and subsidiary works. At the conclusion of the hanking scheme, both machines will he employed on the drainage of the big area that will he enclosed, so that a considerable programme of work still lies ahead, the hanking alone being estimated to take another eighteen months to two vears.

The original machine, known as a Marion drag line excavator, is of the same type a* those used on the Panama Canal, and has already been described in those columns. The dredge that will put the cut through at Kara Creek is of the Marion dipper- variety. The hull is SUft long. with a beam of 22if. Power is supplied by a 45 h.p. boiler, mid a bucket of If yards capacity will be operated, capable of moving (15 yards of material per hour. The dredge has to “eat" its way through Ihe cut. This work will drain a large area of the south-east side of tlie Sliaunon-Makerua road. This dredge was put into operation yesterday, when the first bucket of spoil was raised in the presonce of a large assemblage. After an inspection of the dredge, Mr Higgins set the machinery in motion, and it proved to he able to *]iift huge quantities of spoil with a minimum of handling and in quick time. The huge bucket, weighing nearly two tons itself, was plunged down, raised and emptied of its one and a-lialf cubic yards of material, twice in a little over a minute, and performed its task, with the greatest elliciencv.

Subsequently at luncheon, Mr Higgins addressed the gathering and outlined the history and scope of the Board’* operations. Mr -Joseph Hinklater, on behalf of the guests, thanked the Board for Ihe opportunity of being present and wished it all success ill its yen-

Me-r* R. T. Bell, 11. A. Seifert and Captain Preece also spoke briefly.