RECLAIMING SWAMP LAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXI, Issue 15331, 14 June 1910, Page 8

RECLAIMING SWAMP LAND.

[Per Phess Association.] WELLINGTON, June 13. Mr Kensington, Under-Secretary for Crown Lands, returned on Saturday from Whakatane, having visited the big swamp area in that district. It is 80,000 acres in extent, and is held by Crown tenants on the optional system. The Rangitiki Drainage Board, having found the problem too large financially, succeeded through Mr M'Donald's instrumentality in getting the Government to undertake the work of draining tho swamp. The work will be done by the Lands Department. An admirable outlet can be made to the sea by cutting through the sand-hills opposite Whale Island, where the coast is completely protected from the bankingup action of rollers by the shelter of Whale Island and a large reef running from it to Raurimu Islands. The construction of this outlet, at the cost of about £SOOO, will lower the water by 6ft. The Crown tenants will recoup the Government by a special rate. When the scheme is completed the land will become one. of tho richest pieces of country in New Zealand. The preliminary work of the scheme is now in hand.