THE TAIERI PLAIN

Evening Star, Issue 16559, 19 October 1917, Page 5

THE TAIERI PLAIN

EASTERN PORTION DRYING. ' SOUTHERN AREA STILL WATERLOGGED. 10,000 ACRES RUINED FOR THE TEAR. Mr B. B. Couaton; engineer to tho Taiord County Council, was called to Berwick yesterday, and on- the way he took observations as to the condition of tho plain. Ho says tliat in East Taieri a largo proportion of the low-lyin# land is still under water, but all the higher ground is clear. ■ The present position in East Taieri is that the settlers aro gotting relief from tho effects of tho May flood. South Taieri is much worse. Practically it is in the same condition as after the May flood. There_ is not euch a depth of water, but it afliiots nearly as great an area. Tho bulk of this land has been waterlogged or actually under water since May. Farmers say that tho grass Is ruined, and that belora they can get tho ground into graas again it will have to bo recultivated aa though reclaiming a swamp. A modest calculation shows that the use of an area of 10,000 acres has been lost . ~ for the season. Speaking of the district generally, it may be said that the water is flowing off rery fast by the drains 'at the outlets into the river and by the cute that liavo been made into tho lake. " But," added Mr Couston, "we aro only getting rid of the flood water as yet. Wo have not so far got to tho water that is pumped off, the plain. Nor is this likely to start for a week or a fortnight. There would be no sens© in pumping whilst there is such a big gravity flow."