ANOTHER DRAGLINE JOB?

Chronicle (Levin), 18 June 1948, Page 2

ANOTHER DRAGLINE JOB?

Major Fiood In Otaki River Feared # - Floocfing and erosion in the Otaki River,. aoove Uie railway anU traftic bridges, has for a number of yeais caused seuiers much, concern,. and has resinteu "iri many ' acres oi feroile iann land being wasned out to sea. Considerable alarm is. again bemg ' expies^eci by seitlers in this local- ; ity at tne prospect of severe flooU- j ing, as tne river nas recenuy maue j a senous encroaciinienc on the' property of Mr. J. Cnrystall, who lariiis an area lrrnnediateiy behlnd uie Otaki racecourse. Shouia the nver break its banks, as is feared, a major liood wouia ; be inevitabie and the ranway sw- 1 tion, the Rahu. , dairy f actory and ' the main highway, togetner witn ! numerous farm lands and markei gardens, woiild be endangered. * | . An engineer on tne spot has voiunteered the opinion that Otaki can cons.der itseil very lucky indeeu tnat the tide was out on the occasion of the most recent flooaj ! in the Otaki River some Uiree week.? ago, as 11 wouid make a aiiterenc-j oi up to six feet in the 'level oi water in the nver, anci the banks would not have been abie to cope with it. Prompt action is consiaered necessary, ana w.th this object in view a meeting of coun-} cihors and settlers has been held,; at which the Manawaru Catchmenv [Boaius engineer was aiso present. j Steps are to oe taken immediateiy; ! to endea vour to eniist the sympath> { of .the' Minister oi' Pu.blic Woxks m the hope that the dragline can be. utilised to do the. work while it is1 still in Otaki. j

| lt is proposed to ask Mr. J. J. jMalier, M.p. for Otaki, to arrange jior a deputat.on to wait on Ihe j Minister. So that the deputation idoes not go empty han'ded, and as {an indication oi the urgency and 'serious view taken, a sum of £20U has been contr.buied to date.'Thls amount, it is understood, will be entitie'd to a genero.us subsidy. Those who remember the severe flooding which occurred in 1931, aird which resulted in loss' of life", wiii' reaiise the importance of swift action, as the break which occurred then was in practically the sanie. place. A flood unrivalled in the history of- Otaki took place, when -Uie' Rauway end of the township "was submerged and the huge volume of water swept with considerable force over all the iands a'djaceiit to tne river and flowed in large quantities' towards the station,' where shopsl and dwellings were severely affected. Some * Lhousands of pounds worth of damage was done. •