MAHINAPUA CREEK PROPOSALS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 February 1920, Page 1

MAHINAPUA CREEK PROPOSALS.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —In drawing the rate-payers’ attention to some of the proposed schemes for improving Mahinapua Creek, I would just like to explain some of the objections that are held by the rate-payers of South Hokitika to one scheme in particular. It is proposed to place a lock or weir across the creek at “The Falls,’’ in order to- allow boats and launches at all times to be able to reach the lake.

Now, raising the creek is going to cause private property to be inundated in times of flood, as some of the adjacent land is only about 10ft. above the low water-mark, and as ordinary Spring tide raises the creek about Bft., it recpiires only a very small flood to-cover this land with.water. Further if a lock or we r were to be placed at any part of the creek, the current would be obstructed so completely as to allow saw-dust a'id other material to settle, and thus the creek would in time become blocked up. Even at the present time, if it were not for the. fact of the current, unobstructed, washing the sawdust out to sea, the stream would have become filled up, so as to make any navigation impossible. The cause of the stream at present being unnavigable in parts is the growth of weeds, wdiich cause sawdust, etc., to collect, thus forming shoals and banks. But this could easily be remedied by thoroughly clearing out the creek, and widening the mouth of the creek at the lake, when the current so created would be sufficient to keep a clear chan_ ncl, provided too ,that the Mannnui mill were not allowed to discharge any more sawdust into the creek. Another feature that must be considered when proposing that the creek be raised to any extent is f hat it would cause the beautiful unde";.' v.wtb that makes the creek so attractive to partly become submerged with stagnant water and this would cause the scenery bordering the creek to decay and die away. Another important feature is the whitebaiting industry, and if the pro posed lock or weir were placed anywhere in the creek it would entirely do away with the industry. On the other hand, cleaning out the creek would improve the industry as before the sawdust was allowed to go into the creek, in some seasons 1000 tins of fish were

caught. The cost of erecting such lock or weir would be about £IOOO, and the ratepayers want to ask if it would not bo bet_ er to raise a loan and make a road from South Hokitika to the lake along the creek reserve, as such a road would be beneficial to everyone, both for seeing the sights of the creek and lake, and also for general traffic? How many who are so interested in “improving” the creek own private property in the vicinity? For we consider the proposal of some of the members of our Public Bodies one of the most ridiculous that could he thought of for really improving the creek. I am etc., CITIZEN. South Hokitika, 21st. Feb. 1920.