MANAWATU-OROUA RIVER BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 40402, 18 January 1930, Page 2

MANAWATU-OROUA RIVER BOARD.

FIRST MEET IXU OF XF.W BOARD.

The liirsl meeting of the newlyelected Alanawatu-Oroua River Board for the 1930 season was held ;ii Palmerston Xorth on Thursday. Mr. \V. S. Carter was re-elected chairman. Those present were: Messrs R. .1. Law, B. 0. Gower, 11. .1. T. Hume, IT. Barber, C. H. Speirs, .). F. Harrison and D. Rowlands. An apology for absence xvas ieccived from Mr. A. Buchanan owing to indisposition. In 1 hanking the members for electing him as chairman, Mr. Carter briefly welcomed all present and explained. Dint there was much business to he all ended to during the forthcoming season. During the recess, the district had experienced some trouble owing to the had weather. Aloutoa had received a full share, owing to the fact that the stop-banks had not been sufficiently strong hut, fortunately, otlu-r portions had escaped lightly. Matters pertaining to the formation of the special rating area were discussed at length. In regalrd to what xvas known as “Job In” of the hoard’s scheme, Air. Hume declared that lands on the Moutoa side of tin* river would gain much benefit, from the work and he thought this portion should he included in the Makerua subdivision in the special rating area, in pointing out that the area should he defined by an expert, lie said' he knew that the whole of the Makerua would he taken in, but surely other portions should he included also. Tin* resolution regnr!:ll g special rating, in his opinion, was not in order. Mr. Gower said that lie did not think that this statement xvas fair to the members of the old hoard.

Xu übjcetiuii had been raised at Die Mine and Die resolution was passed and the .Makerua represent a tix'es had agreed to it. The Moutoa area had to face the question of tides and was differently situated to the liier area, owing to the fact that the river would hack up in times of spring tides. Mr. Hume emphatically said that hi- was easting no aspersions on any member of the old hoard. He simply wished to see the right proi edurc adopted. The hoard had lixed the boundaries of a special rating area and lie maintained it had no right to do this work. On being asked xvliat the cost of Job 111 would he, the engineer said it could he estimated at approximately C 3300. No Government subsidy was io In- received on that amount, -but there had been thoughts of making application, added a member.

The ehaijrman said it had been the policy of the hoard to assist any group of settlers and it had been x’ery successful in securing subsidies in that regard. Air. Law expressed the opinion that now the new hoard had been formed, a policy should la* laid down as to xvliat course xvas to be followed. He thought it should keep to the main scheme and push for the subsidy to advance the scheme. The chairman said this was xvliat should he done. The board to a certain extent had “been beating the air.” Several members had made special visits to Wellington to push tin* matter on, but little of concrete nature had been accomplished. The only reasonable xvay to pre\ - ent flooding in the district was to give the wafers' a chance to get direct to the sen through a channel. The rain recently had seen a 13 foot Hood and fortunately. the Orona river had boon only half full at the time. Had this river been running as full as the Alanawalii, results in other parts of the district would have boon most, awkward. In the lower Orona particularly, there would have been sei ions consequences and instead of 10,000. acres being under water, there would have been at least 2f>, 000 acres all told.

“Me are living in a fool’s paradise,” added the chairman, “and ihe sooner we gel onr scheme the heller. So long as it is side I racked, the position is dangerous and setllers are living on land subject In Hood menace.”

Mr. 1 lnmo moved, and it jvas carried, (hat Ihe Government ho rcnucsl ed to receive a deputation in eoimeeliion with the board’s modilied scheme. Airrangemon'fe in this regard were (lien finalised. Mr. A. Huy next waited on the Hoard in connect ion with Hood proleeiion work in thi> special rating area. No. 1. The summer, he said, was now get Img well on and it was most important that it should be done (luring the presold season. Mr. (Iny pointed out that lie had received the necessary signatures to the petition and requested that Mm Imard’s engineer he authorised to prepare plans for the expenditure of t’dim, in addition to £IOO and .Clso eonlrihufed. This would •mike a total of C 150 to he utilised lor the work under review. Alter some discussion, the chairman assured Mr. Huy that the mnt(er would receive consideration and he felt that, once the details wore completed, the request .would lie carried out. The necessary resolutions for (lie preliminary work were tlii'ii passed.