CLEANING THE KAIPARA.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 18 October 1917, Page 3

CLEANING THE KAIPARA.

PETITION PRESENTED,

A DEPUTATION, headed by Mr R. Hoe Chairman of the Kaipara River Clearance Association, and Mr A. N. Jowitt, solicitor to tha Association, presented a petition in connection with the proposed Kaipara River drainage district, at the last meeting of the Waitemata County Council. The. petition was supported by a large number of ratepayers asking for the formation of a special drainage district under the provisions of the Counties Act, with the Council as the Drainage Board and the County engineer as engineer. The proposed district extends from Ohirangi bridge to Waimauku for the purpose of clearing the Kaipara River so as to reduce the liability to flood. The petition was signed by a large majority of ratepayers in the proposed drainage district. Practically the whole of the persons affected had supported the scheme.

Mr Hoe pressed the necessity of having the work put in hand early this summer, and also asked that the proposed grant of £100 be made available. This was supported by Messrs Mclndoe and Harrison'

Mr Mclndoe appealed to ■ the Council to do its duty to the ratepayers, for ■which they were prepared to pay. They did not wish to impose a hardship on any of the other ratepayers of the County.

Mr Harrison emphasised the fact from his practical experience that -what was required was a comprehensive system of drainage to relieve the hardship of the settlers; the first works to be the clearing of all growth from the banks of the river, and the removal of snags and sand bars from, the bed of the watercourse. This was not a work of any great difficulty, and could be completed during the coming summer.