WAIHOU POLLUTION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5487, 14 October 1929, Page 2

WAIHOU POLLUTION.

MANGAITI SETTLERS MEET.

QUESTION OF MINERS’ RIGHTS.

A further meeting of the Mangaiti settlers to consider and receive replies from the Health Department regarding the pollution of the Waihou River took place in the Mangaiti Hall on Tuesday evening, states the Te Aroha News) and met with a fair attendance.

Mr F. M. Strange presided and pointed out that only the stormy nature of the night had prevented this from being a record meeting, and he had also expected several Maori settlers from Tirohia to give their side of the question.

kn apology was received from Mr Mace for his inability to be present. The chairman read replies from the Board'of Health which were the outsome of the petition by 23 settlers to stay the pollution of the Waihou stream by the Te Aroha Borough Council. The board strongly condemned the practice, and stated its intention to communicate with the council, calling upon it to .cease the discharge of crude sewage. Mr Strange said he presumed that the Borough Council had received that letter. It was incomprehensible how a borough council upheld such a practice at the risk of serious consequences to the settlers lower down the river, and he maintained that it should be working in with the settlers to remove the menace. Recently it had been stated that miners’ rights still applied to the Waihou stream, on the chance of operations taking place at Waiorongomai. The time had arrived for the settlers to combine in an effort to have the Waihou as a sludge channel revoked. Taking for example the state of the Waikino stream at Paeroa, the speaker pointed out that such a state of affairs in the Waihou would spell disaster. It was understood that even with the installation of septic tanks the typhoid danger would not be removed without chlorinisation. The Waihou River afforded a most inspiring picture, and any person seeing it from the air would realise that the evergrowing pollution by sewage formed a vital problem to be grappled with at once. For any public body to countenance the perpetuation of the draining of filth into a comparatively clean stream was against all interests of public health. A letter was read from another settler directly concerned, who was unable to be present, who stressed the importance of immediate action. During the discussion the chairman pointed out that it was most desirable that the sludge channel declaration should be revoked, as mining had now been superseded by agriculture, which should be fostered. It was resolved to send a letter to the Minister of Agriculture agitating for the removal of sludge channel rights regarding the Waihou. River. The meeting closed with hearty thanks to Mr F. Lye, M.P., for his assistance in giving the matter light in the right quarters.