MORE DAIRYING LAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17956, 5 December 1921, Page 10

MORE DAIRYING LAND.

THE HIKURANGI SWAMP. DRAINING OPERATIONS. ■Efforts have been made for the last « years to have this valuable area drained. Thirty years ago a scheme was submitted to the Government, but considered too costly for the estimated value of the land at the time. However, under the supervision of the drainago department, engineers have surveyed the area and submitted a new scheme, which has been considered and approved. The bulk oMhe machinery is now on the ground including three huge Bucyrus caterpillar excavators. The programme of work , covers the lowering of falls, removal of shoals, and cutting of spillways. By the , latter means the course of the Wairua . River will be shortened about 11 miles. By the completion of this work the Govern- ! ment will add to the attractive dairying ■ areas of North Auckland some 2O;00O , acres of drained swamp,' equal to any , dairying land in New Zealand. . Private enterprise has already shown > what can be done at the southern end | of this swamp area. Here a portion not . capable of carrying a single beast when ( it was acquired some years ago, has now • been reclaimed, and hundreds of cows are • now pastured thereon. " The opening out of this richly-produc-j tive country by the- Government draining . scheme will materially increase Dominion 3 production, and become a valuable' asset ' in the development of North Auckland, j The whole extent of the swamp is bej tween 30 and 40 acres. In addition to the t three steam shovels fitted with drag-line oquiipment, there are seven Ingereoll Rand portable compressor plants and two gasoline locomotives engaged upon the work, f which, it is quite possible,, may extend . over a period of three, or even more, . years, to the final completion. Ills eig--3 nificant" of local engineering efficiency l that the whole of the machinery required 3 was assembled by a Whangarei firm on i delivery at the wharf.