MANAWATU DRAINAGE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 458, 17 March 1909, Page 2

MANAWATU DRAINAGE.

■ 9 PREVENTION OF FLOODING. THE COMMISSION'S REPORT. Tho report of tho Manawntq Drainage Commission has been completed, and copies will be sent to tho local bodies concerned

Tho commission, consisting of Messrs. A. D. Thomson, S.M., W. S. Short (Roads Depirtmont), G. J. Robinson (District Engineer s Department), and Charles A. Vickorman (District Engineer, Public Works Department), was appointed to investigate matters in connection with the . drainage of the Pohangina, Oroua, and Manawatu Rivers. The duty of tho commission was to suggest a scheme of drainage for the rivers mentioned, so that they may bo made less injurious to the lands through which they ■low; and to report upon tho desirableness of uniting the four districts into ono or more land drainage districts. Tho commission had four schemes before it and tho ono which it recommends is estimated to cost about £350,000. This scheme will entail the cutting of a new channel for the Manawatu River, commencing at Fisherman's Point, then following an almost straight lino for Foxton, through the flats to tho return bond of tho river, which it will cross, then cutting through the point at Matakarapa, opposite the wharves. Tho distance from Foxton to the Heads would be reduced by two miles if this ecliemo is adopted. 'Tho question as to who should pay for this work was considered by the commission. Tho whole of the 70,000 acres subject to flood should contribute to the cost, but tho towns benefited by the scheme- and tho Government might also bear portion of it. To levy the ovners of land in the upper watershed would bo unfair, as the waters from their land get into the river by gravitatation only. The Pohangina, Kiwitca, and Oroua counties should be excluded from iho area to bo rated. As tho Foxton railway would bo protected from flood, and the Manawatu bar would probably be so much improved that shipping trade would bo increased, also tho wharfage collected by tho Government, tho commission is of opinion the Government should bear part of the expense. Tho enhanced value of tho 70.000 acres of land affected would bo from £10 to £12 an Tho scheme suggested deals only with tho Manawatu River below Longburii railway bridge, and tho Oroua below Awahuri bridge. Tho difficulties above thoso points, the commission considers, aro only those of erosion, which could bo dealt with by boards set up under tho River Boards Act, The commission also recommends the formation of a Lower Manawatu River Board to control tho Manawatu River from the end of tho proposed cut , near Fisherman's Point to tho railjvay bridgo at Loiigburn. and tho Oroua, River from its junction with tho Manawatu to tho Awalniri bridge. Tho commission is of opinion that it would amply repay tho settlers and tho Dominion to straighten tho river by making the first cut from Foxton to Mmitoa, from the threo-milo to tho nine-mile point. Tho cost of this work would bo ■PISH. nun.