Lake Domain Board

Horowhenua Chronicle, 16 December 1916, Page 2

Lake Domain Board

LOWERING TIHE LAKE WATERS

A meeting of the Lake Domain .Board was held in the council chamber last night when there were present:—

Me sis B. H. Ga.dener, iC. lilenklu in, M. Eossella, li. M. lierriek, H. 'i ..tana, E. l : aki, J. .Broughton, A ■Murray, A. Dempsey ' and J. Rob-eit-.on. „ Mr JJ. I{, Gardener took the chair, and die fin-it business was the election or a chairman for the Board. Mr. C. JJienkh j-: n was iinanim .usly elected to tl.is position and Mr B. D. Gardener was elected secretary. Mr Kobertsun repoi Ling !n regard to the recent inspection bv members of the board ol the outflow from the lake stated that there was a channel blocked up with weec's in the northern side <:■]' the Hokio stream which required cleaning out and they considered if this was done it would carry away sufficient water to give the landowners the rebel they asked for. If it did not do so they could then proceed with the cleaning of the sti-ea:n. Tiie board had to go slow in the matter a.s it had to guard the n:ir fives' fishing riahts and- conserve the lake.

Mi- .Murray, speaking for landholders iiitercsti d :n the lowering oi the lake, said it now was twi; feet six inches higher than bei'o.e. Last year it was not so high and consequently the land round it was much dryer. All that was done last year was to rem eve the weeds from the stream. The weeds had clicked the stream and when removed reduced the water considerably, and tHiis had resulted in great benefit. Last year from the decking of the bridge to the water was (sft lOJin., and when measured on Thursday it was 4ft. Gin. It was proposed to clear the eel weirs first, and if that did not succeed to clear the sti:eam. As a councillor lie could not seeo his way to spend money on experiments in methods different from that which was successful last year.

'Mr Gardener said there were two channels originally. Since the work of draining took place three years ago only one channel was cleared and now instead of two channels there was only this one; the other was blocked with weeds and raupo. Under the new Act it was laid down that the natives' fishing rights had to he /protected. The natives considered that if the eel weirs wore opened a big volume of wall r could get away. . XVnv was the

; pportmiitv to try this new method. The hoard was afraid that if the eel weirs were cleared and the stream also was cleared too much water would be

let nwav..^

Mr Dempse.y said the board thought that if the top e;-l weirs wore cleared of weeds a lot more water would get away. Last year the drainage had interfered with the natives' fishing ri gilts. It was said that if the natives' interest were of so much importance why could they not help themselves? but if the matter was so l important to the landowners why could they not also help themselves? (Hear, hear, from the native representatives). They wanted to give the landowners all the relief they could, but at the same time preserve the loke. The policy of the board was to go slow at first, and try the cleaning of the eel weirs, and if that was not sufficient to clean the stream. The natives' fishing rights were just as important to the natives as the landowners' rights were to them. If the natives were prepared to clean out the two eel weirs for £G, there would be a" sum of £6 left to clear the stream if needed.

Mr Fosella considered the excess of water in the swamps at present was due to the recent torrential rains and not to the hacking up of the water in the lake. Proof of this was that the water from Mr Ryder's property was flowing into the lake. If the lake waters were backing into the swamps this would not be. The water this year was half a chain further out than who n the boatshed was built. The lake was CO feet higher than sea level and if a channel was'cut it would soon bey reduced to a pond.

Mr J. B roughton said that if the outlet had been cleared of weeds the water would not have been so high. It was eighteen inches higher now than at the corresponding period of any previous year. This was the time of the year that the natives used to clear the weeds from the eel weirs.

3Lr .Robertson, in further explanation, stated that while preserving tlie natives' fishing rights tiiey would give the landowners all the relief necessary. The council last year in cleaning out the main stream had diverted the waters from the eel weirs. The lake could be improved as a sump for draining by lowering it but the board had to preserve the lake.

Mr Herriek, after hearing the remarks of Messrs Foeella, Itobertson and Dempsey, said he was in favour of giving the suggested scheme a trial. The water 011 the land was not all due to the backing up of the lake waters. For instance the water in his welll was much higher this year than last year. The chairman said the idea seemed a reasonable one. Tliey had so many interests to conserve that they would have to go slow on the matter. The board wanted to pull amicably together with all the interested parties (hear hear).

Mr Murray explained that lie did not think the cleaning of tho eel weirs would be a success. He did not feel justified in agreeing to the proposal, as the only councillor present. It would cost about £12 to

clear the weeds. He thanked the board for the hearing it had given him. If the county engineer considered the work could be done for the money stated he would be prepared to agreo with it.

After further discussion Mr Robertson moved that: In the opinion of the board if the two eel woiis agreed upon 111 the Hokio stream were cleaned out it would give the relief sought by the ' (landowners adjoining the lake, while at the same time conserving the natives' fishing rights which is one of the functions of the board. 1 f the above should be iound insufficient in giving the necessary overflow the board is prepared to agree, ti. further work being done to clean out stream, consistent with conserving the waters of the lake.

Mr Broughton seconded the motion which was carried.

The native representatives present agreed to do the work of clearing the eel weirs for £(>. The position now is that if the county' engineer agrees the eel weirs will be cleared of weeds first, then about a month would bo allowed to elapse to see if the waters of the Inko are lowered sufficiently to give the landowners the relief tliev ask. If the waters are still too- liigli the stream will be cleared.