OLD FOREST LAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21247, 29 July 1932, Page 14

OLD FOREST LAND

USEFUL RELIEF WORK An excellent example of reproductive work being undertaken by relief labour is provided on Mr. G Jefferies' farm on the Tuhikaramea Road, near Hamilton, writes our Waikato correspondent. Ilere four married men on the four-day basis are engaged in stumping and clearing operations. The land is on tho edge of the Rukuhia swamp and the area being tackled embraces several acres of ancient forest remains. Huge trunks of totara, kauri, matai, manawa, rata and kahikatea lie criss-crossed in indescribable confusion. The surface of the grdund is strewn thickly, and then comes a layer of halfburied timber. Added to that many of the largest trees are practically completely covered, only the stump or a l'mb appearing above the ground. As the soil is peat swamp it adds further to the difficulty of breaking in. Adjoining, however, are paddocks which were brought in some time ago and show the excellent quality of the land and what a splendid sole of grass it takes after draining and consolidation. In clearing the timber away the relief workers are using jacks and levers. The trunks which are deeply buried and too heavy to jack out in one piece are cut in sections suitable for splitting into posts later. Some of the stumps which prove intractable aTe dug round and underneath as far as possible. These form tho centre points around which the released stumps and bits of timber are piled ready to be burned in the summer. By this method the innumerable stumps will be burnt to below surface level. A great deal of the smaller stuff lias been carted away for firewood, which Mr. Jefferies allows free to relief workers. Already a considerable area has been cleared, and when one considers the magnitude of the task, the difficulties of doing heavy work in a semi-swamp, and the inclement weather of the past few weeks the men have done wonderful work. Indeed the way the men are transforming a desolate waste into pasture is little short of marvellous. They are working as if they owned the land themselves, which is about Hie highest praise one could bestow. If all the money expended by the Unemployment Board was so well earned there would be no cause for complaint and the country would be richer. Mr. Jefferies speaks most highly of the men's services As soon as the timber is cleared arid burnt Mr. Jefferies intends to harrow and then sow grass. Similar land which was broken in on other parts of the farm now runs a cow to two acres, and later it is expected that the capacity will be increased.