Meeting at Moutoa.

Manawatu Herald, 11 June 1895, Page 2

Meeting at Moutoa.

The meeting requested by certain Shannon residents with the members of the Mukaka River Board, wad held on Saturday, at 11.30 a.m., at the Moutoa Bcb.oolb.ouse. There were present Messrs R. Gardner, G. Nye, J. Strong, W, Langdon, B. Gower,

w. uarter, Ui Gardner, G. Wallace, Saunders* W. Howe* W. H. Howe, arid Edwards.. „ tfn the iiiotioii ttf Mr fcardrierj Mr" Wallace was voted to the chair. Mr Wallace said it was his duty to state the origin of the meeting. In the last flood many settlers on the Shannon side suffered severely and it made them think whether any cure could be effected. They also discussed if the damage was aggravated by the Work of the Mukaka Biver Board. It was evident that the Waters had been confined, and was one reason why the damage was worse than it would have been. They thought it might be as Well to call their neighbours together to secure a permanent cure. At the meeting one old settler pointed out > that the river having 4 miles in width over which to flow when in flood would if contracted to 1 mile in width have great power for damage* He suggested one way out of the difficulty was to get the flood water off by a channel. Those present at the meeting thought it best to meet their neighbours on the North side and come to some understanding with the Mukaka Biver Board. The settlers then had a second meeting, and appointed the deputation which meets you to-day. If you have anything to propose we are here ready to discuss it. He believed that Mr Mr Stewart, late Provincial Engineer, had proposed to cut a drain from Wood's corner at Moutoa, through the Moutoa swamp to Foxton. This Would have given a straight channel ; he had Written to Mr Stewart, but had not got an answer yet. A Burvey, someone had told him, had been made, and the course was a good one. Another suggestion made was to go higher up the river on the Himatangi block, but not too high. We are here to ask whether you have anything to suggest as to how permanent relief could be given to the flooding ot the district ? In doing so you would have to take the conservancy of the whole river. The Manawatu Bailway Company are bound to protect themselves, and this would take the new district up as far as Linton near Longburn, and Mr Aker3 had land even higher up. If you are not inclined to enlarge the district the Shannon people would have to form a river board for themselves. Mr Gardner was strongly in favour of such a flood channel to take the water off after it has risen a certain height. He would like to know what 3ome of the old settlers bad to say, before speaking further. 1 Mr Nye said he had been living on the banks of the Manawatu Biver for 50 years coma November. He had been connected with the Public Works Department with Mr J. T. Stewart. He was prescnt # when certain leveh ware taken in the Moufcoa swamp, but he did not think any were taken to divert the course of the river. Mr Hogg took the levels to see if the Moutoa swamp could be drained. • 40 years ago there was a proposal to ' divert the river from Iring Beach to the sea beach. He desired to point out that the lowest part of the swamp was from Gibson's late property to the Daiagonal Drain ; in that part the land was very low. One thing w*B not to be lost sight of, in diverting river, which wa3 the danger that the port of- Foxton would be spoilt, There'"' might-be oniy one flood- ki-lO years in which a storm ohannel would be needed, and during the 9 years the channel would be liable to get choked with drifting sand. There was another course, via, from Nga* wakara to the sea beach whioh measures 10 miles, ahd there a channel would need to be 40 feet in depth. At the 8 mile pointy on the railway, the water flows either way, part to the Manawatu yiver, and part towards the sea. Opening up such a course, the port of Foxton would be interfered with. It must be remembered that a large portion of the Moutoa swamp lies below high spring tides, and if a cut was made you could not control the run iof water. As an old settler he Would like tp get rid ot the storm water, but he did not see how they could interfere with vested interests. The Government had spent some £16,^ 000 on the Foxton wharf and other money on the railway and they would not be likely to agree to any damage being done them. Once the water goes down the main channel, what power have you to control the water ? It it was possible to out a channel and erect gates so that only flood water need be dealt with it might be different. The lagoons referred to on the beach have no open outlet to the sea. The high spring tides flow up river 40 miles' from the mouth. Mr Gardner said it was cheering to hear from Mr Nye that there were no engineering difficulties. It thus became only a question of the injury done to Foxton. He understood the town would not be injured but might be improved. Mr Nyo said it was clearly laid down that River Boards could do nothing with the harbour. He ex* pected there would be strong objection from Foxton. . Mr Wallace said supposing engineers gave an opinion that flood gates could be made and flow eased, would not the difficulty be got over ? In Glasgow they were troubled with water like they were here, and. the bottom was sandy also. There they

