The Lake.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 9 April 1918, Page 2

The Lake.

« PERMANENT LEVEL PIiOBLEM. There were present at last night's meeting of the Lake Do-, main Board, the Mayor (Mr C. Blenkhorn), Messrs France, Broadbelt, Dempsey, Aitken, and the secretary (Mr 33. It. Gardener). The Mayor welcomed Mr Broadbelt who took his seat for the first time. Mr H. Cliannings (Borough Overseer) reported that he put in the concrete retaining wall with : 300 loads of filling and -also cleaned out the bottom of (he Lake for some distance outside the retaining-- wall. Mr Cliannings also stated that h.e had erected a small jetty 24ft long with what materials were available on the spot. The cost of the work was £54 Bs.

The Secretary stated that Mr .11. Hossaclt had donated £5 towards the Lake improvements, and, a hearty vote, of, thanks was .passed .to .him.; V

The May.or ; -said lie had inspected the work and it appeared to have been done faithfully and well. * The wall'had not been ta-.ken-as iar-as was intended and there would require to be more ifiiling •putini — ,

•! ' Mr' France said the completed •work was <juite' teuffifcient to erect the boating shed on; t>M he wanted to know something''kbout the level of the Lake. He •'Was afraid if . things were not altered tEe ■vork carried out would' ! be under .rater during the winter as the Lake was already rising. Mr Gardener .pointed; out that ( lie County Council Engineer had had the entrance to the Hokio stream cleared of growth and this should have the desired effect.

Mr France contended that the work done would not Be sufficient to keep the Lake down during the winter. He believed that the veir was the., proper solution of the'"difficulty.

, ; Mr Dempsey questioned whether the water would get away lower down the stream if the veir were the only work carried out. He contended that the Hokio should be cleaned out from the sea up, with a simple barrier at a given point, Mr Broadbelt considered that, if the Lake was to be kept at a permanent level a weir was the proper thing. The Lake could be lowered easily enough by cleaning out the Hokio stream—in fact- it could be drained.if required. If the Hokio were cleaned out too far tlfe Lake .might be lowered more than the Board desired. A weir would be a 'Big job; it might require a special rating district. He believed the real obstruction was (near jthe bridge which crossed the Hokio. He was strongly in favour of keeping the Lake at a permanent' level, which would give a promenade round three parts of it, and make "it a real asset to the town.

After further discussion it was generally agreed that the Board could' do no more than go on steadily with the cleaning out of the mouth, of the. Lake and the stream. ' •

In regard to the rebuilding of the boat shed Mr Stance said the idea of a working bee was impracticable and he suggested the issuing.. of debentures to - raise ' the necessary' money,, the debentures to give tile holders' the right to take out their yalue in the use of Boats. -

Air Aitken said personally he was still in favour of .the working bee. It would serve to bring people down to thie Lake, which was what the Board wanted as much as anything;/

The Mayor pointed; • out that the work was such; that it squir-ed-skilled, labour .f!' *

Mr Gardenerr : saidC Could , be raised by a concert • without any trouble

U s '"' The Mayor moved tliat estimates be obtained for re-erecting •flie-bpafmg shed and,that a meeting, be held a fortqwHjk hence £o consider .the same. This was carried.' ; .. .