WAIKATO RIVER COMMISSION.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 313, 25 September 1917, Page 1

WAIKATO RIVER COMMISSION.

The Enquiry Opened. The Commission appointed by the Government to enquire into the alleged injury to the drainage of the Aka Aka lands and of the navigation of the Aka Aka channel opened its sittings at the Courthouse, Waiuku, on Saturday last. Mr F. W. Furkert, inspecting engineer to the Public Works Department, is chairman of the commission, the other members being Messrs C. R. Vickerman, formerly Public Works district engineer in Auckland, and W. C. Kensington, I 5.0., ex-Under Secretary for Lands. Mr H. E. R. L Wily represented the petitioners, and Mr A 0. C. Glass (chairman of the Waikato River Board) represented the respondents. The proceedings on Saturday were J chiefly of a formal nature, neither side being ready, owing to the shortness of the notice, to proceed that day. After some discussion, and to shorten the proceedings it was agreed that neither side should employ counsel and it was arranged to proceed with the taking of evidence this (Tuesday) morning at 10 a.m. It is expected that the sittings at Waiuku will be concluded to-morrow (Wednesday) evening, after which the Commission will proceed to Auckland to examine some further witnesses.

The scope of the Commision is to decide the following questions, viz : 1. Whether the groynes constructed by the Waikato River Board are necessary either for protection of the banks of the Waikato river or to

improve the river for purposes of navigation, or discharge of flood water effectively. 2. Whether the said groynes cause the Waikato river to silt up at the outlets of the said dtains in such a manner as to prevent the free egress of water carried by the said drains.

3. Whether the channel now groyned will have an adverse effect on navigation to mouth of Aka Aka stream or will prejudice the construction of Waikato-Manukau Canal.

4. Whether, if the said groynes have so caused the silting up of the Waikato River as to prevent the free egress of water from the said drains, any substantial damage to the lands drained by the said drains has already been or is likely to be caused thereby. 5. Whether, in the event of substantial damage having already been caused as aforesaid or in the event of any such damage being likely to be caused by the existence of the said groynes, it will be possible in any way to remedy or prevent such damage at a reasonable cost without removing the said groyn9s, and if so by what means could this bo done. ,

6. Whether in the event of it not being possible to remedy or prevent such damage without removing the said groynes, the removal of the said groynes would cause more material damage both to lands bordering the river and to navigation than the silting up of the Waikato at the outlets of the said drains.

7. Whether legislation is necessary or desirable to enlarge or restrict the powers of either or both the Waikato Kiver Board and the Aka Aka Drainage Board in order to cope with any difficulties that have arisen through the separate existence and separate operations of those local bodies.

After the sitting on Saturday morning the Commission proceeded to make an examination of the drainage system of the Aka Aka Plains, and the following day, accompanied by several of those interested on both sides, made an examination of the lower reaches of the river, and of the groynes constructed by the Biver Board.