RIVER PROTECTION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 75, 22 December 1919, Page 2

RIVER PROTECTION

6 : SETTLERS MEET AT RANGIOTU. (Special Correspondent.) Palmerston North, December 20. ■There were about 20 interested (settlers at a meeting held at Raugiotu oa Friday night to discuss the matter of river protection on the Rangiotu side of tho Alanawatu Hiver. Air. P. Baldwin presided. Air. ]I. Akers said it was only a fair thing' to lot the people know- what the intentions of the owners on the Alakerua fiide were. A'banking association had licen' formed to work in their mutual interests. As a result of the banking it was probable the water would be thrown on to the Uangiotu side. There was no better land to be had in New Zealand if properly banked. His idea was that tho people on the Rangiotu sido should institute similar works. In reply to a question from Air. W. Tearce, .Mr. Jickell, civil engineer, said life was of tho opinion that a "cut" from the Jloutoa school to tho Rone Works would not sufficiently meet the position and would not alleviate the necessity for some banking. Tho depth of the- banks proposed to bo constructed would average from Oft. 9in. to 7ft., and tho proposal included that drains already existing tihould lie deepened, widened and improved. He contended that the people on the Rangiotu sido should also protect themselves in the matter of stop banks. The price on the land would in many cases be raised to quite m

Mr. PcniVo thought that if the Makerua side were banked that would be all that' was necessary, as the river would, in a few years, deepen its channel by scouring. After having emphasised the groat l-enofits that would nccruo from the banking of the' river in the matter of increased production, from the land, Sir. A, Seifert spoke briefly on his observations of the methods employed in America in stop bank work, particularly in California. Various makes of dredges wero used, including the floating and caterpillar dredges. Ho had placed an order for a caterpillar dredge for the Makcrua scheme. Although the landwas of a very much poorer quality in California than in New Zealand tho former country spared no expenditure in carrying out elaliorato echenies. Tho question of tho river coming back into the old lagoons was mentioned, and Mr. Akers expressed the opinion that these,. were becoming silted up a good deal and were very small to what they used to be. . ... .Mr. M'Ewen thought tho river migjit bi forced lxick to the lagoons, and .in this eicnt several hundreds of acres, from Karere down, would again be in the river bod The banking schcmo was all rig Hit so far as it went, hut ho uonsidered the people wero not looking far enough ahead. Awhile back there had boon a small amount of agitation Ivy the Farmers' Union for a canal from Fox ton. This a ablation would undoubtedly increase, and it would practically demand soni<> river transport* Jf banks wero creeled ho considered it would only 1p » question of t ,; mc when they would havo to be enlarged. He would like to see a more comnrehensive scheme. Mr. floss moved in t:hr direction that a meeting be hold in Foxton- on January it, when it was liop«l to havo a iimre representative gathering. The motion was seconded by Mr. llure.cit flower, wlin agreed that Mr. M'Kwert was on the right lines. Schcmes such as these had been suggested many tinvs I.pfore, but in t!he early days the flax interests had always confl-eted with the prn'/.ing interests. However, the flaxmillers PPPTUfd to nway oil point, and it was recognised eomotlmis would lwv£ to be done. ' . The mo lion was carried unanimously, and it was agreed that an inspection of (lie river banks be made on the day of next roeeb'ug.