PROPOSED DRAINAGE IN KOKATHAI AND KOMERANGI DIS TRICTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 July 1920, Page 4

PROPOSED DRAINAGE IN KOKATHAI AND KOMERANGI DIS TRICTS.

.The Westhmd County Council is in receipt of the following letter from the Hon. Minister of Lands relative to the above subject:— “ With reference to the representations made Co the Hon. tho Minister of Public Works on the. 18th ultimo, by a deputation consisting of the Westland County Council and of representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and the Automobile Association, when Councillor Morel asked for assistance towards the drainage of swamp lands in the ICoiterangi and Kokatahi districts, which representations have been conveyed to mo by tho Minister of Public Works, I have to inform you that 1 understand that- considerable areas of the lands in the above named districts are swampy, and that your Council’s intention is to endeavour to constitute them special rating areas, and to obtain, if possible, a Government subsidy towards the cost of drainage on an efficient and comprehensive scheme. “As most of the lands in question are either belli in freehold or on lease in perpetuity convertible to freehold at low capital value, the Crown’s interest in them is extremely small as compared with the interests of the settlors ‘.hemsi Ives ; all increase in value caused by drainage works would therefore go to tiie set tlors and not to the Crown. “ However, although the Crown is n it interested to any great extent 1 recognise than an effective drainage, scheme would materially improve these swamp lands and increase the productive power very considerably. “ I would suggest that the matter stand over until the return to New Zealand of the Chief Drainage Engineer (who is at present visitisg America and looking into large drainage schemes in that country) in order that he may then have an opportunity of visiting the locality and advising whether any proposed drainage operations should he carried out under the provisions of the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915, or the Land Drainage Act, 1908. “ On receipt of his report the question could then ho considered 1 as -to whether the circumstances would justify the Government in granting assistance towards the cost of the work. —(Signed) D. H. Guthrie, Minister of Lands.”