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Hokitika Guardian, 16 April 1931, Page 4

At the meeting of the AYesiiand County ("•mm i! on Til sd-iy. n* ercime was mad( to the menace ol the Little Wanganui river upon sonic <>i the be*-l farming laid in the district. The InterWangiimii district has been most unfortunate with regard to serious Hooding, and a large public works expenditure has been me cssary to save what is umloubt' dly a very (ire asset to the district Tim Big Wanganui river was the first to threaten the settlement and was cheeked only at a very large outlay. .Since then the Little Wanganui river inis been the offender, and from time to time its inroads have had to he chocked at very great cost. From time to time also protection work has been carried down stream, and as a result it w;is possible, to prevent tlie threatening breach of the main stream into llarihari settlement bv way of i/t Fontaine Greek. But t.he river is still persistent in the attack on the north bank, with the result that the flood waters now breach the country below the present protection, and find an outlet through new territory The flood water where it overflows, is attracted to the lowlying country, and floods a considerable area, doing recurring damage. Land lias been eroded and fenciii' r lost. The roads are being soured a"d bridges and culvrls wasted out. fn the succession of late floods much damage lias been done, and the section holders are alarmed very greatly at the nrospeets for the future with further flooding inevitable The I’ublio Works Department responsible fo" the major part of the protection work has ceased operations in the locality of the threatened danger and in consequence representations are being made through the local body to engage the a mention of the Government again in further nroseouting the iK’"cs" i rv work, ft is believed that an expenditure of at l'"eU £1.500 will he iii'olved in nnv further major work, and I'uwe will he •dwavs the cot’i >iigc"f liability of farther in-gads The alternative is the destruction of lots of very valuable nastnr d lards in oec' 1 ont ion. and serious damage to roadi*'"; yi*rvi"rr the locality. In view of the general situation it is urgently necessary to attend to the matter, and it is to be bored with the representations row hcincY mad * on 'he sub'ort that remedial measures wdl be put in band without undue delay.