RIVER COMMISSION.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 624, 15 April 1921, Page 5

RIVER COMMISSION.

DEALING WITH THE WAIKATO. (Continued from last issue). Lake Waikare.) Referring to the Lake Waikare drainage scheme, Mr Henry said 11,000 acres of first-class land, about onethird of which belonged to the Crown, would be reclaimed by draining Lake Waikare into the Whangamarino stream at Mercer. The land was at present worthless, whereas if it was improved a man would be sorry to part with it at £3O an acre. Much worse land had been sold' for £IOO an acre. If the Waikato river was shut off from Lake Waikare the river would gain, an impetus that would result in a deep channel being formed at the worst part. When the Onetu stream flooded into Lake Waikare it took eight days for the surrounding lands to be submerged, and a similar time for the waters to recede. A farmer could not put stock on the land at present because he might lose them in a week’s time in the event of a flood.

The scheme was supported by Messrs W. Potter and J. R. Hill, the former stating that the Prime Minister, in replying to a deputation, had characterised the proposition as a thoroughly practical one. Board’s Operations. Evidence regarding the good results obtained from land which the operations of the River Board had enabled to be drained was given by Mr John Dean, flaxmiller, of Pokeno. He said he purchased from the Crown 370 acres of land at Maungatawhiri for one shilling an acre goodwill, and after eleven years sold it for over £l4 an acre. He considered the ratepayers in the River Board district should be relieved of the liabilities of the board, which should be taken over by the new body which it was suggested should be formed.

The Commission resumed at 7.30 p.m.

Mr T. W. Tidd, Rangiriri, gave evidence as to land drainage in the Wjmgape district. He did not consider the work of the River Eoard in that direction satisfactory, and the settlers desired the Government to undertake it at their expense. Mr John Dean, Pokeno, said he had been a member of the original River Board. He thought the river district should be abolished and a new controlling body appointed over the whole river. He considered the present ratepayers ought to be relieved of their liabilities in consideration of the pioneering work they had carried out 5

Mr A. G, C. Glass, chairman of the River Board, gave a history of river affairs from July, 1910, when the first meeting of owners of swamp land was held. An association was formed to which the Government gave £3OO to have levels taken. Mi Breakall took levels and propounded a scheme of works which Mr Kennedy adopted and carried out. The Government gave them £2OOO to begin the groynes with. Then the Board borrowed £7OOO and spent that. There was no effect in lowering the liver. He considered the effort desired would ensue if the groynes were put in" repair and allowed to stand for some time. Ample provision had been made for keeping the Aka Aka channel clear. The River Board was ready to make way for any controlling body that would complete their work. He desired a body that would take over the functions of all local bodies in the district including Drainage Boards.

On resuming next morning Mr. Caesar Roose, launch proprietor gave evidence as to the state of the river, particularly of the lower portion, before and since the groynes were put in. Before that the south channel was as good as the north and large steamers took it at low water. Since then the Aka Aka channel had improved for the first quarter to half mile—the rest of it had not been affected. He did not consider the river works had been carried far enough to have any effect on the river. It would have to be groyned along its whole length except in the narrows. He considered the groynes at Kaitangata ought to l-emain there. The south channel ought to be kept open, but so far there was no improvement in it.

AT NGARUAWAHIA. Yesterday (Thursday) the Commission sat at Ngaruawahia. when the taking of evidence was continued. Mr T. Patterson, director of the Farmers' Co-op. Auctioneering Company, Ltd., said that in 1875—when the railway only van as far as Merr the Waikato Shipping Company’s recelnts from freight and passengers . SI2OO per annum. He strongly recommended the removal of the widows from the Waipa. Mi T. C. Blackett, farmer, of Te Kowhai, said the settlers of Te Kov'hai got all their heavy supplies up

the Waipa river. Years ago there used to be a siding from Ngaruawahiu station to the Waipa river, but notwithstanding strong representations it was removed. The Railway Department, apparently regarded the river as a rival, whereas it was really a feeder, and the department should assist the river as much as possible. The river was also extremely handy for the cartage of metal. Speaking as a director of the.. New Zealand Co-op. Dairy Company, Ltd., Mr Blackett said they did not use the liver much for the cartage of cream. Mr A. L. Stevenson, manager of the Waikato Shipping Company, interjected that the whole of the Waipa trade depended upon a siding from Ngaruawahia, and his company was hopeful of arranging for this siding, though previous negotiations with the Railway Department had been unsuccessful.

Mr W. Skews, master of a river boat, said that if about half a mile of sand bar and snags were removed there would be deep water from Ngaruawahia to Pirongia. Near Pirongia a fall obstructed navigation.

Mr Arthur Morris, manager of the Ngaruawahia Dairy Factory, urged that a siding should be provided between Ngaruawahia and the Waipa river. He said the Auclcland-Ngarua-v/ahia section of the railway was one of the most congested in New Zealand, and if river traffic were encouraged this congestion would be relieved.

Mr George F. White, farmer, of Horsham Downs, said he used to get a quantity of goods up the Waikato River, and saved a good deal in cartusing it. Mr James Bishop, general manager of the Taupiri coal mines, said he thought shoaling was more frequent at Huntly than it was seven years age. His company had workings on the west bank, and they had a scheme to recover from them a large quantity of coal. The idea was to pump sand from the river into the old workings to take the place of the coal removed. Under this scheme fully 75 per cent of the co.al remaining would be recovered. The scheme would be expensive, costing -from £25,000 to £30,000. Besides resulting in the winning of a large amount of coal which would otherwise be lost, it would also help to clear the shoals from the river.

Mr Henry Rogers, manager of the Farmers’ Union Trading Company’s branch at Ngaruawahia, supported the proposition that a siding should connect Ngaruawahia with the Waipo. When they were getting goods from Onehunga by river the freight was 29s per ton, against 43s pqjr ton on the railway, while benzine was 39s per ton against 63s per ton on the railway. If there was a regular river service from Onehunga the trade would certainly increase. He also thought a regular river service would increase production. ,