AKA AKA.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 158, 24 March 1916, Page 3

AKA AKA.

RIVEK BOARD'S OPERATIONS A DEPUTATION'S PROTEST On Tuesday last, upon the occasion of the visit of inspection of tha lower reaches of the Waikato by the Hon K McNab, the Minister t'er Marine, a deputation representing the landowners of the district interviewed him at 'l'e Anauga. The deputation was composed of Mr G Hull, the chairman if the Aka Aka Drainage Board, Mr J N Massey and Mr H Wily It was pointed out to the Minister that there were at present three distinct classes of people interested in the Waikato river—the owners ut low-lying unimproved lands in the area under the jurisdiction of the Waikato River Board, the people who were interested in the improvement of the river for navigation purposes, and the owners of land that had been fully drained and improved before the River Board came into existence. It was this latter class that the deputation represented, and they feared that considerable injury would result to the Aka Aka and Otaua lands Irom the operationß of the River Board. Owing to the partial closing of the northern channel of the river by groynes a steady and rapid silting up was taking place, and the outlet of the drains was being threatened. Thev urged that the Government should assume a more direct control of the riser works, and that nothing further should be done until a proper scheme of river improvements had been elaborated. A Commission had been appointed by the Government to go fully into the matter, but it had been decided to defer its sit'ing until the war was ended. The people of Otaua and Aka Aka would like t3 s-e operations on the river delayed uotil the Commission had maturely considered as to the best way of dealing with the river so as to conserve the interests of all concerned

Mr Kennedy, engineer to the Kiver Board, eaid it was incorrect to Btate that silticg had taken pi3ce behind the groyneß. He had not made an inspection himselt, but was told that no silting had taken place Dr McNab, in reply, said that Lis Department was really concerned only in the navigation question. The question ot injury to reclaimed lands was the province of his cillsague the Minister tor Lands, the Kt Hon W F Msssty. If the deputation would make to Mr Mas gey the 3amc statements that they had made to him he and his colleague wonll together look into the matter, and if any injury was resulting he had no doubt the Government would rectify it 'lo-day (Friday) the members of the Aka Aka Drainage Board are making a thorough inspection of the chute below the groynes at low water, with a view ot satisfying themselves 8a to the precise extent to which silting has taken piece. At the time of the Ministerial visit ! a high spring tidi had covered the j sandbanks. The party are being I accompanied by Mr K. Higginson, I member for the riding on the I Franklin County Council, and by Mr ! Wily