TROUBLE OVER DRAINS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5038, 11 October 1926, Page 3

TROUBLE OVER DRAINS.

SETTLERS OBJECT TO BLOCKING. COMPLAINT AGAINST OFFICIAL. For some time past the settlers, at Awaiti and Netheroh have, been seriously concerned over the blocking of .drains at Awati West by the Elstow Drainage Board. It appears that in order .to protect a large area of flax country five, blocks have been put in certain drains to prevent flooding the flax area controlled by a large syndicate. At the beginning of this month there was, a. heavy local rain, which caused the drains to fill rapidly, and on. account of the blocks the waler ctfuld not escape, and it spread over a large area of dairying country which would otherwise have been free from water, and considerable damage 1o pasture followed. When the position became acute the settlers concerned sent telegranns to the Minister of Lands and Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P., asking for immediate relief by having the blocks removed. The Mayor of Paeroa (Mr W. Marshall) and the. president of the Chamber of Commerce (Mr P. Williams) were also communicated with and their assistance and influence sought. As a result an official from the Lands Department at Kerepeehi visited the submerged area and ordered the settlers to remove two of the blocks. - During the visit of the Minister of Public Works (Hon. K. S. Williams) to Netherton on Thursday last a large deputation of settlers w’aited on him and ..sought his, help in'having the position remedied and relief from flooding given. After introducinig the deputation Mi’ Samuel explained "that he had been in communication with .the. Minister of Lands on the matter and a conference of all parties was being arranged. Mr B. Halligan, in outlining the

position, said that for over eight years the set 1 lers had enjoyed comparatively good drainaga and freedom from iiiun- . While the drains were blocked the water was prevented from finding its way into the natural ponding area through the Awaiti lagoon into the Piako River. Consequently the water from the Awaiti West drains, flowed across the lo.wer properties, causing considerable damage. ’After the Lands Department official had visited the area and ordered two of the blocks tb be taken out he forwarded a report to the Miniister. In that report the official had, it was alleged, grossly misrepresented the position, because the following telegram was' received ft om the Hob. A. D. McLeod: “l am now advised that your telegram of 2nd inst. to the effect that the Awaiti settlement was submerged was an exaggeration, and that not more than .12 acres were flooded. Under stand this area now unwatered and no urgent action necessary.” Mr Halligan said that the engineer whd'made the report was deserving of severe centure, and the settlers, de-: sired to have the whole matter thor- ~ oughly investigated and the drains kept open continuously. Evidence could be produced to show that over 1000 acres, of the "garden otf the Hauraki Plains” had been under water, and that water still abounded on thO land. Further, one settler had only three acres out of 50 that were not inundated. Mr Samuel supported the remarks of the previous speaker, and said that owing to the, matter being largely one fta the Lands Department it could hardly be expected that the Minister would promise anything thfit aftery noon. It had been considered desjr-i able, however, that the Minister shoulr see the actual conditions and serious handicap under which the settlers were suffering. The Minister said that he was pleased to have met the settlers and 1 to have seen the conditions for him- ' s.elf. Although the matter was one for the Lands Department, he would be pleased to place the facts before his colleague, the Hon. A. D. McLeod, and he hoped the settlers would be afforded relief'and protection from further flooding. Votes of thanks were accorded the Minister and Mr Samuel by the settlers. for their efforts and promises of help.