THE TAIERI PLAIN.

Evening Star, Issue 2885, 18 May 1872, Page 3

THE TAIERI PLAIN.

To the Editor, Sir, —The wet weather coming on, the Taieri farmers are beginning to think of approaching floods, and are quaking as to future results. The embankment also on which the railroad is to be put will materially affect all that large portion of land lying between the line of railway and the foot of the Maungatua Hauges, by preventing the water from getting away when in flood. We hqve been told that eminent engineers have suggested several plans for preserving this valuable flat from flood. We have been told that dams should be built at the Taieri Lake, 70 feet high, and we have been told that the whole river should be diverted j and we have also been told that embankments should be made by the owners of )and« to protect their estates. As to im-

pounding the flood waters at the higher levels for the benefit of the goldfields, nothing could be more simply effected, owing to the configuration of the country ; but the idea of any such impounding, to be of any service to alleviate the floods on the lower plains, is entirely out of the question. The true method of arriving at this desideratum is by running a storm water channel, commencing near the present bridge at the West Taieri, by the foot of the slopes into the Waipori Lake—this channel to be of the requisite proportions to discharge a quantity of water sufficient to flood the entire plain, say to the depth of 6 feet. The expense of this channel, which would really be effective, should be ascertained. The advantages that might be derived from a scheme of this kind are, that the entire area of land between the Taieri river and the foot of the hills could be made available for agricultural purposes,' which at present it is not. And a proper system of drainage could be instituted all through the land, it thereby being rendered thoroughly valuable and put into a state fit for cultivation, and ultimately the rose blossoming idea might bo consummated. The Government, therefore, in my opinion, should take the initiative in this Colonial or Provincial matter, and have the scheme properly brought out under competent direction. The Government Land Drainage Act, under which so much has been done at Home, should be taken as a pattern for imitation hr re ; and an offer made to parties interested aud others, who would doubtless become interested, if such a scheme were shown to be practical, to realise pounds per acre per annum for lands from which they do not now realise shillings or pence per acre, at a mere nominal rent charge, distributed over a term of years, in the shape of interest on outlay—say 8 per cent for 21 years.—l am, &c. Utopia. Dunedin, 15bh May, 1872.