HAURAKI PLAINS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17274, 25 September 1919, Page 6

HAURAKI PLAINS.

' The enthusiasm -with -which the | drainage and reclamation of the , Hauraki Plains was undertaken ) eleven years ago has been fully justil fied in one respect in others, the I early anticipations have not been i realised. The work was commenced - in October, 1908, and in the followi ing departmental report it was esti- ! mated that 20,000 acres would be • available for selection within nine ■ months, and a further area of 10,000 ■ acres six months later. This total ; of 30,000 acres in occupation was not accomplished until the fourth • year, but since then progress has been far slower, and the original forecasts of the scheme's completion have long ago been abandoned. In the last four years there has not ! been any extension of actual settlement, and the total area disposed of by ballot and sale still stands at 37,451 acres, excluding reserves and roads. The following table shows the annual expenditure and progress of settlement:— Expenditure. Area opened. 1907-08 .. .. 5*070 Ac ™"' 1908-09 .. ..1167-2 _ »° • •• 22:235 16.881 Jq,?"H • • " -' 104 ».«0 qIH'; •' •■ 40 ' 085 5.949 1912-13 . . . . 26,608 '540 3-14 .. .. 21,468 V 39" 191-1-lD •' .. 20 - 399 6,592 1910-16 . . . . 18,332 — 1916-17 .. .. 18,406 _ 1917-18 . . . . 26,589 _ 1918-19 . . . . 31.575 £274,543 Net. 37,431 The foresight of those who advocated and initiated this undertaking has been more than justified. A dreary waste of swamp has been transformed into one of I the richest dairying and stockraising districts in the Dominion, the production of which has probably trebled in the past four years, without any increase in the cultivated area. In his latest report, the chief drainage engineer, Mr. J. B. Thompson, states that farms in the Plains have been sold at prices ranging up to £80 an acre. The significance of this is shown when the cost of reclamation is considered. The total expenditure to March 31, 1915, including works ahead of the ! | lands ready for occupation, repre- I j sented only £4 12s a n acre in respect i j of the area selected by settlers, and ' j even to-day the expenditure in re- j I spect of the whole reclamation ; J amounts to but £6 5s an acre. It is I I gratifying to learn from the annual ! report that 5000 acres are shortly ' I to be opened for selection, and from ' i the Budget that further areas of i reclaimed swamps are ready for i occupation. The Hauraki and ! Rangitaiki Plains have proved that j the finest of settlement lands can be j made available at a cost that is very low in comparison with the prices at which " improved" estates can be purchased, and every possible means should now be employed to hasten the completion of these important works. Mr. Thompson has been in charge of the Hauraki Plains drainage for ten years ; that his reports are still written with enthusiasm must be due to his appreciation of the great value of this national asset, and in spite of the indifference of successive Governments. He has now asked for three new dredgers to expedite the work, and it is to be hoped that the assistance he requires in this respect and in the provision of labour will be promptly furnished. Over 40.000 acres of these rich Crown lands still remain ' for disposal, and there need be no ' lack of labour for their recovery i if opportunity is given to returned | soldiers to engage ,„, the mnstrur- I tion works with a guarantee of a. ! special allocation of sections. <