WHAKATANE SETTLEMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 228, 26 September 1893, Page 8

WHAKATANE SETTLEMENT.

PLAN FOR SWAM? DRAINAGE,

(by telegraph.—own correspondent.)

Tauraxga, this day. The report of Mr A. B. Wright), who was sent to ascertain the best modo of draining the Whakatane Swamp, taken up by Canterbury settlers, has been made public. The report say 3 the most feasible plan would bo to cut a channoi from tho bend ia the Oriti river (about midway between Whakatane and Matata) through tho sand hills to tho ocean at the bend bed of the river is 2ft sin above low water mark. This would lower tho water in the river five feefc at least, and probably drain tho lower portions of the swamp on the Whakatane lido and tho land adjacent to Rangitikai Kiver. The difficulty will be in keeping ike mouth open in summer when the volume of water ia small. It would, therefore, bo necessary to help tho river to form banks for itself through low-lying lauds, and concentrato all the water available, and make it flow into tho Rangitikai, and out at the new opening. If onco the water was allovvod to How from one swamp after another till the river was reached, a ci nsiderable amount of work could bo dono by tho water itself. It would perhaps bo advisable to make tome retaining work just at the outlet to prevent the wator spreading, and thus lose it.? power of forcing through the accumulation of sand made by tho gala. This should keep open aa easily as the Opotiki river doos. Besides tho question of keeping tho new waterway open thero will be a question for settlement- of riparian rights of the various settlers. The rough cost of constructing the new outlet ia about £2,000.