THE PIAKO SWAMP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12485, 1 February 1904, Page 6

THE PIAKO SWAMP.

Some reference having recently been made in our columns to the Piako swamp, and the possibility of making it fit for profitable settlement, Mr. Frederick Strange, of Piako, called at the Herald Office to testify to the fertility of the land if the Government would only undertake the draining of the swamp. Mr. Strange lias himself cultivated a property on the edge of the swamp, and he has calculated that there are f:90,000 acres within 50 miles of Auckland which could be opened up if the drainage difficulty were overcome.. The land Mr. Strange cultivates was swamp when he took it up, and he found that when lie got the water run off, the soil consolidated aud he nad good fertile land. His idea is that the Government should undertake a drainage scheme and set up a drainage board to "assess the cost of the drainage, on all the land benefited, whether Crown land or land owned by individuals, European or Maori. The fact that Mr. Strange had himself drained a portion of the swamp and brought it into cultivation, suggested the question whether other settlers could not, by taking advantage of the Bush and Swamp Crown Lands Settlement Act, undertake drainage works for themselves, and get their rent and rates rebated until they were able to cultivate. This, however, Mr. Strange did not think at all likely to solve the difficulty. In the first place his land was on the edge of the swamp, and even then he had to overcome a great many difficulties, and undertake a deal of unhealthy work, before he got his land drained, 'He was confident that it was an undertaking which only the Government could face, and equally' confident that if they do undertake it they would be able to sell the land without any trouble.