RIVER SILTATION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4409, 3 May 1922, Page 1

RIVER SILTATION.

EFFECT ON NAVIGATION. DETRIMENTAL TO PAEROA. The adverse effects of the siltation of the Ohinemuri River tp tlhe Borough of Paerpa were trenchantly expressed to the Minisen for Public Works (Hon. J. G, Coates) by the Mayor (Mr P. E. Brenan), as follows, on Wednesday night: “The bed of..the Ohinemuri River is, owing to siltation, rising at an alarming rate. The stop-banks aloiii will not drop the bed of the river unless dredging is resorted to. A large portion of the Borough is comparatively low-lying, and the storm!-water drainage is already impaired to such an extent that if the river bed continues to rise a very serious position will be created in regard to the stormwater drainage of the town. Further, the river communication facilities from Auckland will be still

further impaired. At present it is only with great difficulty that the steamers can reach the Puke wharf, and there is no doubt that unless active steps are taken immediate!}’ our town and district will lose the great benefit, of river communication. There is only one way. of avoiding the serious consequences of the silting of the river, and that, is by dredging, and we strenuously urge that provision be immediately made for the dredging of the Ohinemuri River. Perhaps it would not be out of place to quote to you a part of the finding of the Rivers Commission of 1921. On page 12 and 13 of 'the report we find the following “ Moreover it must be borne in mind that, so far the Public Works Department has done virtually nothing to remedy or. prevent the silting pp of the Ohinemuri River or to improve such river for the purpose of navigation, notwithstanding that such works are amongst the principal operations entrusted to the Department by the Act, and are quite the principal works in respect of which the mining companies and the Borough of Waihi can be, and are called upon to contribute, and towards which they have already found upwards of £20,000.” Later on in the report the Com-, missioners state that “In justice to the Borough (Paeroa) the Ohinemuri should be cleared, at any rate, sufficiently tb give as good a service as to Te Arolia, namely, to make it fit for barge traffic to the town wharf."

Further, according to the sworn evidence for the Commission the cost to Paeroa .people of cartage from the wharf to •the town is approximately £1.650 per annum, which was not necessary when navigation was available to the town. This annual charge capitalised on a 5 per cent, basis makes a loss of £33,000, or, if it is totalled for the 13 years during which we have been without water carriage to the town, amounts to £21,450—a direct loss to ouF| townspeople during that period of this acount, and due entirely to the siltatipn of the river and the action of the Public Works Department in so carrying out their plans for the protection of other portions of the district to' the detriment of Paeroa.

“Taking these factors into consideration together with the fact of the heavy amount, assessed to the Borough of Paeroa by the Commission, you will understand that unless the dredging is proceeded with without delay our town will be in the unenviable position of paying very heavily for work that is,, in some respects at any rate, a distinct disadvantage to the town. At the same time, 6ur town will be flooded at every small fresh that may occur, and our river will be useless for navigation. This big question is causing grave concern in our town a!nd district. It seems to us that dredging is the remedy for these mat-, ters, and following the finding of the several Commissions we ask most earnestly that the result of your personal inspection will be seen iu dredging operations at a very early date.”

The Minister., in reply, thanked Mr Poland and thp_Mayor for theih kindly welcome. It was essential for his Department, and himself included, to see the districts an<J to know exactly the opinions of the people on various projects. He would defer his remarks on the Rivers Improvement Scheme until ! he had heard all parties.