The Piako Swamp.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 43103, 11 June 1907, Page 2

The Piako Swamp.

A meeting of the Waikato-Thames Yalley Reclamation Association was held at To Aroha on Saturday afternoon, there being present : Messrs R. L. Somers, chairman (Te Aroha Borough Council), T. Gavin (Pinko County Council), Young (Hamilton Borough Council and Chamber of Commerce), Sooft (Thamos Borough Council and Harbour Board), IT. Poland, M.H.R. unofficial (Ohinemuri County Council), W. A. Graham and Captain 801 l (Waikato Farmers’ Union). Messrs Norgrove and Fitzherbert also attended.

Mr Young apologised for tho absence of the Mayor of Hamilton, and Captain Bell for the absonco of tho Secretary through a serious illness. Mr J\ W. Wild acted as secretary for the meeting. Owing to not being notilicd we were unable to be present and give a full report. The Association was formed for the purpose of collecting all information from the Government and others interested in the matter of drainage, and to continually keep before Parliament the necessity of thoroughly draining the Piako. They had written to the Government on the matter, who had refused to furnish plans and information until the matter had como before

the House. Mr W. A. Graham, who submitted a scheme qf his Q\yn, accompanied with a plan, said the present scheme initiated by the Government did not I

go far enough. He thought they should have three large navigable canals to drain the swamp, as it would be practically impossible to road the swamp. He said the scheme had been thought out and submitted to the different Governments for the last twenty-five years. The swamp comprised some of the richest land in the colony, and he reckoned that they could be properly drained for about £400,000. It was resolved that the Executive Committee be a movable one, to meet alternately at Thames, Paeroa, Te Arolia, and Hamilton, and that the next meeting be held at Thames.

It was decided to ask all local bodies interested in the Piako to contribute £ 1 Is towards the general expenses. Captain Bell reported that Mr Crawford, the present secretary, had been very ill, and he would be unable to continue to act in that capacity, and it was decided that the appointment of a secretary be left in abeyance., A vote of sympathy was tendered to Mr Crawford on account of his illness, and also a vote of thanks for the enthusiastic and efficient manner in which he had worked up interest in he Association. Mr Norgiove, a gentleman who was thoroughly conversant with the Piako swamp, also submitted a plan of his idea of draining it. His idea, which was almost identical with Mr Grahams, being by means of three large canals and subsidiany canals at a cost of, roughly, £396,000. Messrs Graham and Norgrove were accorded a vote of thanks for submitting plans and explaining their ideas. 4 '

A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the meeting.