COMMUNICATION WITH FOXTON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2014, 12 August 1919, Page 3

COMMUNICATION WITH FOXTON.

THE CANAL SCHEME. The matter of communication.between Foxton and Palmerston was brought up at the meeting of the Palmerston N. branch of the Fami- , ers’ Union on Saturday, when there was a good attendance of members, and the following delegates from the branches wei’e also present.: — J. Gloyn (Rongotea), F,-Hubbard (Tiriten), B. G. Gower and W. Ross (Foxton), W, I. Lovelock, M, Toss and W. Roland (Tiakitahuna), A. A. Alsopp (Rangiotu), G. W. Craw (Linton), and A. T. Kendall (Taikorea). Mr A. Buchanan moved, pursuant to notice (1) “That the Farmers’ Union should consider the practicebility of forming a barge canal between Palmerston North and Foxton, such canal to lie the forerunner of a ship (-anal in the future.” (2) “That the Farmers’ Union consider the desirability of the Harbour Boards of the Dominion being empowered and assisted by (he Government to purchase a commercial fleet, the same io be subsidised by the Government in the same manner as the Minister suggested should be done with private companies.” In supporting the motion, Mr Buchanan said that he noticed that at the meeting of the suh-Provincial Conference at Levin there had been some discussion on the matter of straightening the Mamnvatu River and using the embankment as a preventive of Hooding the lower country, the swift current in a shorter cut being more likely to cause erosion of the banks. There had also been some talk of using the river as a canal. That proposal appeared to be impracticable for many years to come on account of the enormous cost of dredging, hank protecting, and especially the expense of providing the necessary locks. The cost of purchasing the land for the proposed cut would he very heavy. He considered that his proposals were much less ambitious. He was of opinion that a useful sized canal suitable for barges could lie constructed from Palmerston North to Foxton, and if the proposal Avere adopted it- would he necessary to set up a Board to consider the course such a canal should follow. A route suggested was from the Palmerston North raihvay station through the Bnick estate to some point on jho Orona from Avhich a branch could be cut to Fcilding. It might lie practicable to straighten anduse the Orona river from this junction to Rangiotu, and then make a comparatively • straight channel from there to Foxton. This would make unnecessary (he move expensive scheme suggested at the Levin meeting. He understood I hero was tidal action up to the bridge over the Manawatu at Shannon. However, experts would be able to determine how far tidal action might be relied on in a direct cut between Foxton and Rangiotu, should it be deemed prudent in the future to enlarge the barge canal to 'a size suitable for ocean-going ships. The lime Avould come Avhen the improvements at Foxton would provide a proper harbour there. In the meantime he felt confident that a barge canal Avould prove useful and profitable in the carriage of goods, causing a reduction in freights and making the upkeep of the roads less eostly. He had hoped many years ago that the Seddon and Ward Governments Avould have taken advantage of the agreement with the Mamnvatu Railway Company to purchase some of the lands, as doing so Avould probably have brought sin-h a scheme into operation which Avould have benefited the toAvns on the south ’ side of the Mamnvatu. The canal might also be used for irrigation purposes, as the introduction of water would make our country even more fertile, and wilh the rise winch was continually taking place in values, the farmers would have to resort to intensive cultivation to make Hie holding of the land profitable. A barge canal would require a channel lifty*fect in width at the lop, witli twenty-live feet at the boltom, with a depth of not les,- than five feel of water. Locks would bo required at intervals. In America, where wages wore high, .suitable excavating machinery had been used, and it bad been found possible to cut a channel 30 feel at the top and IS feel at Ihe boltom, with a depth of I feet b inches, for .CBO per mile. It might be worth while to get a report from suinc competent engineer in the con.■struclion of- the canal, or else to arrange with the Government ... to supply a report on the matter of both canal and drainage. Mr McLeavey, in supporting the proposal, said it was a question which would have to he seriously considered. The poinl was whether it Avould be Arise to undertake the scheme at the present juncture, while they had a railway carrying goods hclAvcen Foxton and Palmerston. There Avas no doiibl some action Avould be adopted eventually, and Avheli it was an accomplished fact it Avould make Palmerston one of the leading inland cities in the Dominion. Mr P. Nielsen at this stage called ' attention to the following remit from Tiakitahuna, Avhich he thought should have preference to the canal motion,, or else should be discussed Avitli it": —“In vloav of the fact that a big scheme for hanking the southern side of the Manawatu river from Linton to Shannon it under consideration,. that a scheme should be formulated to either strengthen the river or cut a channel from Hear Lotigburn to Foxton. This would eliminate,the necessity and expense of banking both sides of the river, as the settlers on the northern side were certain to erect a bunk to

counteract the effect of the scheme now in progress. In the opinion of this branch banking,the river will necessarily raise the bed, and so force upon settlers the continuous expense of enlarging both banks year after year.” Mr W. I. Lovelock said that he understood that the Government had already collected data on the matter, and the report of their engineer might be available.

-Mr H. Akers said that he knew that the Government engineer had gone into the question of an overflow channel from Tinkit-ahuna to Foxton, and the plans should he available. If he remembered rightly, the scheme was to cost something like half a millionvpounds.

Mr Gower said the two schemes were quite separate. The one dealt with drainage, and the other with (he commercial aspect of getting goods up to Palmerston, One of the greatest evils in connection with Hooding was the sperad of goalsrue, and until they got some system of drainage this would continue, and hundreds of acres of land would he ruined. The Government had declined to put it in the Noxious Weeds list.

Mr -Ross quite agreed with the damage being done by goatsrne, but the only chance of checking it was draining the land. The Government should clear its land of this terrible curse, as their lands were infested with it.

Mr Akers pointed out that the scheme he avus interested in would have the effect of straightening the river and confining its banks. Air Vile pointed out that both the questions wore of such great importance that they should he fully discussed by all branches of the local bodies interested before any final decision avus come to. He contended that one proposal Avas of national importance, Avhile the other avus more or less parochial. It Avas eventually resolved that as Hie canal mailer avus of such importance the remit should be sent on to the snh-Provincial Executive, Avilh a view to its obtaining all data available Avbicli had been prepared in connection Avith the scheme, before it Avas finally dealt with.

With regard to the remit from Tiakitahuna as to improving the river, it Avas resolved to ask the Public Works Department to supply particulars of the scheme prepared by Mr Hay about 14 years previously. It Avas also resolved that the Counties of Oroua, Pohangina, Horowhenua and Woodville should he asked lo declare goalsrue a noxious Avecd, and that the Government should lie requested to clear the Gorge of the AA'eed.