RIVERS COMMISSION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4316, 12 September 1921, Page 4

RIVERS COMMISSION.

PROPOSE!) RIVER IMPROVEMENTS

Mr A. J. Baker, District Public Works Engineer, replying to questions by Mr Gilchrist, witness thought the effect of the Ngararahi cut on the river above Tirohia had increased the velocity of the water by lowering the level of the water. Cutting the willows had not widened the channel'. The removal of the willows removed ' protection which the willows afforded. The banks had broken away in places owing, to the increased traffic on the river, the deepening of the river bed, and also to the removal of the willows. DredgI < ing in the Upper Waihou was done near the middle of the river. During his eight months her.e he could not identify any slipping, of the river banks as being due to dredging. He did not wholly agree that improvement. for drainage and improvement for navigation could not run together. The amount of stop-bank formed by the dredges was about 1% miles on the left bank. Stop-banks at Mangaiti would tend to -raise the flood level. The’ alternative works which he had originally outlined would tend to reduce flooding. He proposed providing a sum of £5OOO to improve navigation of the river. The Chairman : Is it the intention of the Department to restore the s;ta'te of former navigation to Te Aroha? Witness: The condition of the river and natural effects of the climate do not give A fair indication of what the original condition of the river had, been. It is not possible th restore the depth of water. The Chairman: This waterway must be kept open if it can be done so at any reasonable expense. Witness said it. was possible, if so desired, to increase the depth of w.atei’T'but witness did not • think f t was .necessary. The navigation over the shoals could be improved.

Continuing to answer Mr Gilchrist, witness said that if the money was available the work up to MangaLi would be completed in about five years. The work between Mnagai,ti and Te Aroha would not have to watt til] the work up to Mangaiti was completed. He could undertake to have that portion investigated, and if it required attention, one year would, he thought, suffice to complete that work. NAVIGATION BENEFITS.

Widening of the river had occurred above the Department’s works. He knew of no benefit's to Matamata due to these works except the possible benefit of a railway rebate. The benefit of the river works to Piako as a county was very m’aterial as it would maintain and improve the waterway and the stop-banks to prevent flooding. The portion of the Piako County in the Waihou basin and a portion of the county to tne west would receive navigation benefits and from the preferential tariff. He had done nothing to improve navigation from Tirohia to Te Aroha with the exception of dredging, but improvements had been made from Paeroa to Tirohia, The Ngararahi cut had been formed. The river now through the cuts was at least as navigable as the river before the cuts were formed.

DEPARTMENT CRITICISED.

To Mr Johnstone witness said tie was not acquainted with the Waihou and Ohinemuri rivers before he came to Auckland eight months ago. When he took charge of the works there was ,a completed scheme in possession of the Department, and £nere were plans and estimates for the work. A figure similar to the £625,000 was submitted to the 1919 Commission as the estimate for the completion of the works. It would have been advisable to supply the cbntributaries

with the information of the increase of the estimates. In the definite scheme in existence prior tp the 1919 Commission, it was suggested to construct the Waiari-Hikutaia cut. If the Department had employed a pontractor it would have had to be on definite plans and specifications. The work involved required a great deal 'of engineering investigation. On a work of this kind it was not expected to have all the scheme completed in a short time. Mr Johnstone: You do not know, now, whether you are going to get the £625,000 for the work or not., —No. Mr Johnstone : Is it a sound proposition to commence .a work without knowing whether ypu will be able to complete it ? - Witness knew of no work which required his personal investigation in the field. He had been over the works about half a dozen times, during periods varying from one day.to four days. The bulk of his inspection of this work had been made handling correspondence in the Auckland office. The estimate of £625,000 was not completed till a''few days after the Commission commenced its sitting. The Department had figures in its possession previously which would approximate the above amount. Levels were first taken by the Department in the Await! swamp in Mr Young’s time, bu.t witness could give no date. The levels taken at Awaiti were taken tp see if the lands there could be loaded with a portion of the cost. The Department up to within a few days ago had not investigated this portion sufficiently to know if this land should be loaded. Until the last week or two the Department had not done anything in the way of considering whether the Matamata County should help pay for the scheme. There had been co-ordination between the Lands Department as much as required.

To be continued.)