MANAWATU-OROUA RIVER BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2793, 4 October 1924, Page 3

MANAWATU-OROUA RIVER BOARD.

PREPARING FOR THE BIG SCHEME. WORK OF NATIONAL AND DISTRICT IMPORTANCE. j The Manawatu-Oroua River Board met at Palmerston N. on Wednesday, when there were present: Messrs R, T. Bell (chairman), Anderson, McDonald, Neilson, Wilton, Seifert, Carter, Gower and Akers.

Air N. H. Mackie, district Government valuer, who has in hand the work of classification of I lie hoard’s area for rating purposes, stated v that in a week’s time the whole of his work of classification, which had been delayed by bad weather, would be completed. AMENDMENTS TO ACT. The chairman then requested Mr Baldwin, the Board’s solicitor, to explain the details of some desired amendments to the Act. Air Baldwin said that a difiieutly had arisen in regard to the Act, which affected all boards. He had written asking that the Act be amen- . ded so that where land was added tc a board’s district, it could be added to sub-divisions and not merely lumped in with the existing area as at present. Another difficulty arose over the classification whereby ratepayers were divided into classes, paying rates according to the benefits they would receive from flood • ' protection works. That was all right, he said, as far as it went, but there was a somewhat large disproportion of benefit received even by people in one class though all in such class would pay the same rates. What was needed, therefore, was a sub-division of the classes themselves in order to still more equitably rate the land-owners in the board’s district. Air Hay suggested that rating might lie based on the estimated benefit received in steps of .CIO or even £5. The chairman thought that Atesst’s Hay, Afaekie and Baldwin should hold a conference on the matter. It was decided that the suggested conference regarding the classification under the Act, be held at an early date,. NATIONAL INTEREST IN ", SOHEALE.

The engineer reported upon what had been done in 'the matter of securing further data from Government Departments concerning tlie national character of the Board’s huge scheme. Although some departments had not yet furnished details some of a most important and valuable character were to hand.

The engineer read a report from Air F. W._Furkert, engineer-in-cliief of the Public Works Department, replying to some of the Board’s queries as to what would be the benefits and the national interest accruing from its scheme, if completed. The report stated, inter alia, that the area involved was about 70,000 acres of which 20,000 were unimproved and 50,000 partly so, while all could be converted into first-class dairying land, so that the average future area of holdings could be assumed to be 100 acres. The carrying capacity per holding of the land could then be estimated as follows: —GO cows per 100 acres; 2001bs. butter-fat per cow, 12,000 lbs.; 12,00011)3. of butter-fat. at 1/3 £750; by-products, £l5O, giving a total yield per holding of £9OO. This equalled £9 per acre per annum gross return on a 100 acre holding. For the 70,000 acres concerned this would amount to 20,000 acres (undeveloped at .present) at £9 per acre, £IBO,OOO, 500,000 acres (partially developed at present) at £4 10/-, increased production by Board’s work, £225,000; total increased production £405,000. Assuming each 100 acres to be capable of supporting a settler, his wife and two children, this would give a population as follows: —200 farms of 100 acres each in 20,000 acres now undeveloped, new population of 800; 500 farms of 100 acres'each in 50,000 acres partially developed, at 2 persons more than supported now, 1,000 —total 1,800 increased population. The report quoted further data to show that the general productive capacity of the ATanawatnOroua district was very great indeed.

Answering other questions of tlie Board, the report stated that tlie loss incurred by stoppages through floods on the railway line were almost negligible.

The relative cost per ton from Wellington to Palmerston N. by sea and rail could not be compared because the Railway Department had not furnished figures. The sea freight was 21/6 per ton general cargo. Some further figures regarding traffic tonnages were also quoted. Mr Hay said that, despite the amount of data furnished, the department had not given what the board most required—figures showing the national importance of the scheme to the Government. For instance, he said, no figures had been furnished anent the amount of damage caused by floods and which caused losses to the Government as well as to settlers. Members at some length criticised the statement that the damage done by floods to the railway lines was negligible and recalled several experiences bearing on this point since 1900. ■ " Mr Hay said that the Railway Department had neatly side-step-ped this matter. The chairman concurred that they had not got the information most desired and it was decided that Mr Hay write to the Railway Department for further information relative to its losses sustained by flood, since 1900 along the line, and to secure such further data bearing

on the matter of national interest ns might be available. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer reported, inter alia, that classification of land for rating purposes would be finished by October 25. In the matter of estimates a complete scheme had been costed during the month, this being (lie first step in getting down to bed-rock with the project. The distance from the sea to the Longburn railway bridge by the proposed new line was 22 miles 18 chains and by the present course of the river 50 miles 23 chains. By the proposed new course the Longburn railway bridge would be the same distance from the sea as Shannon bridge was by. the existing course. Ivopane bridge, by the proposed new river line, would be 27 miles 26 chains from the sea, while by the present its river distance’from there was 52 miles 60 chains. It would be the same river distance from the sea, if the Board’s scheme was earned out, as Poplar flaxmill was now. The total available fall from Longburn bridge to the mean sea level was 65 feet, and from Kopane bridge 80 feet. Details of the- scheme and the cost would be given when plans were under examination. —The report was adopted. GENERAL.

The matter of addressing the Foxton Chamber of Commerce on the Board’s scheme was left in the hands of the chairman.