PROGRESS AT PIAKO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6064, 25 April 1881, Page 6

PROGRESS AT PIAKO.

[FROM OCU OWN- COEK£3rOXDKXT.] 1 Piako, April S. Maclean" aud Co.'.s Waitoa Swamp property is now surveyed ready for draining operations. Several intending contractors have passed through, and one whom I conversed with on his return yesterday, said that BreakelFs cam]) (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 diains has occupied some little tiuu*. and a strong staff of men been kept en the ground, there being ten employes at .he engineer's camp when my 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 iu the district, in consequence of the judicious system 011 which the plan of operations is laid oIV. The stuff tnrov/11 out from some of the main drains can be used to lorm the ncn>»sary roads to open up the , imersectmg it as iney ao 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 it for re-sale in couvenient sections to practical settlers.