PIAKO SWAMPS.

Waikato Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1476, 7 February 1903, Page 2

PIAKO SWAMPS.

(BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) I'aeroa, Last Night. At the meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council yesterday afternoon the following letter was received from Mr Kensiugton, of the Lands Department, in reply to a resolution of the Council 'irgiug the opening up of this swamp for settlement: —' In reply to your letter of the 20th inst., I h»ve to inform you that the question of the drainage of the Piako swamp and the opening of the laud for settlement is receiving the earnest attention of the Minister of Linds. As, no doubt, you are aware, the sum of £2OOO was ap. priated this year for the purpose of engineering surveys, and the work of obtaining the necessary levels aud all such realiable data as will enable the Government to decide as to the best scheme to adopt for the drainage of this rich and extensive swamp has been entrusted to Mr Hursthouse, the chief eugineer of roads, who has received instructions from the Minister to put the work in hand with the least possible delay. You will also, r.o doubt, have beard that some 20,000 acres of the portion of the area 13 uoa- being prepared for settlement by the district surveyor, aud this will he opened as soon as possible. It is hoped that the engmeeriug surveys will be energetically pushed forward, so that a proper scheme may bn devised for the reclamation of this most promisiug area.'