Piako Swamp Drainage.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43349, 14 July 1908, Page 2

Piako Swamp Drainage.

LAND QUESTION. '-h*' WELLINGTONr^IyCi^ Some interesting remarks on drainage operations how being." carried out by the Lands Department on the Piako Swamp are made by Mr W. C. Breakell, the engineer in charge of the works, m his report to the Department. ] In referring to the blocks of land on the eastern side of the river, which are still in the hands of the natives, he says: “If these blocks fronting the river, 'say two miles from the mouth, to,; say* seven miles from the same point, were ‘acquired, the Government would have a complete block of very : valuable land, easy of access,' and easy to cut up for settlements.... 1.would point out thf desirableness of acquiring the Pouaruo, Pipiroa, and Te Hopai Blocks, on the west of the * Piako River:” ' / v ■ . : ;. Beyond the question of consohda* tion for the purposes of rqading and subdivision, Mr Breakell- points out that there is another important matter to .be considered. “ All the drainage works, stop ba,nk works, flood gates, and works incidental thereto,” he says, V will benefit and improve the native lands as much as ; ; the Government lands. In the case of the stop bank, it would be extremely expensive if the work had to be intermittent. If the blocks referred to were acquired it would be quite practicable a year after their acquisition to have 15,000 acres ready for settlement,' arid Itath of \ opinion that if put up to auction the above area would be readily .sold at from £8 to £lO an acre, possibly more.” The estimated cost- of the works to ,be carried out during the current financial year is '£13, 530.