CORRESPONDENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1932, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE

WAITANGI PROTECTION. (To the Editor). ,gj r> Some six months have lapsed since th e trouble with the overflowing of the Waitangi river caused nearby residents so much concern. It is pathetic to see a home deserted whiJe its owner, a widow with five young children, are compelled to live in a hut and simply make the best of it. Has no on e any suggestion to make or is it not possible to handle the river in such a way so as to make the river a 'friend instead of an enemy. Would it not b e posdb'e. now that the bed of the river has risen, to allow it to ’turn into lake Wahapo. The Wmmakariri river in' Canterbury has been turned .into a new channel. Why not do the same with th e Waitangi. With so much unemployment on the market, surely a relief camp of 200 men could be employed for .six months, rnd the job done. By doing this what a girut purpos e could be accomplished. The Waibangi would flow into lake Wahapo, which overflows into the Okarito harbour, and the extra amount of water would be an enormous assistance towards keeping the bar open, and eo make Okarito a port,. Further, a canal cut, say two chains in width and .Three miles in length, is all that i s wanted. The old river bed, approximately a mile wide and 20 mi/les long, couhl be reclaimed and no further fear would there be of more good land being washed away./ The keeping of the Okar'to bar open i would ailso be the means of reclaiming thousands of acres of first class land at Okarito. The house previously referred to could be shifted to a site in the town of Matainui and its residents could live again ia their own home and all would be happy. Residents of Waitangi, engineers, and the Public Work- Department would for all time be relieved of 1 what otherwise most assuredly will be a menace and a terror. 1 am, etc., WAITANGI. Matainui, June 26th.