SWAMP DRAINAGE SCHEME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21911, 21 September 1934, Page 14

SWAMP DRAINAGE SCHEME

AREA SOUTH OF MERCER ELECTRIC PUMPING PROPOSAL [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON*, Thursday A scheme for the drainage and development of about 3000 acres at Meremere, an area situated between the Main Trunk railway and the Waikato River, three miles south of Mercer, was discussed at a meeting of the Central Waikato Electric-Power Board yesterday. Mr. J. H. Sampson said the Waikato County Council had completed ! its work of surveying the swamp. There was good land in the area, and when drained it would be suitable for subdivision and improvement. Tho ratepayers proposed to raise a loan or £6OOO with which to build stop-banks along the edge of the Waikato River. The water would be drained from the land into a large excavation near tho bank, and would then be pumped into the river. The County Council ! desired to know the cost of installing electricity to operate tho pumps, for tho success of the scheme would largely depend on this cost. Mr. Sampson considered the board should take a long view of the proposal, and quote as low a price as possible. He believed that in a few years' time the land would be very productive. The engineer, Mr. J. R. Ellis, said the erection of three or four miles of service lino would be required. On tho usual basis of installation a revenue of £250 per annum would be required, but he doubted whether tho immediate prospective consumers would use sufficient current to produce £l7O per annum. As far as the drainage scheme was concerned, if pumping could bo confined to the night time and could be kept off tho day load, a fine price cculd be quoted. At a charge of jd per unit the cost would be £3OO per annum, but he doubted whether tho ratepayers were prepared to find more than £2OO per annum toward tho cost of pumping. Mr. Ellis said he had not gone into the question of costs in detail. Mr. W. Lee Martin said a similar scheme was operating satisfactorily at Aka Aka.

The engineer was given authority to make the best arrangements he could with the County Council.