KAITAIA SW2AMP DRAINAGE.

Northland Age, Volume 19, Issue 31, 3 November 1921, Page 6

KAITAIA SW2AMP DRAINAGE.

From a Parliamentary Paper presented to Parliament we make the following extracts: KAITAIA DRAINAGE AREA (39,665 ACRES)111 presenting the above report it is noteworthy to record the progress which the district has made since the inception of work in and around the swamp. Areas which at one period were subject to flood have now become town allotments, others which were lagoons for several months durihg the year have now become pasture. Large areas have been subdivided into small dairy farms, and the aspect everywhere is one of prosperity and progress. However, the rate of progress of the district is wrapt up in the rapid prosecution of the work, as many areas are at present inundated which with a little extra machinery could be quickly and efficiently reclaimed. In several districts where drains were constructed early in the work considerable subsidence has taken place, and with uncontrolled floods breaking over the effect of the work sCems particularly minimized and settlers feel little benefit. ® Although the weather conditions generally have not favoured work for many months of the year, good work was carried on during the summer months. The operations have been pushed o,n as far as possible, the present position being that until the machine work is pushed ahead very little hard work can be put under way.

Kaitaia River Spillway :—Owing to the fact that machinery for the excavation of the river spillway via "Whangatane and Kareponia was not in sight, and that the districts around the lake were receiving too much water impounded bv floods, it was considered advisable to open up the spillway to half-depth by hand, and take a portion of the flood-waters through the old river channel. The diversion cuttings made the previous year were deepened, and the lower eqd through the swamp was taken out 30 ft. wide by means of barrows. Some twelve scoop teams were employed in the heavy clay cuttings, and good and economical work was done. The opening of this auxiliary channel will enable work to proceed above Kaitaia? which, althoug urgent, has of necessity been held up till the lower portion of the work has been completed. The diversion of Tarawataroa Stream, snagging of Kaitaia River to Johnston’s old store, opening of Showground cut and Church Gully swamp, have all been held up pending the increased capacity of the channels for flood-waters. These are now under way, and should be completed before the worst of the winter sets in. It is gratifying to know that the plant for the construction of the spillway will soon come to hand. Kaitaia River: —Steady progress has been made with the work on the river. The dredge-work has been of an exceptionally difficult nature on account of the heavy timber encountered and large quantities of sand. Moreover, the plant for the greater portion of the year was handicapped owing to the bad repair into which the grab was drifting. Stoppages for repairs and replacement of lines and bridles were frequent, and it was only after the new grab had been put into commission that better progress could be maintained. A further difficulty has been the height of the banks through which the plant is working. For the greater part of the summer the banks have averaged 8 ft. above the deck of the pontoon, the ends of the chutes just clearing the banks. To aid better clearance damming was necessary, but, owing to sandy nature of the country and abundance of timber, dams were difficult to secure, and burst after freshes on twooccasions. Twodiversions have been cut through during the year, but the work has been heavy and difficult — two and three drops of the grab being required to loosen sufficient for a load. The total amount of spoil removed during the year was 51,500 cubic yards. Snagging-work on the river has been

carried out behind the dredge, large logs and stumps taken out by the plant having been from time to time pulled clear and stacked'. With the second Priestman dredge in sight work on the river should be greatly expedited, and on completion of the lake-channels the two should work well in conjunction on the river between the lake-outlet and Awanui. Timber for the erection of pontoons for the Priestman and Bay City plants ha been ordered, and is being cut at Herekino.