The Chronicle LEVIN: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1916. DRAINAGE OF HOKIO STREAM.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 7 December 1916, Page 2

The Chronicle LEVIN: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1916. DRAINAGE OF HOKIO STREAM.

Ihe newly-constituted Horowhenua Lake Domain Board's initial meeting, 011 Tuesday evening last, was characterised' by a degree of reasonableness that did not always display itself when the matter of draining the Hokio stream, and consequently the Horowhenua. Lake, came up for discussion. It is true that the new board has not resolved to have the drainage done yet, but there was apparent in the debate held last Tuesday a mutual resolve by the Maori and pakelia members to do justice to all concerned, so far as the board could manage iit. Undoubtedly there are serious detriments occasioned to holders of land around the lake when at certain seasons of the year the lake waters rise above normal level, and it seems an equally clear fact that the cleaning of the mouth of the Hokio stream (from water weeds) does not reduce the level >jf the lake to any injurious degree. In the past there have been

conflicting opinions on this point, but the actual experiences of the last twelve months have made abundantly clear the truth that the lake and the stream can be lowered in the early summer and yet return to normal level within a very few months' time. The new board, it seems to us, was moving in a desirable direction, when it discussed the advisnbleness of having the actual levels of the lake, and its boundaries, ascertained and made clear by a certified engineer. This is a real present need of the new board, and it should resolve yea or nea upon the matter at its meting next month ; when, by the way, there should bo a more representative attendance of members than was the case at the beard's initial assembly.