THE FLOOD MENACE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2076, 10 January 1920, Page 3

THE FLOOD MENACE.

IfCESSITY, OF OVERFLOW | - CHANNEL. jpPOSKI) RIVER BOARD. e public meeting convened by Messrs W. E. Barber and B. C. Cower, held in the Council Chamber yesterday morning to 11 dismiss river improvements, banking and Hood prevention, was very well attended,, those present including representatives .from Tiakitahuna, Kangiotu, Kopntaroa, Shannon, Moutoa, and .Foxton. Mr John Chryslall was voted to Urn ('hair. The Chairman said the question of some method of dealing with the Hood waters had been exercising the minds of‘those interested for many year.-. There was an area, of 70,000 acres that suffered from Hooding, and this area ineluded some of the finest country in New Zealand. Iu 1008 the Government set: up a.Commission to ascertain the best method of dealing w'ilh Ibis matter, and one of the schemes recommended by that Commission was the milling of an overflow channel from near the Maori Church at Moutoa to enter the river again to the south of Mr Nye’s ’ mills. He (Mr Chrystall) considered this was the, best of the schemes outlined by the Commission. He wanted hAnake it ctyar to the delegates present that whilst he would support a scheme such as the one mentioned lie would absolutely oppose any proposal that would detrimentally affect the port ot Foxton. Mr MeEwan (Tiakitahuna) said that the question of dealing with the Hood waters of the Manawatu was discussed a few months ago at a meeting of the Tiakitahuna Branch of the Farmers’ Union. A remit was sent forward to the central body at Palmerston North, and some further discussion took plane there, hut there was only a small attendance. A meeting was convened later, and held at Kangiotu. when, after smne discussion, further consideration was left over for a later mooting, and the present meeting was I lie outcome of that decision. - The Chairman said (ho Commission's estimate of the cost ol the Moutoa scheme was £150,001). Some hind-owners favoured a hanking scheme, but although they might he able to coniine the waters (o some extent, it would not get o\er the erosion. On a conservative estimate at least 100 acres of land each year was lost through erosion between Foxton and Linton, and. putting it down at £BO per, acre, gave a total of £B,OOO— nearly sufficient to pay interest on the estimated cost iffi'the scheme. Tlie-Commission recommended an overflow channel 15 chains Avide.

Air Henriessy suggested that copies of the report of the evidence before the Commission and the Commission’s report should lie printed and sent to all ratepayers in the area. This suggestion was agreed to. . Mr W. Pearee (Rangmlu) considered that the overflow channel should only he constructed a chain .log chain and a-halt wide, and let it scour itself out. Air P. H. Baldwin mentioned the question of preliminary expen-e-, and considered a levy should be made on all present lor this pni-po.-e. It was decided to make a levy in ■ ten shillings each, and two oh those present subscribed a guinea each. Air P. K Baldwin said that Messrs H. Akers, Seifert, and others on the .Makerua side of the river, had decided upon a scheme of banking to protect their properly from the flood waters. These gent lemon came to Hie meeting held at Kangiotu, a no explained exactly what they pioposed doing. They were out to help themselves, and were to be congratulated on their enterprise. A lien their scheme was carried out it would mean that the flood nateiwould be thrown on the land on the opposite side of the river, and it the land owners there did not go on immediately with some scheme it would mean that their land uould suffer much more from llood walets in the future than it had in the past. He urged those present to get busy and.push the scheme forward. Mr S. Jiekell gave a briel outline of,the scheme proposed by the land owners on the Makerua side to pro- ' tect their land from Hooding. I,here were 2!) land owners. H was proposed to bank along the whole rivet bank from above Kangiotu right • down to Afontoa, and also to bank the Tokomaru and oilier streams that; ran through " the_ properties. There would be over 50. miles of bank's,- and it was also make a big cut to tap all existing drains. The estimated cost by the ordinary methods of construction was £122,000, but with the most up-to-date machinery, some of which had already arrived, and the ' balance. was ' on order, the cost would be reduced to almost half. The highest portion of the banks to be'constructed would be 1311. dm., but the average height throughout was just under 7ft. Dealing wdb the scheme- outlined. h. v ''m • *" mission in 100 S, Mr -lie! ell * mered that I he eo-t of carry mg ' i-staiho at the present lime w.-uid In 5 0$ per cent, more than at the time the estimate- were prepared. Mr W. Ro-s -aid that the land owners on the Makerua side had not yet definitely decided to go on with the scheme. I'llThelGhairman said that unless all the land owner- in 1 he whole of thedistrict were rated if would not be possible to go on with-the proposed cut.. ! Mr Pearce considered it the cut were put through /there would be no

need for the Makerua people to bank.

