POLLUTING OF STREAMS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 July 1924, Page 2

POLLUTING OF STREAMS

SAAVDI’ST BROSF.tTTIONS. Rumours have been going the rounds tlqit the local white-baiters and tho

Acclimatisation are up in arms against the saw millers. These rumours are found to lie too true, and tin* Inspector of Fisheries sometime ago received instructions In prosecute all saw millers who are depositing sawdust into any of the local streams. These iusttietiosn have now been handed over to Messrs Bark and Murdoch to prosecute tin.* sawmillcrs depositing sawdust In the Hokitika River and its tributaries. One milt is to lie taken as a test case and an information has been laid against the Digger. Saw milling Company Ltd for depositing sawdust in tlio Hokitika River. The regulation under which the prosecution has lioen taken is No 8 of the general regulations under “The Fisheries Act l'.)!)8” which is as follows:

"No person shall east or throw* into any stream or waters in which trout or salmon exist or have been lilieratod or shall allow to (low or place near the hank or margin of any such stream or waters any sawdust or sawmill reluse. lime sheep dip. flaxmill refuse or other matter or liquid that i* noxious, poisonous or injurious to fish provided that nothing herein contained shall extend to prohibit tlu* deposit ill such stream of debris from any mining claim.”_ It will he noted that this regulation is very drastic if put into operation and it will he a serious thing for the West Coast generally and Hokitika in particular if these prosecutions are proceeded with hy the Government. The importance of this industry to the town of Hokitika may he guaged | v the fact that within a lo miles’ radius of the town, at least the sum of £lu;> <;(i:i is disbursed annually in wages. This is a matter of such serious imoitguee to tfa* district that all tin* local hollies sh odd unite in strong representations to the Government not to interfere with an industry so closely hound no with tin* progress and t’lituro <»i tin* It Is true that the (iovi'iTinicnt have i lii'ii at some pains to introduce the quinnat salmon into the head waters of tin* Hokitika river and i- tributaries, hut this is all above any place where the sawdust is deposited in the liver So far a- we are aware the deposit ol sawdust in these rivers has never lieen proved in In* injurious to fish, the sawdust being carried hy the flood* into ill -can.

It i~ an extraordinary circumstance that rivers which have licen proehiim,.,l slnd 'e channels for all the reluse. mud. slnngle. din. etc., deposited from mining claims should he considered further polluted l.y the deposit of sawdust in the river. Ihe question seems to Im*. i > tin* siwini 11 inil in<ltistrv to i»‘> stopp'd »y the Guvcnimelil. even it the fish are likely to Ik* injured