THE HIKURANGI SWAMI

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17144, 25 April 1919, Page 6

THE HIKURANGI SWAMI

PROPOSED DRAINAGE WORK,

SURVEYS TO BE COMMENCED.

AREA NEARLY 24,000 ACRES.

Surveys necessary to the work of draining the Hikurangi Swamp and adjacent low-lying lands, near Whangarei, aro to be commenced by the Government almost immediately. This preliminary has been delayed for a considerable timo owing to tho Department being unable to secure the officers, but with the return of many engineers and surveyors from the front, this difficulty has been overcome, and it is anticipated operations will be commenced in about two week' time. As the area to bo drained is comprised of between 23,000 and 24.000 acres, considerable preliminary work in surveying and engineering will havo to be carried out before contracts con be prepared. Nearly the wholo area is inundated at flood times, this being brought about by the inadequate channel of the Wairoa River, which is extremely tortuous in sections, and has very little fall. The principal work will be tile straightening of the river and the construction of a diversion to avoid the. rapids. It Is anticipated that the proposed diversion will give an extra fall of between 14ft and 16ft. The preliminary work will take some timo, by tho expiration of which it is believed the facilities for obtaining the machinery to complete the drainago schemo, and for obtaining the necessary labour, will be much better than at presont. As the cost of the undertaking will be bttaid on the new estimates, no information on that point is yet available, but tho work will ho carried out in accordance with tho Swamp Drainage Act, one of the provisions of which is that all persons interested in the land benefited shall bear a share of the cost of providing interest and sinking fund on the loan money raised to carry out the operations. The drainage area has not yet been proclaimed. About 21,000 acres of the land to be drained is freehold property.