RECLAIMING WASTE LAND .

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3509, 10 July 1926, Page 3

RECLAIMING WASTE LAND .

[By The Wanderer.] Having the opportunity to view the great Hauraki swamps at close range, I will endeavour to give you some idea of the great areas that arc at present being reclaimed from the grip of nature. Taking passage per motor launch, I proceeded down the Piako river for a distance of between twenty and thirty miles. This river has been straightened by cuts put in by dredges, of which there are about eleven at work, reclaiming the land per medium of canals. Arriving at a settlement named Rerepuhi, I "proceeded to further my investigations by taking passage up one of tlie numerous canals. I must explain that the Piako river is tidal for about fifty ■miles up, also navigable for that distance by launches and scows, which run here from Auckland. By a network of canals, this swamp of about fifteen thousand acres, is being brought into productivity for dairy farms and flax areas. I viewed some land that will, in the near future, he unequalled for productivity, but I also viewed some that can on]v be dealt with on the same principle ns the low-lands of Holland. Close to my present location there is to be opened up for ballot in small farms some of the. finest land in the district for dairy purposes, and one great advantage that it has, is that even in the driest weather the grass is green, because of the nature of the ground and is free from the menace of floods. I also viewed the block of swamp that is being surrounded by canals, the spoil from which is used for the purpose of stop banks and roads, the site also where a huge pump is being installed to keep the enclosed area free from water. It also brought forcibly to my mind when I viewed the dredges at work, the nature of the country, the great efforts that have been made per medium of a replica of the “ark” to keep a channel open to the Foxton wharf. I am quite satisfied that if the Manawatu river was dealt with in an up-to-date manner from the wharf to the bar, the liar would he no difficulty to shipping. If the Piako river, can be made navigable for fifty miles from the sea, and the first thirty miles to steam-boats, why cannot the Manawatn from the bar to the wharf? There is no need to my mind, to shift the wharf, i I point for my argument to what 1 have seen done on the Hauraki, the' Waihi and the Rangitaiki swamps with less fall but proper machinery to deal with the same. On the Waihi swamp to-day are to be seen dredges, up-to-date, at less than the cost of that musical one in the Manawatu river. These dredges arc all iron built, but built to work, not tickle the river bed. But I have got away from my subject. The great part of the formation of these swamps is clay, with a small percentage of peat, then soil. This land is highly impregnated with soda, and as a result cattle will not drink the water which seems to me its only draw back. To search for proof of the turning of this land to dairying purposes, one lias only to see the numerous stacks of cream cans that are delivered at the various landing stages on I lie canals, for transport by motor launch to the butter factory. Yos, it is a great work that the Government.is engaged in, and to those who are not afraid of a bit of spade work, a tour of inspection is worth while to anyone looking for a farm, but to those who are only looking to deal in it they are not wanted. That it is going to be a great dairying disfrict, cannot be - denied, and what, is not suitable for that will grow first class flax. After a strenuous day, putting in eight hours by motor launch transport, I have endeavoured to give you some idea of what is to be seen here. I cannot say that the Government will recoup their outlay, but the lad remains that closer settlement on those rich lands, will recoup the Dominion as a whole by bringing the land into productivity.