TE PUNINGA LANDS

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6442, 24 January 1924, Page 5

TE PUNINGA LANDS

NEW DRAINAGE WORKS BENEFITS IN EVIDENCE Extensive drainage works have been in hand in the vicinity of Te Puninga, near Tatuanui, where the main outlet has just been completed. Parts of this land were covered with water last winter, and the area has always been soaked. The completion of the drain has made a wonderful difference already. Many difficulties still confront the man who wants to see the land in a state of cultivation, however. A great deal of work will be entailed in moving the large amount of timber which is much in evidence. The Te Puninga drain has its outlet into the Waiharakeke Stream, which enters the Piako River. Some nine years ago another drain was constructed, but it was found to be in the, wrong position, therefore it did not tend to help cultivation or development to any great extent. In order to help themselves the settlers formed a separate rating area to have a drain made to follow the natural flow or fall of the country. Many difficulties presented themselves, one of which was that timber had - to be blasted away. For 40 chains there was nothing but logs and stumps. Some of the former were 200 ft long and 4ft thick. Then clay, which was too hard to be dug, was encountered and again blasting had to be resorted to.

To give some idea of the improvements effected, last winter many of the farmers could not get horses on to the land to pull the stumps out, while to-day grass is growing well and the work of cultivation is proceeding apace. The drain has been of so much benefit already that farmers have been enabled to put cows on the reclaimed land this season.