THAMES VALLEY DRAINAGE REFERENCE BOARD

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4396, 29 March 1922, Page 1

THAMES VALLEY DRAINAGE REFERENCE BOARD

Discusses River Improvement Scheme / • Estimated Cost Severely Criticised Drcdsrina- of the River Demanded

After a long period of torpor, the Thames Valley Drainage Reference Board opened its eyes again on Monday, when a meeting was held in the Ohinemuri County Chambers. The bodies whom tihe Board represents are as follow: Auckland Chamber of Commerce Elstovv Drainage Board Hauraki Drainage Board Hungahunga Drainage Board Komata Branch W.Z.F.U. Netherton Branch N.Z.F.U. Northern S.S. Co. Ohinemuri County Council Paeroa Borough Council Paeroa Chamber of Cpnunerce. Plako County Council Te Arolia Chamber of Commerce. N.Z. Dairy Co., Ltd. Tiroilia Progressive League Tiroliiabßotokoihu Ratepayers Assn. Walhi Borough Council Waihi GohTai lining Companies Waitoa Drainage Board. ' Mr E. W. Porritt (Paeroa), chairman, presided over) Messrs H. M. Wynyard (Auckland Chamber of Commerce), D,. Donaldson (Mayor of Walhi), J. Banks (Waihi Goldmining Co., Ltd., and mining interests genK. McLean (Kerepeehi), L. E. Cassrels and W. D. Keys (Tiro-hia-Rotokohu-Pereniki Ratepayers’ Association), J. Rpwe (Thames Borough ),■ Jas. Couper (secretary), B. Dunl6p> (Netherton Farmers’ Union), J. W. Silcock (Northern SJS'. Co., Ltd.). ROTOKOHU AREAMr W. D. Keys read the following letter, on behalf of his association, prefacing the' reading by stating that the Rotokohu ,area had been somewhat overlooked by the 1921 Commission,. even though the land referred to comprised the whole of the rich flat lying between, the Ohinemuri and Waihou rivers to -the south-west of Paproa borough. “The position of the area adjoining Paeroa and known as the Rotokohu, Tirohia, and Pereniki area, which has formed'a ratepayers’ associations is, briefly, this :

“The area above represents all: the flat land between the east side of ths Waihou River from- Tirohia to the Puke <o the West bank of the Ohinemuri River , from Mackaytown to the Puke, and also includes that area known as Pereniki’s Bend. “This area occupies a position hitherto unknown, in the annals or public works, in 'New Zealand, inasmuch as it has -stop-banks a.t present on three sides of it—on opposite banks of the Ohinemuri River, and on the Waihou River also in places—thus diverting and confining all .floods in the rivers on this area. This is not’, all, as the stop-banks act as training walls to the Puke, and there dam the flood waters to a greater height than before known, which again throws higher floods on our area. The remedy for is the early widening of . the Ngahina bridge. “Our position since the .completion of certain stop-banks is rapidly becoming entirely untenable, and the labour and progress of years, .together ' with the livelihood and property of all our settlers are dangerously threatened at present. We therefore beg to ask the Reference Board for all the help they may be able to give our association in our, desire for protection at once. “We have, offered to help the Public Works Department in every way to facilitate the completion off their scheme, arid we further desire to cooperate in all works for the benefit of the Hauraki Plains. ‘ “We herein specify the urgent requirements of our area: “Firstly,, protection by means oif a stop-bank on the left bank, of the Ohinemuri River, the same to meet the stop-bank on, the Waihou River at the Puke, below the Ngarariahi Island. Also protection at the same time for the settlers at Pereniki Bend, who are already in a very dangerous position. We suggest two things: either the Pereniki Cut be put in hand at once or the area.be stop-banked. “Secondly, that the Public Works Department be urged to at once complete the Rotokohu drain as proposed by continuing same through the lower Rotokohu area to the Puke, and that the dredge now at the Puke be at once recommissioned f for same. This work, indeed, is v|ta.l, .as the stop-banks on the left bank of the Ohinemuri will be useless without it. “Thirdly, that the desire of this association and other bodies for a conference with the Public Works experts be at once granted, as many important matters affecting our area need explanation and rectification. “These are but a fiew of certain matters of great local importance. But our association wishes t‘o place on record its hearty, support of the suggestions at the recent Commission in regard to : “(1) Charging all' mining companies for all debris or slimes placed in the Ohinemuri River at rates to be ascertained, or as recommended..

by the recent Commission. “(2) The principle of loading unimproved Crown and Thames Borough’ lands on the Plains for direct benefits and increased values due *J river protection ■ works, etc, “(3) That our association realises the immense importance of■ water carriage to all the districts and communities served by our and trusts that a vigorous effort will be made to save and dredge the lower Waihou and Ohinemuri rivers.” • Mr Porritt said there w,as evidence on the matter put before the Commission, but the Public Works Department’s scheme was to use the area as a flood-expansion basin. The Department thought of buying the land anl letting iti back again on the distinct understanding that it was subject to flood. But as yet nothing had been done, and owing to the crops being destroyed by the recent flood, the natives had to be given relief in the form of foodstuffs. The area formed an important link in the chain of river improvements. Mr Keys : We want, a definite statement of the Department’s intentions. Mr Donaldson: They have neybr known their own minds on. the matter.