im_ Ml1 " "— ' confined the river banks through flat country, and where only 9 feet in depth was obtainable 80 years ago vessels drawing 80 feet now were able to sail ii_J. . .. Mr Nye said the area the river drained must be considered. Over the 25,000 acres flooded there was •*" Bft of water. Is it possible to confine that water within narrow limits ? The natives at Poukatotara said that in the year 1888 there was a heavier flood than the last, which ▼reached half way up the white pine trees. That flood was then the heavies known flood. Hoani Mehani, the native chief at the Oroua Bridge has a house up to which no flood has reached, but there were whares on the knoll when he was a

lad, and it was then covered y and the land was now getting cleared and water taken off much quicker and in future we must expect heavier floods. Mr Wallace said nothing could be done without figures. Mr 0. Gardner said Mr Nye had raised two objections. One that the overflow channel would then fill from sand when there was no water, but if the channel was carried straight to Foxton,. this would be overoome, It seemed DO difficult matter, Mr Thynne asked, as Foxton had been referred to, to make a few remarks. He did not think the port would be endangered if the river was diverted through the Moutoa swamp, and he doubted if it would be even if diverted through the Hitnatangi if the Water was emptied into the present river channel, as tha waters were tidal. The difficulty he saw was the unmistakeable fact that at the Gorge the water was known to rise 70 feet in a big flood within a very few hours, and any storm channel to be of use, must be constructed of the size that would carry that depth and body off at once. That was the only data which was of use, and he feared the expense would be formidable* He recommended that all residents interested on the river banks should be invited to discuss the matter.

Mr Nation said the question appeared to be whether Foxton was to be harmed or the settlers, It was lhard lines to see work swept away. Mr Nye was our be3t authority, and it would appear a question whether the flood water was to run over the place or be diverted by a cut. He thought perhaps we ought to meet the directors of the Manawatu Eailway Company and the settlers up the river. Before doing so there should be circulars sent for a meeting all together. Mr Wallace said it would be a question of ways and means. He did not know what the Manawatu Bailway Company would do. It was probable the Company would join in. Mr Strang moved, seconded by McA. Gardner, That a meeting of the settlers interested in providing a permanent cure against the flooding of the Manawatu River be held in the public hall at -Shannon at suoh a date as may be determined, and that the following gentlemen , be a committee to obtain practical information and data to place before such meeting : — Messrs Wallace, Gardner, Strang, Wood, Howe, with power to add to their number.

The resolution was then put and Oarried,

Mr 0, Gardner did not think it was a question only of the Mukaka River Board and the Shannon people but of all the owners of. low land, it being well-known that the nearer to the outlet the quicker the water went away. He supported Mr Strang's motion.

Mr Howe .did not think the cut would injure Foxton as it was well jpnown that a big fresh very often lilted the bar up, which did not improve until a smaller fresh cleared the silt away. He was particularly anxious a good engineer should be oonsulted and none like the engineers we have had.

Mr Gardner moved a vote of thanks to the ohairman, and said he bad known him a number of years. He had made a success of the Manawatu Railway at a time when little hopes were entertained of it, and he thought Mr Wallace's connection with the scheme augured well for its successful issue. Carried unanimously. vote of thanks to the school committee for the school room was also carried.