Lowering Horowhenua Lake.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 17 June 1911, Page 3

Lowering Horowhenua Lake.

DEPUTATION TO THE u OARD

SOME INFORMATIVE HISTORY

A deputation from the '-.Levin Chamber of Commerce—consisting of Messrs W. Park, W. M. Clark, T. G. Vincent and G. P. Brown—niado representations to the Levin Laiko Domain Board concerning the advisableness of lowering the present level of Hwowhenu'a Lako. All four members of the deputation addressed the board, making it clear that they desired to have the whole subject cautiously iapproadhed, with a view to carrying out tho proposed work in a. way that would 'benefit the whole town and at the same time preserve; the rights which the natives possess over the lake.

Tlie members of tiho hoard then dismissed tho proposals.

.Mr Bartholomew said he was in favour of tho movement to have the lake loweired. People now could not get near the lake. He doubted if a hundred people visited it each year; but if present conditions were improved the case would be altered. He submitted that by the use of weirs the lake could 'be kept at any desired level.

Dr. MeKenzie was in favour of lowering the lake to some extent, but he was afraid that if a beach were made for algae to pile up on during the autumn, the town of L win, might 'become almost uninhabitable. Therefore he was against a beacih read being formed.

.Mr J. Prouse would support any snirgo.stian to keep the lake at a re ; rular level. But when it came to tl 0 question of permanently lowerirg the lake the case became broader. If the lake .should he towered nt any time the property owinems Aviso would benefit thereby should, make a material contribution to the cost. He would want a comprehensive soil erne he fore him ere he would do anything at all. Mr 11. R. Gardener -understokxl that it was tlhc native custom, yea its ago, to clear out the toi toi and other obstructions. In the last 25 years nothing had been done; yet at present there were millions of extra gallons of water being carried into the lake from the water races of Levin and district. A road should he put round the lake, so that [vople could drive round it both in winter and summer. He quoted the case of a former opponent of the scheme whose trap round the lake margins had slhown him that very great benefit to the town would result from carrying out the work. Mr Gardener favoured getting export advice before doing anything. Mr •!. R. McDonald said he had lived fifty years in this district. He w s bom near the head of the Hor'ow'lenua stream. In those days the chiefs "were" chiefs; and they did as they thought best. They cleared ort the stream every year. They pulled out the raupo, and earned it away in. canoes; ' that was to saw their men did it. HOll eta always hiad it done. There was no doubt it usod to bo done, and he thought it should I>e done now. In the old days there was no shooting ducks on the lake; the_ natives caught thorn in the moulting season; so why need the natives fear now. The stream was kept clear in the old days; to-dav it was not, and the fish in those days were far ni"ire plentiful than they weire n ! ow. R :m<< of the best, fi«h had disappeared altogether. Some natives seemed to l»o afraid, to-day, that if the lake were lowered the locality would 'become unhealthy; but he assured them that in the old days the Mano'polcus were all stalwart healthy men : bigger men than most of the men <of to-day. Aparimi Paki said 110 had represented the matter to his tribe. They were against the lowering of the lake. Tt was no use the patch n trying to lower the lake in tihe hope of <rettiug rid of the green scnim; the lower the lake went the more the scum would come; it was the ekcroment of the 'big taniwha at the bottom of the lake"Wilson liunia said lie had nothing to add to what had been said by Aparimi Paki and Mr McDon'ald. Major llui'linsou remarked that after diversified opinions expressed that morning it would be impossible for the bo'M'd to come to any immediate decision. It would 'be well to send to the Minister of Lands a I'nll ;ur < 1111. 'f to-day's proceedings. without "ominent, a:;d let him decide what further steps should b? taken. It would well, t-; 1 :;-, if tho Mayor 0!' Levis <-..'Ld a public Meeting of j. helms and -ltaitive;; to consider the wlude nvit'o'-. He moved: "Th;t the l.c:rd having heard the 'Vpnta! i 1 '"n the Chamber of Commerce, is of opinio.that it has iro j; .wer to deal with tho matter under con I '-ration ; and it considers the nroper course will bp to refer the whole matter to the Minister of Lands for his consideration."

This was seconded by Mr Gardener and unanimously agreed-to. *