WATER HYACINTH.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 3 February 1926, Page 8

WATER HYACINTH.

BEAUTIFUL, BUT A PEST

AUSTRALIAN RIVERS BLOCKED. There is no surer way of raising the ire of any of the residents of the northern rivers of New South \\ ales who may find their way to New Zealand than to remark upon and extol the beauty of the water hyacinth. This water hyacinth, which to the tourists' eyes lends additional loveliness to the sub-tropical scenery in the northern part of this State, is in reality one of the greatest of pests. It has completely blocked the navigation of many of the streams that the coastal steamers previously used.

The hyacinth menace is now assuming large proportions in. the creeks which empty into the Hunter Hiver at Maitland The farmers have - endeavoured to deal with the pest, but unsuccessfully, as sectional efforts are futile. A comprehensive scheme aimed at the destruction of the pest in the creeks, followed by constant vigilance afterwards, is the only remedy. On the Richmond lliver the growth, until it was with the greatest of difficulty cleared away, assumed such large proportions that navigation* was complete-: lv blocked in some places, while in others there was only room for a steamer to pass through. I’lie growth

there, indeed, became so dense that if could support a man walking over if, and actually served as a natural bridge in some piaces.