WATERWAYS DEVELOPMENT

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14259, 9 January 1920, Page 5

WATERWAYS DEVELOPMENT

PRACTICAL WORK BEIN,G DONE.

OPERATIONS ON THE WAIKATO

We are pleased to note that the developing of our waterways is now taking practical shape. A party belonging to the Public Works Department proceeded up the Waipa fiver> with Captain H. Gould this week to remove the shingle obstructions at Karamu. When this very necessary work is completed steamers will be able to navigate the river as far as Pirongia at any time of the year. This will prove a great boon to the frontier townships, and also to the farmers on the upper reaches of the river. There is now every possibility of the river being improved in the direction of Otorohanga, and the day is not far distant when the sound of cargo steamers will be heard throbbing their way right into the heart of the King Country. What this will mean in fostering settlement can easily be imagined, as in every country in the world wherever waterways have been j used to their fullest capacity, there you will find closer settlement, and in nearly every case land is put to its most prolitable use. The waterway not only carries goods at a low cost for haulage to and from the farms, but it can also be used for irrigation in times of drought. The farmers along the many creeks and on the principal rivers will also be pleased to see that the 1 Government not only realise the necessity of improving the inland waterways to foster settlemem, hut they are wisely taking practical steps to give our primary producers every facility for handling their products to the very best advantage. We are of the opinion that this movement on the Waipa river is only the forcruryier of the Government’s intention to open up the interior by easy means of transport, so as lo make the taking up of land for settlement a much more attractive proposition than it has been for many years past.