THE PRIME MINISTER

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 122, 15 February 1908, Page 6

THE PRIME MINISTER

AT THE THAMES.; VISIT'tO THE PIAKO SWAMP. PROGRESS OF THE DRAINAGE WORKS. (BT TELEGIUfII—SI'ECIAI, COERESrQNDENT.) Thames, February 14. Tho Prime Minister' and Lady Ward, accompanied by Messrs. H. Poland and. H. J. Greenslado, . M.P.'s, . reached Thames ,by motor from Waihi shortly after 1 o'clock this afternoon. At overy township along the routo they wero received by settlers and townspeople, who greeted Sir Joseph enthusiastically. Ho had to listen to many local wants. \ ' ■ On arrival here, the party was met by the Mayor (Mr/ A. Burns), Mr. J. Bagnall (Chairman of the County Council), and members of both local'bodies, and formally welcomed.. : ' Tho whole. -of , the afternoon was occupied by a trip by, launch up the Piako river, in order that tho' Prime • Minister might gain somo ide? of the naturo of the lands in Piako Plains, and inspect a portion of the drainage works. A landing!was effected at two places. From/ what could bo seen ■ and what was gathered from authoritative sources, it would appear that since the work of draining tho Piako Plains, was commenced in October last a great amount of: improvement has been offected,■ and thai day- of 'which- Sir' George' Grey, dreamed—tho day when this largo, area should teem ' with - smiling homes and fields of- waving grain—is approaching. Much has been' done in ; the' direction of clearing the Piako. and rAwaiti rivers of logs and other 'obstructions,' to their flow, besides tho'removal of willows that were choking the course of the streams at the bank sides."-Mr. AV. C. Brcakell, engineer in; chargo of the works, has ■ now abpht fourteen miles of surface I drains; mado;, fanging in width up to 10ft'. aud in depth to 3ft. and 4ft. One effect of theso drain? has already been to make available considerable 'areas v of flax, which, formerly standing', in .stagnant water,, was stunted, but,is now to be seen flourishing in various .-stages of -growth, forming as it stands., ovoh viiow- a valuable asset -under favourable'' conditions,- and providing that proper progress continues to bo-made, with tlie.drainago of the plains, Mr. Breakell considers likely that thero v. ill bo sufficient flax 'on'.'tho.'area.to keep thirty or forty flax mills!-at.,work there in.three years .time. At the .present time thero aro 130 mon bmployedv.jft -cuttjhg the. seventeen or eighteen, surfiico,-' drains being formed. In, the, course of . two: months, it is expected that two specially-constructed dredges-will bo on tho spot'. In connection with" tho part of the scheme that.. involves the dredging out and cutting of' a,'-'canal from tho junction of the two rivers', at . Maukoro inland to an, outlet :at Waitakaruru, ; 15} miles away. This will be proceeded with shortly. According to Mr. Breakell,, it will: bo quito possible to have anything up to 10,000 acres'of the Piako plains drained and ready for settlement a year from "_'dato' at tho present rate of progress, and provided that the Government continues its. present policy giving him every facility to carry tho work\ out speedily and thoroughly,:[it..should' bo finished in about four years'- tihie. Thero; is an area of from 150,000 t0'200,000 acres ,on tho Piako plains which will bo'benefited by the drainage, and so made, available,for settlers.. . Tho Government7owned-' area: - is...' 96,000 .'acres.- Tho drained , land is -equal in quality to an area which Mr; 'Breakell drameel on tho Wniroa River at -Raupo, and which is now-worth over £20 per acre, ' It will thus bo seen how very valuable:an asset to tho-country this •swamp land promises to become. Tho, opinion is freely .expressed both here at the Thames and in the Ohinemuri district that the area will be one offtho 'niost valuable, tho Government! possesses.; /, ,_ ' ' MOONLIGHT RECEPTION.' Instead • of. I the . public address; in 'tho Miuersj Hall originally arranged for in iho evening, there was sensibly substituted , a moonlight reception in the Viotoria. <Roserve, which was illuminated for tho. occasion. Here a crowd gathered aroiind, tho Band Rotunda so'large that no'hall'in the place- could havo held it. Bir Joseph spoko ror just over; an hour. Referring to'the Piako. Swamp, lie said .thero was evidence that- what .at-. : one' time.was believed to be almost waste territory -would bo capablo jn a comparatively short timo of taking settlers and '.enabling them to establish good homes and earri ;good livings on it; The expenditure to- date' on the drainage of tho .plains was between £3000 aiid £4000, and it would only'hp; a short time ,'boforc the land wojild be iis; good l-'for -producing purposes as aiiy other "in -tho i country. Speaking unon the question of ; a preferential ; tariff in other , countries,; hp said there was a high protective fbarrier against us. In Now Zealand we were/in the- extraordinary position of finding; Britain .standing to traditions that'had mado it go in for a freetrade policy for years.'; Tho Government of the Dominion was anxious ; to, mould public opinion. "to -th"o ;l extent of saying that thero should bo .some system of preferential trading between the peoples of tho-British Empire . and,; 'ourselves.' (Applause.) -i If wo could co-operato with our kinsmen in Canada and' Australia for- tho purpose of having an exchange on' a - preferential system iair, to each other of at least'ono of our natural',products, it- would- give: a great impetus, to our country, and be particularly beneficial to our producors and settlera. Sir Joseph was accorded I a'voto, of thanks and' a vote "of confidonce .in the Governmsnt.

Thero followed a social in tho Miners' Union Hall, at which thq Prime Minister was the guest of the Borough Council. Tomorrow lie ,and Lady! Ward proceed to Cambridge, whore;. Sir ' Josenh. is to'>'open' tho 'new, post olfico in:lthe afternoon/