AKA AKA

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 340, 21 December 1917, Page 3

AKA AKA

DRAINAGE BOARD PREBENTATION At the conclusion of the meeting of the Aka Aka Drainage Board on Thursday of last week Mr G. Hull, chairman of the Board's River Committee, presented to Mr H. E. R. L Wily an open faced, keyless silver watch, and to Mr W, J King a gold watch chain, as a small token in recognition of services rendered in connection itith the action recently taken concerning the Waikato River Boaid's works. In making the presentation Mr Hull, on beh Jf of the ratepayers of the Otaua and Aka Aka drainage districts, thanked Messrs Wily and King most heartily for the services they had rendered the ratepayers during the long struggle with the Waikato River Board. Mr Wily, in replying, said he greatly appreciated the kindly recognition on the part of the Aka Aka and Otaua people of the little he had been able to do in furthering their interests during the long struggle they had had with the Waikato River Board, and he would always cherish their handsome present as a souvenir of what had b- en to him an extremely interesting, if somewhat strenuous fight. What was particularly gratifying to him was the belief that through the whole of it he had always enjoyed the full and ungrudging confidence of all of them. When he had had to act at any time without an opportunity of consulting the ratepayers he had always felt that he had their full might behind him, and the knowledge had considerably strengthened bis hands. With regard to the future of the Waikato, he felt that a great deal could be done to improve it for navigation, and at no very distant date no doubt some definite move would be made in that direction. The river had been for the lasfr five or six years in very bad hands, and the results had been most disastrous, not only for the Aka Aka butfor many other places. The time had ceitainly arrived when it should be entirely removed from the control of the Waikato River Board and placed in

the hands of a body likely to have a due regard lor all the interests involved, and not ride rough shod over those who are interested in navigation and the lauds reclaimed at the cost of so much money, time and labour. The first task of such a body would be the undoing of a Kreat deal of »he work of the Waikato River Board. He felt sorry for the ratepayers of the Biver district who had beeu put iuto a very uufortunate position owing to too blind a confidence in their advisers; but there was no use in crying over spilt miU, aud he hoped that all would now join hands in the endeavour to make what they could of the river. It was impossible at present to say what the constitution of the new controlling body would be. There was one thing, however, they must be upon their guard against. There would, no doubt, be an attempt made to Uy the v. bob ooitofrirer

improvement upon the laud. This they must be prepared to fight strenuously. The Waikato was a national and not merely a local highway, and the users of it must help to pay for its improvement as well a 9 the owners of land. In conclusion, he again thanked the ratepayers for the souvenir they had given him, and expressed a hope that now the big fight was at an end both sides would agree to sink their differences and combine to get the greatest possible amount of good out of the Waikato river. Mr King thanked the ratepayers for their kind gift. He had given his services without any expectations of remuneration, and he was pleased that the efforts of the ratepayers had been crowned with success in the removal of a menace to the low lying lands. He bad always taken an interest in the drainage scheme, and he bad been associated with the Board for about 21 years, and he would always endeavour to carry out his duties faithfully and well. He again thanked the ratepayers for their kind token of goodwill.