Mr Baldwin .said that in America some very extensive works were being carried out along the Sacramento River, where the latest machinery was in use. Mr Seifert, who recently'returned from America, had inspected' the method adopted on tlie Sacremento, and intended workr in” - on the same lines on the Makema Mdc of the Manawatu River. The land owners -on this side would have to do somethin”' for their own protection.

Mr Anderson (Tiakitahuna) said that at the Kangiotu meeting, in' answer to a question, Mr Seifert had,stated that the Makerua people intended going on with their scheme whether anything was done by the settlers on the other side or not.

At this stage the Chairman moved that a progress committee be set up, consisting of ten members (two each from the Makerua district, Tiakitahuna, ~ Taonui - Kangiotu, Hhamioii-Kopiiia roa, and FoxtoiiMoutoa), to further the proposal lo form an, overflow channel to the Manawatu River as protection a<_<■;!inst Hoods, to revise Government estimates ol said work, and lui’iher lo progress mi one favoured definite .scheme, ami report to a mass meeting of ratepayers at the earliest opportunity. This was seconded and carried. Asked what method was adopted on the Rangataiki swamp, Mr Edward Newman. M.P.. said that .was a Government work, and tvas done under the Public Works Act, Ihe local scheme could be carried out under the Land Drainage Act,

Mr Neilson (Tiakitahuna) said that if banking Avas done on the Makerua side and nothing done on the other side, it would mean that (he Av'hole of the Hood waters would be thrown on to the land on the Kangiotu side. It would ho a menace to the Foxton-Falmcrston railwav line.

Mr McEwen said 4hal the Malmran properly owners had eniered on a delhiile scheme, ami representatives from the present meeting should approach (hem and ascertain it, they would be prepared to fall in with the proposal to cut an overliow channel.

Mr S. W. Carter (Shannon) said that it appeared to him that it the Makerua people had not moved in (he mailer of banking, the laud owners on the other side would not have moved at all.

Mr E. Newman. M.P., on bein'-: asked by I lie Chairman to speak, said lie was surprised I bill' some such scheme as ilie one proposcci was hoi taken in band before. The urgent necessity tor same was apparent to all. The question of increased production was of paramount importance, and the Government would do all in (heir power lo encourage more production. The river improvement surested would eventually mean more production from the vast area of land now affect ed by Hoods, and he had no doubt the Government wonbl lake a part in assisting to bring the propoat to a successful issue. lie would suggest that as soon.as the new Minister for I’ubtic Works was appointed, and the appointment would lie made very soon, steps should be taken to get the Minister to visit the locality and make an inspection of the proposed route of the channel. The speaker said die would be pleased to accompany the Minister and those interested. He telt sure that the proposal was in the inteiesl o, (lie majority, and would greatly ber.elil a very large district. It would also lie a substantial benefit to lli« Koxton port. Mr Newman said Ins .services were always at the disposal of his constituents', and he would do Ids best to assist in getting the scheme put through. '1 he first thing (o do, however, was to get the Minjsler for I’nhlic Works to visit the loenliTy. *

The following committee was -el up:—Messrs W. Pearee and W.JT, Barber (Rangiotn-Taonui), Melvwcu and Neiison (Tiakitahuua), J. (iir-v-lall and B. 0. Gower (PoxtonMonloa), W. Ross and H. Akers (Makerua), and P. Bryant and 1. Hennessy { Sbannon-Koputaroa). Mr P. P. Baldwin agreed to act as scoivl<u‘v lo thy Commit lee. \ jueelint;’ of the (■ommitlee held at the conclusion of the public meeting, when it was decided to take steps to form a River Board. It uas pointed out that before such a Board could be formed it was necessary to get a petition in favour of same signed by two-thirds of (hi ratepayers in the proposed area. It was’decided to have a petition drawn up, and each member of the Committee will circulate same lor signature in the .district- icpiesented. It was decided that the rating area should he that as recommended in the .Commission’s report of 190!). Tim Committee decided to recommend the scheme providing for a cut from the ALuutoa Maori Church to the river to the south of Air Nye’s mills.