MINISTER OF LANDS

Waikato Times, Volume 90, Issue 14029, 4 April 1919, Page 4

MINISTER OF LANDS

VISiT TO HAURAKI PLAINS,

AND WAIKATO RIVER

The Minister of Lands (Hon. D. H, Outline), accompanied by his private secretary (Mr A. W. Mulligan), Messrs J. B. Thompson (chief drainage engineer)) H. M. Skeet (Commissioner of Crown Lands), and T. W. Rhodes, M.P., is at present touring the Hauraki Plains and "Waikato districts. The Minister received a telegram from Mr R. F. Bollard, M.P., regretting his inability to accompany the pa; tv through g| his electorate, owing to ill-health. W' THE HAURAKI PLAINS. . The Ministerial party left Thameson Wednesday morning. They attended the Farmers' Union picnic being, held at Waitakururu, and received a< great reception, being cordially welcomed by the president, Mr C. W.Harris.

They had a good look around the district, and witnessed the dredging; operations being conducted at Waitakururu, whereby the stream isbeing straightened and deepened. A deputation waited upon the Minister here, and urged that the Government accpiire native areas on behalf of returned soldiers. At Ngatea a deputation urged that something should be done to improve the roads. If this were done, suppliers" to the factories would increase, arid present supplier-s would be able to supply for a longer period. The district is progressing rapidly. The Minister, who was greatly impressed with the rapid progress made, gave the deputation a sympathetic hearing. He said it was very/apparent that they had only so fa>" i ouehed" the fringe. He would go thoroughly iii'.o the matters brought him. It was strongly urcod on the Minister that the reclamation works i n the Plains should be pushed as' quickly as possible. It would be a sound business proposition. At present about a third of the available area has been brought into use, and it washoned to bring in another third' within two or three years. The Minister replied that the officers were quite alive to the importance of pushing on the work, and additional" appliances had been ordered. They were trying to obtain another dredtre, but owing to thp war. they had so far been unsuccessful. The labour shortage was another problem. The members of the recognised that the officers of the Department had done good work, but had been handicapped owing ttn conditions bronprht about by th<» wj»r The party spent the night at Mercer. DOWN THE WAIKATO. Yesterday morning, accompanied by Mr Glass (.president; anu owier members of the Waikato River i>oard, and Mr G. Parr (representing the Hamilton River Navigation League), the party left Mercer by motor launch for the Heads. It was raining, heavily at the time of departure, but tlie weather scon cleared, and a very pleasant time was spent. The river and its envirous are looking beautiful just now, with the autumn tints. Mr Guthrie's visit to the Waikato isreally the result of Hon. T. M. Gilford's (Minister of Marine) trip last year. The Waikato River Board asked for the setting up of a Government Board of Control and a Commission of 'outside engineers to go into the matter of'improving the navigation of the iriveii and draining the adjoining land. iThe'' Lands Department has ordered the River Board'to remove certain groynes which they claim are injuring the drainage of the adjoining lands. The Aka; Aka Drainage Board also ask that portion of a groyne be removed, claiming that it interferes with what is known, as the eastern drain, which \ drains their properties. The River Board object to the removal of the groynes, s considering that it would largely nullify the work of. the Board, and would result in much of the money already spent being wasted. They also ask that a grant be made by the Government to repair .certain groynes ■ which have been injured by the action o|f-the river. These matters interest Mi-n Guthrie's department as well as Mr Wilford's, and consequently," after conferring with the Minister of Marine, he decided to make the present trip of inspection in order to acquaint himself with the true position. The party went down the main, or western, channel, and got a good view of the groynes. On reaching Maiora Bay, the hour being fairly late, it was •dpcided to return, and the Otaua and Aka Aka channels were chosen for the course. A halt was made at the eastern drain, and another view obtained of the groynes. The Minister was keenly interested in all that he saw. On the'trip several matters of importance were pointed out to him, including the damage done' by the unsuitable planting of willow trees, which caused the sand to silt up, and islands to form. The party returned to Mercer about 5 p.m., having spent a very interesting day, and one which should have an im. portant hearing on the future development of the river and the land adjoining it. ! -- - i MARCH RAINFALL. Matamata, Mr W. Kirkness/ recorder: Total fall, 3.39 in on 10 days; maximum fall, 1.22 in on loth./ Tirau, Mr F. Shannon recorder: Total fall, 3.99 in on 10 davs;' maximum. fall, 1.13 in on 25th.' The Marchfall in 1918 was 4.26 in.