FROM SWAMP TO FARM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18577, 8 December 1923, Page 12

FROM SWAMP TO FARM.

BAY OF PLENTY WORKS.

PROGRESS OF DRAINAGE.

ACROSS THE WAIHI SWAMP.

IBT TSfSQ&ATB.-— MEPOBTE&.3 WHAKATANE. Friday

A visit to the Waihi swamp, between Te Puke and Matata, was made to-day by the Hon. W. Nosworthy, Minister for Agriculture, and Acting-Minister for Lands, and the Hon. R. F. Bollard, Minister for Internal Affairs. The swamp comprises about 20,000 acres, and consists principally of Crown lands. Some years ago, when the land was still in its natural flooded state, a drainage report was submitted, and as a result of subsequent activities, the land has been transformed from (flood-covered country to efficiently-drained dry land. The Kaikokopu and the Pongakawa flow through the swamp, and the Lands Department has four dredges working on the rivers or canals. Two of the machines are the modern oil-driven dipper type. Several sections have already been taken up in the area, and the settlers who have made a start on .the drained land seem to be meeting with fair success. . The importance of opening up further areas of the swamp was urged by a deputation to Mr. Nosworthy at Te Puke. It was slated that the present settlers had done well, and that the opening of the sections would help the district wonderfully. .»,»,» The Under-Secretary for Lands, Mr. J. B. Thompson, said that they were doing the best they could with the swamp, although it was difficult to make roads. The department had had a good deal of experience, and it did not want to put men on the land until it waa quite ready for settlement. The Ministerial party later crossed the Rangitaiki Plains, which were also sometime flooded lands. The Lands Department has seven dredges at work in this vast area. The principal dredge cuts have been completed, and the machines ore largely engaged § in cleaning out the drains and in other improvement works.