TAUPIRI SWAMP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22620, 7 January 1937, Page 14

TAUPIRI SWAMP

SCHEME OF DRAINAGE LONG TASK ALMOST DONE EXPENDITURE OF £150,000 [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Wednesday The comprehensive scheme for the ■drainage of the Taupiri swamp, the area of 149,800 acres lying in the triangle bounded by Taupiri, Hamilton and Morrinsville. has reached its final stages and will lie completed within , a few months. The work was undertaken by the Public Works Department four years ago and has been supervised by Mr. D. It. Williams. ' Tho cost of tho project has been £150,000, of which £IO,OOO has been found by the ratepayers in the area. When completed the drainage works ■will bo handed over to the 'laupiri Drainage and Itiver Board for maintenance. Mr. Williams said to-day that a draglino dredge was at present being employed in completing the excavation of the Mangawara River, the main outlet of the system. Willow-clearing was also in progress in the upper reaches of the river. Work would shortly be put jn hand on opening up the Orini bend, an important drain in which many settlers were keenly interested. A dragline dredge would be allotted to this work. A steam dredge was clearing and ' deepening the Tauhei Stream, the largest artificially-made drain in the scheme was the eastern outlet, which crossed the swamp for eight miles. It was 10ft. wide at the bottom, 14ft. wide at the top, and 13ft. deep. Workmen were Employed in taking out a fourth lift of peat from the drain. In the Gordonton area practically all tho drains were completed, the "G," "S," "Telephone," and "Central" drains having been opened up. Willowclearing was still in progress in the Komakorau streams. A contract had been let for removing 20,000 cubic yards of material for a mile and a-quarter from the northern outlet. A dredge would be employed on the work. There were 120 men and four dredges at work on the scheme, said Mr. Williams. It was anticipated that the work would be completed within the next three months.