MANAWATU-OROUA RIVER BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3510, 13 July 1926, Page 3

MANAWATU-OROUA RIVER BOARD.

PLACES ITS SCHEME BEFORE BOROUGH COUNCIL. Last night a deputation consisting of Messrs Spencer, Nielson, AVjiton, P. E. Baldwin, F. C. Hay (engineer) and B. G. Gower, representing. the Manavyatu-Oroua River Board, waited on the Council and placed the Board’s scheme for the straightening of the Manawatu River before the Council and outlined the benefits to be derived from such scheme by Foxton. Mr. Hay said that the Board’s proposed cut-off would shorten the river by 20 miles. The present channel from the bar to the wharf was seven miles in length and it could not be said that it was good from a navigation point of view. Vessels becoming stuck in the river had an adverse effect on the borough of Foxton. The Board’s scheme to concentrate flood waters in a direct line to the bar would improve the port and channel. The harbour facilities copld be improved by shifting the wharf or dredging the existing ehannel from the wharf to the new cut. If the Board’s scheme were put in operation, vessels of greater draught could trade to the port and there would be greater reliability in the sailing of boats and continuity of shipping to the, port. Another benefit Foxton would derive from the proposed cut would be improved road communication. Under the present conditions the Whirokino road was made impassable at times owing to flood waters. A bridge over the new channel would obviate this obstacle. The railway line to Palmerston North and arterial road and Shannon road would also be rendered immune from flooding and Foxton would possess open lines of communication by road and railway to other parts of the Dominion besides belter sea access. The country surrounding Foxton would also receive great benefit' from the scheme. There is 10,000 acres of land in the Moutoa alone which would derive benefit and as a result would be able to support a much greater population than at present. Increased population in the vicinity of a town meant increased prosperity. The above, said Mr Hay, were the lines on which his Board would suggest to the Commission that Foxton has an interest as a beneficiary under the scheme.

Mi’. Nielson said that so far the Manawatu-Oroua River Board had had a hard task. The proposed scheme was the best one yet submitted in the interests of the whole district. If the banking on the east side 'of the river at Moutoa was going to stand, something would have to be done tp protect property on the opposite side. The scheme would cost a lot of money, but would be justified by results. It was possible that the Board’s area may be enlarged and bodies other than those already cited may be included.

Mr. Wilton expressed the opinion that the productivity of the Moutoa land was only in its infancy. The proposed scheme would reclaim the present swamp land. The scheme would be expensive, but the benefits derived would be in greater proportion. Mr. Baldwin (Board’s solicitor) said that if banking was carried out on the west side as it was on the east then Foxton would have discharged on it in flood time an enormous volume of water. Foxton was situated at the bottom of the spillway, the Pohangina, Wairarapa, and northern Hawke’s Bay all contributing their quota of water. If all this water was concentrated on Foxton then Foxton was going to get a nasty discharge of wate* in flood time. The Board was endeavouring to get the money subscribed for the scheme by all those who were beneficiaries in the scheme. *lt was desired that pressure be brought to bear on the Government to give financial assistance. With that object in view the Board had decided to approach all local bodies and to obtain their assistance in bringing pressure to bear on the Government in this connection. The Act had been drafted for that purpose. The Board’s scheme was national as well as local, and if it was to be consummated co-operation of all interested was essential. Mr. B. G. Gower endorsed the remarks of the previous speakeis and stressed the fact of its national bearing. The Board needed the moral support of the Borough Council in the matter. If it could, the Government would push the matter off on to the district. If the scheme was carried out, the rate for Foxton would be very small. That rested with the Commission, however. All that they asked of the Council was its support in making the scheme a national one. Or. McMurray: Is there any chance of bringing outside bodies into the scheme? Mr-Baldwin: Under the Amending'Act any. local authority within or without our district can be called before the Commission. If it were too late to do this with the present Commission it would be done Avith the next. Cr. McMurray: Will it be necessary to shift the wharf owing to the silting up of he old channel? Mr. Hay said that the river would silt up above Foxton and become practically dry but the silt would not run far doAvn. Silt could not be transferred unless by wind or water. At the lower end Avhere the old and new channels would meet

the condition would be similar to that existing outside the docks in the Old Country. There would be a little silting up, but this could easily be overcome by dredging. The alternative to this would be to extend the railway line across the river, over the Matakarapa swamp to join up with the new channel where a new wharf would have to be built. There would be plenty of room,at this point for berthage accommodation and stores, and there would be no disturbance of business interests. It would only be two miles to the bar from this site, and this proposition would be well worth consideration. The rise and fall of the tide would keep the branch to the wharf from becoming stagnant. The proposed work would take five years to complete. Pilot channels would be employed and by this means the river would do the work of scouring out. The waterway would have to be 1300 ft wide as against 400 ft as at present. CT. Rand asked what effect the scheme would have on the flaxmills located on the river bank? Mr. Hay said that the old channel could be kept with sufficient water in it for the use of flax boats and could be flushed from time to time. As regarded the bar lie could guarantee the average depth throughout the year would be greater than if is now.

Cr. McMurray thanked the deputation ’for its explanation of the Board’s scheme and said the Crs. present would act as a committee and report, to the full meeting of the Council. In this connection, lie thought it would be advisable if Messrs Hay and Gower were to be present at the next meeting of the Council. Personality he strongly supported the Board’s scheme. The deputation thanked the Council for its patient hearing and withdrew.