Mr Keys said the purchase scheme was merely “camouflage.” • The engineers were in favour of stop-bank-ing and draining, Mr McLean said that when the Board was formed 1917 it started on other jobs on the lines advocated by Mr Keys for the Rotokohu ar.ea. Mr J. W. Silc'ock said the settlers would starve by the time tfiie Government bought their property. An outlet was required at Ngahina- The recent flood had risen higher at the Northern S.S. Company’s wharf than it had done previously, which proved that a larger opening was needed at Ngahina, Mr L. E. Cassrels said the tihoh--sands of pounds spent up to the present would be ineffective until the local banks were completed. Despite the recommendations <pf the various commissions, the Public Works Department had not carried outthe poll icy advocated. The position was scandalous ; the settlers did not know whether to remain or clear out before they were flooded or rated out. gome very drastic steps would need to be taken to get satisfaction, Mr Keys said the completion of ■ the Rotokohu drain was needed to protect the railway,. In answer to Mr Wynyard’s query, Mr Porritt admitted that the purchase and compensation proposals applied to the Pereniki Bend cut only. ■ ' ‘ Mr Banks said it seemed to him that the Pereniki cut would prevent the flooding of Rotokohu. ' Mr'Porritt replied that locally the cut had always been favoured, but the Public Works Department feared that the old Extraction Company might claim damages, but when that, bogey was removed the engineers thought the. increased velocity of) the river would cause the waters to flood; lower down. The engineers were doubtful: as 'to how the riven would behave if the out: were put through. Mr Keys said the engineers also feared that the cut would cause the river to bring down thousands of tons of quarrying material, etc., that now remained up 'the river. Mr Banks : That material is a mere flea-bite by comparison with what has been handled, already. Mr McLean: Let! the stuff come down, and if it settles at Waimarie bend, as suggested by Mr Dunlop, then dredge it outl agaim STOP THE WORK! Mr Banks :. As a preliminary, this Board suggest that the whole of the work stop, Mr Cassrels : .Then we in Rotokohu might as .well get out at once. We have already been side-tracked, inasmuch as the money that was to be spent on protecting us has been spent elsewhere. Where is that £50,000 that was to be spent on stop-banking the upper portion of the Ohinemuri River, in the original area that, was to be protected ? Mr Keys remarked that the Gpvernmerit feared that once it started dredging the river it would have ,to continue, and it might cost £lO,OOO pei' annum for an indefinite period. Mr McLean: We are losing that amount now in damages by silt and floods. CONFERENCE FAVOURED. Mr Keys favoured a conference * with the Department’s engineers. Mr Wynyard said the 1919 Commission advocated doing certain work in two stages. (1) Erect low stopbanks ; (2) dredge the river .and put (the material behind those stop-banks to strengthen them. It seemed that the scheme had gone back tri the old colossal scheme again. The Minister of Public Works was astounded at the magnitude the scheme had assumed. The Board should agitate for tlhe giving effect to stage, “A” of the 1921 Commission, which was estimated to cost only £50,000. He supported the suggestion for . a conference. He

thought the estimates ifor the various works were considerably top high. A SENSIBLE RECOMMENDATION. Mr Donaldson: Was not that stage “A” scheme a very cpmmbnsense one ? ■ Mr Wynyard: Yes, Mr Dunlop : The chairman of that commission (Mr Firkett) is now at the head of the Department’s engineers, and It is, therefore, strange that the present costly scheme should have come forward. SLASHING CRITICISM. Mr Donaldson : We have been up against the Public Works Department all along, who opposed a river board. If it were possible for a local .river board to carry out the scheme with more muddlement, waste, and general dissatisfaction than the Department had displayed, then he would be greatly surprised. Had the light banks and dredging originally advocated been done, the position now would be quiiie satisfactory, but the Department did not know what it was going to do from one month .to another. The/land could not stand the burden, .and yet the Government was foisting it upon the people. He had been disillusioned in regard to royal commissions. It s,eemed that men who were superannuated were put. on. such bodies to grapple with huge problems which baffled the skill and-ingenuity of the best brains in the country, v ' RAY OF INTELLIGENCE,

