DAMS AT WAITAWHETA.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4757, 29 September 1924, Page 2

DAMS AT WAITAWHETA.

TIMBER COMPANY’S PROPOSAL. OPPOSITION FROM ANGLERS. It is understood that thei Waitawheta Timber Company has made application for a license under the Timber Floating Act, 1908, to dam certain parts of the Waitawheta Stream near Karaugahake, for »the purpose of facilitating the delivery of milling timber.

The local Acclimatisation Society is seriously concerned about the proposal, and has communicated with its Auckland representative, Mr T. H. Holmden, with the result that the Commissioner of Crown Lands has been approached with an objection to a license being issued. The local society bases its objection on the, following grdunds: (1) That for the last twenty years the Waitawheta River has been stocked with trout fry, and restocking has taken place annually ; (2) that trout are now living in the river in catchable quantities ; (3) that if the proposed'license .is granted and the dam erected the fish and fry now in the Waitawheta River will be very seriously affected, and perhaps destroyed; (4) that if the license is granted and tlie dam erected, the Ohinemuri Acclimatisation Society and other similar societies will be prejudicially affected and will suffer damage ; (5) that in the interests of fresh-water fisheries the proposed license should not be granted.

It now remains to be seen what action the Commissioner of Crown Lands will take in the matter. In an interview on Friday Mr Leach, secretary of the local society, stated that the proposed damming of the river would be almost sure, to result in the destruction of trout, for the reason that in summer time the fish are usually near the top of the water, and instinct tells them that there is little chance of a flood disturbing them. The sudden release of a dam would take'the fish unawares, and they wouW have small chancfe of finding adequate protection such as they are able to find during a flood. It is understood, also, that the mining companies at Karangahake do not favour the project of damming stream, and there are reasons for believing that the Public Works Department is opposed to the scheime on account of a certain element of danger that always exists when a large volume of water is suddenly released.