MOUTOA SET-UP EXPLAINED

Chronicle (Levin), 31 July 1947, Page 3

MOUTOA SET-UP EXPLAINED

CATCHMENT AND DRAINAGE BOARDS MEET Qn Monday evening Messrs. L. J. Hagan and P. G. Evans, secretary and engineer respectively of the Manawatu Catchment Board, met members of the Moutoa Drainage Board in conference and explained the set-up of the catchment board and its future activities. Mr. S. W. Barber, chairman of the drainage board, extended a welcome and expressed appreciation of the visit of the two catchment board officials. Both Mr. Hagan and Mr: Evans 1 outlined the catchment board's future activities in the Moutoa area, and at the conclusion a number of questions were put to them by members of the drainage board. In reply to a question by Mr. Cull in connection with future activities, Mr. Evans stated that it was too soon for him to make a staiement regarding the Moutoa, although he pointed out that the Hay scheme would be carefully 1 investigated by the catchment board and it was possible that some modifled scheme along these lines would be adopted. Mr. Evans went on to say that he had an idea of sluice gates for the' lower Manawatu, and there was a probability of work having to be undertaken at the river mouth. If the 'catchment board was going to increase the discharge, the present mouth 1 might be too small to cope with j the position. "It is too early to j make a statement yet. This is J merely supposition on my part," concluded Mr. Evans. Mr. W. H. Sm'ith said that erosion I was the greatest problem today I and he questioned how the board j couid improve that if it increased j the flow of the river. .• j I Mr. Evans replied that the catchment board might use sluice gates and undertake protective works with rocks — nothing under 2 cwt. Mr. F. S. Easton asked if the work would start at the bottom I end first. To this Mr. Evans stated i that it would, but they might have to attend to isolated danger spots first, but, generally speaking, the work would start at the bottom end. Mr. Evans stated that the board would do as little work as possible until a comprehensive scheme had been adopted. Mr. Easton then stated that at that rate the work in the Moutoa might not be undertaken for another ten years. Mr. Evans replied that he could not say definitely. Mr. Smith further asked if it was fair to rate land inside of a stop bank, Mr. Evans replying that if such land was liable to erosion and called for protection, the answer was yes, but not otherwise. Boih speakers said that there were bound to be anomalies crop up as the board became established, but these would be dealt with when they occurred.