HIGHWAY RAISING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 187, 1 December 1941, Page 5

HIGHWAY RAISING

WHAKATANE DRAINAGE

PROBLEMS

DEPUTATION TO'PRIME

MINISTER

In a letter received by the County? Council last week from Messrs W. B. Soutar, G. Kelly, G. Phillips, W. R. Boon and W. A. Smith representations were made on behalf" of settlers whose properties are sit-: uated in the area between the Te Rahu and White Pine Bush Dredge Cuts which area is subject to periodic flooding. The. Chief Drainage Engineer on petitioners' request, recently had a block put in the Drainage Department's drain to prevent flood waters backing up from the Te Rahu. As a result of this work drainage troubles in this area would be intensified in the event of flood waters entering ihe area between the White Pine Bush and the Te Rahu Dredge Cuts over the Whakatane West main highway. The petitioners felt that in view of the forthcoming by-election, Ministers of the Crown will be visiting the district and the opportunity should be taken of asking that the proposed raising of the main highway at the two lowest points be treated as urgent and that a grant of say £500 or £600 be made avail* able for this work. It was suggested thqj a joint 'deputation consisting of representatives from the council and settlers should meet the Minister on the ground if possible and when presenting their viewpoints also stress the urgency in this matter. It was decided to wait upon the Prime Minister who will be receiving deputations at Whakatane on Thursday next.