AHURIRI LAGOON

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20128, 23 December 1939, Page 3

AHURIRI LAGOON

GREAT TRANSFORMATION DEVELOPMENT SCHEME FIRST MAJOR STAGE ENDS A .successful outcome to the first major stage of the scheme for the development of the reclaimed land on Ahtiriri Lagoon, which 'lt is expected -kwiil make available about 6000 ‘ 'acres of rich farming land, was reported at the final meeting for the year of the Napier ' Harbour Board.

Before the earthquake of 1931 the area was 'seabed and the transformation that had taken, place since then was remarkable, said the chairman of the board, Mr. T. M. Geddis. The biggest problem had been the icrroval of the excess salt content horn the soil, and five years ago a comprehensive system of drains had been dug by the Public Work' Department to effect this. Periodical tests carried out by the Department of Agriculture showed the salt content to ->e steadily declining and. in spite of the comparatively low raintall in Hawke’s Bay. which did not give a great deal of assistance in draining, it vvas expected that a few more year's should see practically the whole of the lagoon snapea into firstvlas pasture. The steady improvement effected is demonstrated by the cha.rman’s -report’on'.the grazing of stock on the lagooni 1 'A considerable increase is shown in the stock as compared with last year," he stated. ‘ln mid-Oct-ober there were 3359 breeding ewes. 4bo hoggets and 3100 wethers on the lagoon. All these sheep were not wintered on the area, 1233 wethers having recently been purchased, and luoo of the wether* were wintered on mother property. -v 'To date this season 2050 lambs have been docked. Top-dressing has been carried out over an area of 1500 acres , add 1250 acre- have been cultivated, of which 080 acres have already been sown in penfiauern pasture.