PROGRESS AT FIAKO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6051, 9 April 1881, Page 4

PROGRESS AT FIAKO.

[VROJI OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Piako, Friday. Maclf.ax and Co.'.s VTaitoa Swamp property is now surveyed ready for draining operations. Several intending contractors have passed through, and one nhom I conversed with on his return yesterday, said that E Breakell's camp (the engineer's) would soon break up, as the most of the work was done. The property consists of about 20,000 acres, and all speak of the general superior quality of the land. The laying off the dtains has occupied some little time, and a strong staff of men have been kept on the ground, there being ten employes at the engineer's camp when m}' informant left; but if the preparations for drainage have been somewhat expensive, the work of drainage itself will be completed at a comparatively low price, less per acre considerably than any other swamp in the district, in consequence of the judicious system on which the plan of operations is laid off. The stuff thrown out from some of the main drains.can be used to form the nccessary roads to open np the property, intersecting it as they do in various directions. A large proportion of the block is dry land, and fronts the Waitoa and Piako road for a considerable distance, and also fronts both those rivers. There are several clumps of timber upon it, and along the river' banks. Mr. Strange, who lives on an adjacent property, has successfully brought up the steamer from the Thames during the winter months, so that the block has every facility for settlement. The object of the company is to prepare is for re-sale in convenient sections to practical settlers.