THE MANAWATU RIVER

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 187, 4 May 1940, Page 12

THE MANAWATU RIVER

Programme To Improve Waterway REMOVING OBSTRUCTIONS Dominion Special Sekvice. PALMERSTON X.. May 3. Following the recommendations of a special committee which carried out an inspection of tlie areas concerned, the Manawatu-Oroua River Board has decided to undertake a programme of works designed to improve the waterway of the Manawutu River. The committee recommend that the necessary legal steps be taken immediately to lower two lengths, of IS chains and five chains respectively, of the old Parekawau Point stopbank, an<] that the board approach the Government requesting that the lower stopbank opposite the base of Parekawau Point be either set back or lowered. Further recommendations provided for the lowering of the Koputaioa cut. n stopbank on 10 acres of tlie Taupunga No. 2 cut. and the removal of 35 chains of bank on a point beyond the Taupunga No. 1 cut. It was recommended that preliminary steps be taken to deal with the 'bank on Poplar Hill, but not to proceed with the removal of that, bank till ail tlie lower work in the schedule was carried out. The board was recommended to take over the Taupunga cut and be responsible for it and to instruct the engineer to accept a tender for the deepening of 10 chains of tlie cut. As a general improvement of the waterway over a considerable length of the river was necessary, it was suggested that all works in the schedule should be proceeded with without, avoidable delay, the farthest up-stream work to be carried out last.

Other rccoiniuemlatiuns made by the comm it tec were that lands required for channel improvements he purchased and charged to tlie whole board mid not to any individual subdivision, and also that laud in the Kopufaroa cut and 10 acres adjacent to the Taupunga ent be taken aver by the whole board. Representations. it was recommended, should be made to tlie Government that, because of tlie serious constriction of the river caused by tlie erection of a mile of stopbank very close to the river edge, in places less than half a chain, round the flax research area, relief be provided by lowering by three feet the present lip of tlie spillway between tlie flax research area and tlie proposed KoputtU’oa cut upstream. Due to silting, the lip was within about 18 inches of tlie height of the stonbmiks just upstream. During a discussion on tlie committee’s recommendations Mr. W. Jackson said that unless relief were given farther down tlie river lie could not see that settlers were going to be any better oft'. If a flood came tomorrow the whole of tlie Makerua. Buckley, and Moutoa areas would be in a bad position. .Mr. R. J. Law said the proposals were part of the work which would have to lie undertaken later. The obvious tiling to do first, said the engineer. .Mr. 11. R. Farquhar, was to remove the obstructions in tlie river. The committee’s recommendations were adopted on the motion of Mr. Law. The chairman, Mr. J. Callesen, said the motion would enable the engineer to go ahead immediately with work on the Tallinn) ga cut. Tlie chairman and tlie engineer were authorized to go into details of the cost of taking over tlie 63 acres of land owned by the Makerua Drainage Board which would he affected by the scheme.