RIVER BOARD FOR OTAKI

Otaki Mail, Volume XXIII, 22 December 1920, Page 3

RIVER BOARD FOR OTAKI

VALUABLE LAND SHOULD BE v SAVED. Por many years the Otaki river in flood time has done great damage to many acres of land, and in some cases big areas, together witn protective works, have been washed away. With a view to taking action to control the trouble, a meeting was held at Mr H. Palmer's residence, Otaki, on Monday night, being convened by Messrs H. Palmer, B. H. Slack, Preston-Thomas, and G. H. Harper.

Mr Harper was voted to the chair, and in opening said it was gratifying to see so many present, which was a happy augury for the success of the \ enturc. The attempt to form a river board was nol one against settlers own interests, but simply to open an important question, one which all must concede should be discussed, and decide in the best interests of those who hold laud adjacent to the liver. It was first desirable, if a board was to be formed, to decide on the boundaries, get a petition signed by those interested, and a poll carried. When the river district was constituted there would be a personnel on the board of not less than five members, or more than nine, and members elected hold office for three years. The first duty of the board would be to classify lands, and it was very important that this matter should be carried out fairly. It was recognised that those ivho secured the greatest benefit should pay more in proportion to others. The board should comprise men of common sense, and should make an independent classification, but if anyone was dissatisfied with the proportion of rate put.on property they could tpake their complaint before a magistrate, who would consider it on its merits. After the classification the board levied rates, and in this the Rating Act applied to river boards, but it could depute the Horowhenua County Council to collect the rates, that body to make a reasonable charge if it so desired. The maximum goncral rate that could be levied was lid in the £ on the capital value, while a tenant with less than five years to run could recover all rates from the landlord. The river board would have powers of borrowing money on the same lines as other local bodies, but would have to take a poll before raising a special loan. I Mr J. P. Brandon said, although not owning land near tlio river, he, individually, favoured the proposal, and as Chairman of the Town Board would uo his best to assist. He considered the move one for the benefit of the district, and a project all should support. Mr Palmer stated that although he was one of the conveners, he had an open mind, and did not want people to think that, because of the recent flood ho was rushing for a river board. He had not been in the district three months before he mentioned the necessity of having one. The project, to his mind, required a deal of consideration, and he thought settlers should act cautiously. He knew of several river boards, and had never known one to be other than successful.

Mr F. J. Ryder, who said he could be looked upon as the “father of the Otaki river,” instanced how money had been wasted by the Manawatu Company in years gone by through bad engineering, and considered the work which had cost hundreds, nay thousands, could have been done more effectively for a few paltry pounds if properly expended. He had had twentylive years’ experience ou the banks of the river, and knew what lie was speaking about. In his opinion it needed a practical man to make a good river engineer. He considered that the board would need more than lid in the £ to get effective work done by an engineer, as such a person, he contended, would smog, swallow up all rates. Uugineers would always persist in putting in groynos up stream, which, to his mind, was fatal. It was useless to fight a river, but provision should be made for tho water to glide by. Several costly groynes had been put up stream in the Otaki river, but many had disappeared, leaving only ruins. Mo willows would stand the force of the river, but a grass-sloped bank would never wash away till the river undermined or scoured. Mr Ryder then dwelt at length on his experiences, and the experiences of others adjacent to the river in days gone by, and instanced how valuable land had been washed away through ineffective protective <vorks. If the j metal banks were tied up, said the I speaker, the Otaki river would deepen at the bridge to the extent of 20ft in live years. Mr Cockrell favoured the formation of a river board, and said he had done so for years. He also favoured a small rate being struck, as there was a likelihood of the flood water breaking through into Otaki as was shown by the water recently at the Otaki railway. He was willing to assist in getting the best of advice. Mr Ryder said he had personal knowledge of protective works in Hawke ’s Bay that had not been a suci cess, due to the want of knowledge-, and he had seen some work done over and over again. Stone groynes, in his opinion, were only a waste of money;, he favoured timber and stones. In answer to Mr Podevin, the chairman said the value of lands concerned in 1913 (last valuation) was roughly £BO,OOO, but, no doubt, next valuation would bd almost double. Mr Ryder considered the Rangiuru settlers should come into the schema, and thought the river could be confined it) practically a straight course in this locality if a little effective work was done. The Chairmap said on £150,000 they should get an income of about £940 a year. Special loans would have to be raised for the works, thee, a special rate for paying the loan, and also " general rate for maisten ß "*". good men iv— - ce . xf seve: . _,e elected he though board could be run snccessfnlly;-

practical men would be much better than an engineer who was not convep ‘ sant with the river. , Mr Palmer considered had a river board been in existence during the last flood much property could have been saved, and stated if w-ork had been , done tw.o or three years ago at a cost , of a few pounds it would have meant 1 much to landowners. I The Chairman said one advantage of I a board would be that it could do work ; where owners neglected it. He sugI gested that a committee be set up to i enquire into work done by river boards, estimate what would be the cost to do the most important work, go abroad if necessary, and then report. The committee could make a rough boundary of the proposed district and get the valuation of all properties concerned.

This course was agreed to, and Messrs Harper, Preston-Thomas, Palmer and Ryder were appointed a committee. It was also agreed the settlers present assist in the initial expenses, and that others be asked to assist in some way. Votes of thanks were accorded to Mr Palmer for the use of the room, and to Mr Harper for presiding as chairman. All present were afterwards entertained by Mr Palmer.