Mr Porritt: There was one ray of intelligence, and that was that the Commission found the contributing bodies could not carry the burden. • Mr Donaldson: And that the recommendations of the two previous commissions in regard to dredging the river were not carried out. Unless the bodies affected' can get together and evolve some , scheme, both engineering, and financial, then there is no hope, r -think the suggestion for a conference with the Public Works Department! is a good one. The finding of the Commission was most unreasonable in respect to the allocation for Waihi Borough. Mr Porritt’s sliding scale was a fair one; the finding outraged commonsense and all sense of justice. Mr Baker (Public Works Engineer, Auckland district) made an allocation in which Waihi Borough was the only one not reduced, It was piitl down at £3500, and the Commission put another £5OO on that, The figures were utterly absurd. . THAMES BOROUGH ENDOWMENTS Mr Rowe said the Thames Bprough was going to object to the assessment on the Endowment landsi," oh which it already paid a drainage and ordinary rates to tihe Piako County. Another 3 per cent, was an unfair imposition. •Mr Porritt: The 3 per cent, is partly based on the probability of Thames Borough benefiting by the trade from -the protected lands. Mr- Cassrels pointed outi that the £137,654 proposed to be spent between Mangaiti and Tiro.hia would protect 30,000 acres of Crown lands. Of the £212.000 already spent on the scheme, how much of it had been spent to 1 protect Crown lands ? And the community was to bear an undue expense; the Governments should pay much, more than half! cost The funds had been misapplied, and investigation should be made to see whether those concerned had grounds for action against the Crown. The navigation interests were seriously affected, which Would mean a further taxation on Ohinemuri.

Mr Dunlop said ■that the Department was protecting the Awaiti and Netherton, and the settlers on the river banks were taking the whole of the flood water. Nothing could be better than the carrying put of the recommendation of the'l92l Commission,, in respect to dredging and low stop-banks. If the chairman of that Commission, now Public Wofks Engineer, would only carry out his own recommendation all would be well. The provision for protecting the lands lower down belonging to the settlers had not been ■ done, buti the Crown settlers were quite safe. The position of the private, and the Crown settled land had been reversed. There were gaps left which formed sludge channels when the river overflowed. The Department should be urged to carry on with the immediate partial protection advocated by the 1919 Commission. INFORMATION WANTED. Mr Wynyard said it was first necessary to obtain information as to the Department’s intentions. It would then be in a position to make representations. CONFERENCE MOTION CARRIED. The following resolution was carried unanimously, on the motion '.>f

|Mr Cassrels, ■ seconded by Mr Mcj Lean: j “That the Public Works Department be asked to arrange a confer- * ence with the representatives of the j Reference Board regarding the cost 'of the works, at which data be supplied on which the Department estimates are made, the Board considering that, by reason of the organisation represented on it and the report of the recent. Commission, it is entitled to full information and consultation.” NGAHINA-WAIMARIE. Mr Dunlop said the Department | proposed tp shift the dragline dredge taken from drain “H,” and shifted to I Tirohia. He asked the Board to do something towards impressing upon the Department the need of keeping the dredge on' drain “H” until the work was completed. It would cost £lOO to 'shift the dredge, and probably a half a mile of /fork would be done elsewhere and then the dredge x would be shifted back again from Mahgaiti or somewhere adjacent again, at a cost of another £lOO, and no particular scheme would be completed. Voices: It‘s a way they have in the Public Works Department. Mr Dunlop said the dredge would get to Wilson’s, Road if left to work there for another month or six weeks. The drain was a main outlet for the smaller drains.' Until this drain was completed the spillovers in the banks ’frhich flooded the settlers,’ properties could not. be closed, as there was no other outlet until drain “H” was finished.

Mr Silcock moved that the Department be asked to complete drain ”H” to Wilson’s Road drain at least before the dragline dredge was removed. Mr McLean seconded. —Carried. • It ’ was. also decided 'to wire the 1 Minister for Public Works and the Chief Drainage Engineer on the mat- ' ter. ROTOKOHU. ; Mr. Cassrels asked for the support ( of the Board in regard to stop-hanks i protection and drainage for Roto- | ko.hu. There was continual delay. ; The settlers wanted to know whether or not they were going to get protec- i tion, particularly the stop-bank on j the left of the Ohinemuri down to Mbananui’s bend ; ifi this protection was not soon forthcoming the settlers would have to walk out and leave their farms. Mr McLean urged that the Board should agitate for the early completion ,of the Komata Creek stop-bank, where the flood had ruined some farms. The Board supported both the, abovementioned requests, on the motion of, Mr Wynyard, seconded ,by Mr Dunlop. . ' A POPULAR RESOLUTION. The following resolution, 'moved by Mr Wynyard, and seconded by Mr Donaldson, was carried fervently: “That this meeting of the Thames Valley Drainage Reference Board learned, with surprise and concern the cost estimated by the Public Works Department for the completion of the protection works. It re? quests .that the Department supply the Board a separate estimate of the work to be done to finish section “A” of the report of the River. Commission of 1919, and the cost -off the same.” , THE BETTERMENT, CLAUSE,

Mr Cassrels emphasised the injustice of the Betterment Clause, inas-, much as only the riplarian settlers were taxed, and riot those wbiose lands were further baqk, and whicn lands were equally ,ori to a greater extent benefited. Mr Dunlop pointed out that the Department’s process wass to take land for, say, £5O an acre, alnd next day to charge £5O for betterment, so that the owner got nothing. The- lands next to the river banks were high, and were not benefited like the,lowlands further back. Mr Silcock intimated that he had several matters in respect to navigation to bring up, but would now defer then! until the conference met, which, would be a more suitable occasion.