KOMATA DRAINAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4968, 30 April 1926, Page 2

KOMATA DRAINAGE.

DEPUTATION TO MEMBER* RELIEF FROM FLOODING SOUGHT. On Wednesday morning Mr A. M. Sa,m cel, M.P., accompanied by Mr WF. Johnstone, chairman of the Ohliiemuri County Council* and Messrs L. 13. Campbell A. J. Ba.ker, and O. G. Thornton, Public Works engineers, received a large, and representative, deputation of settlens: at Komata, and various, drainage matters affecting the district were discussed. Messrs F. C. -Hubbard, Pa ; croa riding member on the Ohinemuri County Council, and F. Brown acted spokesmen. It was explained by .the settlers, that the la,nd in the Komata area had received very littlfC benefit from the Wailiou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Scheme. It Was also pointed out that before the scheme wap: commenced the stormwater’ from the hills and high ground, flowed a,long defined water-courses to the river, a,nd within about 24 hours after a heavy downpour of rain the flat land was particularly free from floodwater and the pastures and root crops suffered little or no damage. With the advent to the stop-banks, and .the prevision of flood-gates the water frogn the high l,and east. the railway could not escape quickly enough. As a consequence the lower areas were inundated, not infrequently, for three weeks: at a time, causing" untold damage and loss to the settlers:’ holdings;. The deputation asked the department to carry out a. scheme for drainage which ha,d. been suggested some time ago.

Mr Samuel explained' that the department had stated it would not favourably consider the, scheme unless the settlers were prepared ,to find a large sum of money in addition .to paying a special rate to the County Council, which body would be required to a,lso contribute towards the cost. He pointed/out that the settlers were quite willing to help ,tnemselves, and would do’ so by undertaking the work of widening the, existing drains tb take the water off .the higher ground. To contribute a large sum of money, as required by the de-, partrnent, would' inflict great hardship. In fact, .there were-many settlers who were simply not in ,a position to find the money. He would ask the engineers to give the matter favourable con!sidera,tibn, and, if possible, evolve a scheme whereby the land could be ma,de productive again and the. settlers, relieved of financial loss and constant dread of flooding. The is:cheme "suggested, he believed, would give the desired relief? but owing to the severe losses suffered by the farmers through depreciation and loss by flooding, actual financial a,ssi:tance to a large extent was, beyond them. After visiting various parts of the area, the engineers promised to go fully into the matter and advise the settlers a.s to the result as early as possible. At the' conclusion of the deputation, Mr SamueL a,nd party were accorded a./hearty rt>te o'f thanks for meeting the 'wettlers and obtaining first-hand information concerning their requirements.