Waikato River Works.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 215, 6 October 1916, Page 2

Waikato River Works.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Your cjrrespondent, Mr Henry E. R. L. Wily, when dealing with the above subject, writes in a very sarcastic strain on a work he would like to see stopped, although it was considered of sufficient importance to warrant the appointment of a Koyal Commission. His play with words re the deepening of the river at Metcer would not deceive a schoolhoy. It waß untortunate that Mr Glaes did not quote Mr Kennedy's report correctly. Mr Wily is clever enrugb to s:ize on a small slip like that and to try to make capital out of it. What Mr Glass meant to report was that "Mr Kennedy estimates that when the section of work on which the Board is engaged is completed, it will have the effect of lowering the river level at Me'cer by at least 2ft 6in." In raply to Mr Wily'a report of what Mi James Slewait C.E., used to say re t*e drainage of the Whangamarino and Maramarua swamps by gravitation, perhaps Mr Wily haa rever heard of land, at one time under water at high tide, being effectually drained by gravitation and stop bulks. I have a dim reccllection of someone telling me this was the state of Otaua and Aka Asa swamps betore the Uovemm?nt assisted to drain them. At any rate, 1 have seen the water in drains feet above the gives paddocks and only kept from flooding the land by the stop banks, this when the tide was full at Otaua.

Of course it is presumption for owners of swamps higher up the river to think the same laws ot engineering can apply to their swamps. 1 am sure other ratepayers like myself are quite prepared to have the question for the Commission to settle, and are not going to take any ootice of the leport Mr Ashley Hunter, M.I.C. E. Some of us would like to know on whose representations he was engaged to report at all. —1 am, etc., J. DEAN. Pokeno, 4th August, 1916.