WATERWAYS COMMISSION.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 629, 3 May 1921, Page 5

WATERWAYS COMMISSION.

SITTING AT WAIUKU. DEEP-SEA PORT AT WAIUKU. CANAL TO WAIKATO ADVOCATED U. McEvven, electrical works man-ager,-said his company was importing 15 tons of coal per month. Later they would require about 400 tons a year and might ultimately need 1000. The benefits of a canal would more than repay the cost. He was not able to furnish particulars as to what the trade of the canal would be. The chairman expressed surprise that the advocates of the canal had not been prepared with some definite information to guide the Commission and Mr McEwen promised to endeavour later to supply it. G. G. Hull gave evidence as to the injury inflicted upon drainage and navigation by the River Board’s works.

Owing to the tea-hour having arrived, it was arranged that the evidence supplied by Mr Hull to the previous commission should be taken in lieu of a present statement.

In the evening Arthur Makgill, marine engineer, gave evidence as to the navigation of the Manukau which, he said, was subject to sudden gusts from the hills laising a heavy sea. If the cargo w r as not perishable barges could be towed across in fairly dirty weather. If a canal was made it should have a minimum depth of 6ft at low spring tides. In the creek he would make provision for sea-going ships from England reaching Waiuku. If this were done the canal would bring coal that would enable the ironsand deposits on the west, coast to be worked. Bricks '■ mid oe made for export and hardv con telegraph paes brought fnm Australia. From the defence point of view the basia enclosed by the lock would be invaluable as a submarine and seaplane harbour. J. D. Chalmers, commission agent, said there was a big demand for manure. More than GOO tons came in the season. The Chamber did not expect the canal at once. Before the railway was made they were anxious for the canal. Now they had secured the first they wanted the latter. The Waikato was Sft higher than the Manukau. It would be turnedthrough the canal and improve the drainage.

Wm. Claud Motion, chairman of the Franklin County Council, put in a quantity of statistics relating to the valuation, population and rating possibilities of the various ridings of the county. He considered that though people might like a road across from Awhitu to Karaka, they would not be prepared to pay for it. Ti;e Waikato had got much worse since the groynes were put in. The north channel was greatly injured and the south channel had not improved. He did not think the canal was justified. There would not be sufficient traffic to warrant it. He was quite satisfied the latepayers of. the county were not prepared to pay rates for the canal. The County Council did not approve of the scheme. The groynes injured the drainage of the Mangawhero district. They even injured Mercer by keeping up the floods. They blocked the flow of the water. He considered the River Board ought to be abolished and replaced by a board of elected and also nominated members. If the Upper Wakato was to be connected with Auckland in his opinion the route from Taupiri to the Piako river was the best. Charles Shiplierd, of Puni, said he had orignally di allied some hundreds of acres of swamp by deepening and straightening the Mangawero creek about thirty years ago. The creek acted as an efficient outlet until the groynes were put in when it gradually ceased to work owing to the raising of the river level. Since then it had flowed in the reverse direction. He had known the river intimately for 40 years. Before the groynes were put in the Aka Aka was the navigation channel. Boats could not get through the south channel. When the tide was out the south channel j was nearly bare. He had not heard of j any demand among farmers for a j canal, and could not see they would j derive any benefit. , Mr. J. N. Massey, chairman of the j Aka Aka Drainage Board, gave simi- I lav evidence, except as to the length of time he had known the river. j

In reply to the chairman, Mr Wily said that owing to the lateness of the hour he did not propose to give general evidence, but would confine himself to the canal issue. His evidence was on the same general lines ns that of the other farmers. On Wednesday, in company with Messrs Chalmers, McEwan, Malegill, Wily, Massey and Irvin, inspected the proposed canal and the Mangawero creek. They then proceeded to Auckland to take further evidence, accompanied by Mr Wily.