FLOOD PROBLEMS OF LOWER MAKERUA

Chronicle (Levin), 12 June 1946, Page 3

FLOOD PROBLEMS OF LOWER MAKERUA

w SETTLERS SEND DEPUTATION TO CATCHMENT BOARD Settlers in the lower Makerua area, coucerned for their future security from damagiiig floods, and dissatisiied with the extcnt of protection afforded by the Makerua Drainage Board, sent a deputation of three to wait upon the Mauawatu Catcliment Board at its monthly mceting held in Palmerston North ycsterday. Tho visitors were Messrs. A. Gillespie, W. D. Simpson and G. R. Barnes, and tho basis of their complaint was that the growth of willows and weeds in the Tokomaru Streain had beconie so great that the streain level had risen to a stage where drainage water could not' get avvay. A repetition of the flood conditions experienced in January of tliis year, it was stated, would have catastrophic consequences. Mr. Giliespie said tlicy sought the assistance of the catcliment board for the Makerua Drainage Board in carrying out certain works along the Tokomaru Streain. In tho area were 20,000 acres of the richest country in New Zcaland — an area in which could be growu all the onion requiremeuts for New Zeaiand aud Australia. This land was rapidly deteriorating for the want of adequate drainage. The co3t of the damage resulting from the January flood had run into thousands of pounds. The drainage board had only limited fuuds, and the present problem had become too great for that board to handle. The main drain floodgates were not funetioningj said Mr. Giliespie. The water at its lowest level was above the top of the floodgates. They were tryiug to pui 24 feet of water through a four feet pipe. The settlers had en1 deavoured to meet the problem thernselves by installing two pumps, which each handled 7000 gallons of water a minute. However, these pumps had scarcely had a chance to be run in, because they could not get the water down to the machines. "If something is not done in the immediate future, we are going to have •further disastrous floods," he said. "We eannot get redress from the drainage board because it has no adequate niachinery or finanees. They promiscu us a major seheme many years ago, but while we wait it becomes a promisc of a major disaster." Mr. Barnes said the drainage was working in reverse because of the excessive weed growths in the Tokomaru Streain, the water aetually flowing north instead of south. * The chairman (Mr. J. T. J. Heatley) said the catehment board was loathe to interfere with drainage boards where they were functioning satisfactorily. In Wellington reeently he had discussed with the authorities extended finance for the Tokomaru Stream by way of increased subsidies. But where, he asked the deputation, was the remainder of the finance to eome from? The eatchment board had no money for. works programmes. The excessive growth of willows in the river bed had been aggravated by the settlers cutting them off at ground level instead of rippiug them entirely. The only

solution to the trouble was the deep dredging of the stream, tearing out all the willows. It was decided that the Makerua Drainage Board should be asked to prepare a flood eontrol scheme for the area, and draw up an estimate of expenditure, on reeeipt of which v the catehment board would endeavour to further the plans by obtaining the best poasible subsidies,