WAITAWHETA DAMS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4759, 3 October 1924, Page 2

WAITAWHETA DAMS.

TIMBER COMPANY’S PROPOSAL. STRONG OBJECTION BY COUNCIL. At yesterday’s meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council correspondence was read in connection with the Waitawheta Timber Co.’s proposal to applly for a license under the Timber Floating Act, 1908, for the purpose of erecting eleven dams in the headwaters of the Waitawheta Stream. On September 16 the Council’s solicitors wrote to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland, objecting to the company’s proposal and opposing the issue of a license on the grounds that thte river was subject to frequent floodings, and that the Public Works Department had erected stop-banks along the Ohinemuri River (of which the Waitawheta River was a tributary) for the purpose of confining the flood waters. It was ateo pointed out that owing to the risk of the dams or booms breaking and letting logs away, there was a serious risk, "f damage to the stop-banks and to the county bridges through the logs being confined within the channel between the stop-banks. In reply to the council’s objection to the issue of the license the Lands and Survey Department wrote. stating that the matter had been fully considered by the board at its meeting on September 24, when a representative of the company had been present, and fioni the explanation given by the company’s representative it appeared that there was very little likelihood of any damage resulting to public works in the neighbourhood. The letter further stalled that the company was making use of the Kauri Timber Company’s old tramlines, which followed the course of the Waitawheta River for many miles, ■an 1 that also it would require to use the bridges erected by that company and was therefore anxious to prevent any damage to the riverbanks or other works. It was understood that the company had no indention to trip more than two damis at any one time, and even then not at the height of a flood. The letter further stated that, taking the circumstances into consid ration, the board saw no rfeason why the license should not be granted, especially as it was the intention of the Lands Department to demand a substantial bond as a protection against any possible damage. The chairman said that the matter was no doubt all right from the Land Board's point of view, but he was strongly opposed to the granting of the license.

Cr. Hubbard concurred, and said he foresaw that the council would have great difficulty in collecting any compensation from the company for any damage that might be done. Cr. P. Corbett said that the Lawl Board had granted the license despite objections made by the Public Works Departmlent and the county council. The matter should be taken further, in his opinion, and he viewed the position with some alarm. The clerk intimated-that he did not think the licence had actually been granted. Cr. Morgan said that if the license was granted the council would not be protected in any way. A similar application from the Kauri Timber Co. had been refused tsoin'e years ago, and he was of the opinion that strong representation should be made to the Lands Department. There was no Recompense offered by the company to the council for any damage that might be done, and the possibilities of serious damage to the county bridges and stop-banks were considerable. He said it had to be remembered that the company was selling its timber to the Government, and the county was receiving no revenue from the company in any shape or form. Cr. McGuire endorsed the remarks of the previous speakers, and instanced »-he number of bridges in his riding that would be in danger of being sw"pt away if the license was granted. Cr. Morrison said that the two bridges at Paeroa would be in considerable danger from logs, as well as the county being flooded. it was decided to emphatically proles’ to the Lands Departnte-nt against the issue of the license, and that the attention of the member for the district be drawn to the danger that existed to the district if the license was granted.