A WAIKATO PHENOMENON.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 240, 9 October 1880, Page 4

A WAIKATO PHENOMENON.

[Auckland Star.] For some years past several methods have been tried for the successful drajniug and utilising of the swamp lands at Waikato. By some it was at first contended that the too sudden liberation of the water ruined the land, and they resorted to gradual drainage, cutting the water channe's a foot deep the first year, and' deepening them in successive years. Taat theory was tried by several. Of late years, however, Mr. E. B. Walker has resorted to deep drainage, with the most successful results. His last achievement has

ueeu \iuo capping of au.uuuwgiuuuu lake or creek at a distance of ten feet from the surface* His men were employed ia cutting a large main drain in Rofcorangi Swamp (better known as Walker's). A stroke of the pick was followed by a terrific rush of water, which caused the men to hurry out of the drain. A pole wtti obtained and thrust; nine feet into the epperture, through which the water flowed, and still continues to flow in torrents, but the bottom could not be felt. This discovery has caused much discussion among proprietors of swamps, and bears out the opinion formed of that part of the swamp near Ohaupo, which the contractor of the railroad tried in vain for so many months to fill in. The opinion was formed that there was a shell or upper crubt of the swamp which concealed a huge lake. This crust had been broken, and the earth, as fast as thrown in was absorbed by the water and floated away. Another argument held in favour of the notion that a large sheet of water existed beneath the hard surface of tbe swamp waa that the line in winter, was more solid, and did not sink nor open in huge cracka as it does in summer, the supposition being that the accumulation of water actually supports the ground. Mr. Walker thinks it very probable that various swamps have been formed by Maoris stopping creeks ior the purpose of catching eels. The creeks get overgrown with vegetations and the accumulation of debris ultimately spreads a firm covering over.