OPENING UP THE PIAKO LANDS.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 43086, 30 April 1907, Page 4

OPENING UP THE PIAKO LANDS.

In connection with the above we are particularly pleased to note that as the result of the recent visit of the Horn. R. IMHNab and party to the Piako lands, considerable attention is now being paid to the necessity tlhiat exist® for the drainage and opening up of these land® for -settlement. Mr Jas. Mackay, who knows the country intimately, has published a very interesting resume of the present position, as- to the necessity for the- drainage of these lands by means of a canal, and' to the: valuable asset 'that ■ the) Government would thus possess'. Mr Mackay’s proposal is that the Canal should run frbm the mouth -of the Waitakaruru river to a point above the junction, touching the river near the Mauko-ri block. Mir Macklay also proposes the construction of a. dainal on the east side of the Piako river stretching from a point at Kerepehi to Mangarori. In this work the drainage of the Tfeawhiti stream would practically form part, of the scheme. Mr Sdotcher’s idea, as detailed to our representative recently, is to run a canal half way -between Opani Point, and the entrance to the Piako through that block of land for a distance of about six miles. Those who know the land will at once admit that both' of these schemes have much to commend them, and it would,'-be to the interests of this and other districts if some suteb work was -at any rate commenced. It is to be hoped 1 that the matter will be brought -prominently before the House during the next session.