THE WAIKATO RIVER.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 463, 4 April 1919, Page 3

THE WAIKATO RIVER.

Minister's Visit of Inspec* tion. ; The Hon. H. D. Guthrie, Minister for Lands, commenced his longpromised visit of inspection to the VVaikab River yesterday. The party; irhich left Mercer at 10 a.m., consisted of {fee Minister and his Secrecy, Mr Bhodes M I\, Mr 11. M. ijkeet iCotbiiiissianar of Crown Lands), Mr A, D. Th6mp son (Laud Drainage Engineer), Uessrs blifcs, Henry sad Gallery (members of the WaikatO River Board). Althcugh it bad been raining, thai weather c leared up nioeJy just afur the start At Kaitanguta the souther# channel was taken and after rounding the wrihipelsgo of island? In tha -loweti-feachfla the launch headed npstream via the Aka Aka channel, which h<*s been the cause of so much cunlfbyerny. A halt Wus made at drain for the purpoee of observing the extent to ' which silting had taken, place. The party then proceeded through the gap in the broken Kaitangata groyne and arrived back at Mereer aboutb p m At -8. p.iu. ilr Quthrie received deputations at&e Mercer Hotel. Mr Glass -tofced that, a grant of £SOO should be made.Available for repairing thn groynes St Kaitangata Be also asked that the < frown Lands in tl)0 Whangamarino district should be opened up. He further requested tiiat toe river bhould be- improved for navigation between Merctsr and Ohinewai.. He also solicited a. sub--B'antial gran*, for the Kiver Hoard, and sdrocated a Board of' Control for the whole iiver, and fur a commission of Engineers to report on the Waikato hirer. He also thought the Board ought to be allowed to self the timber of the willows, Mr Pair,* repreAn ting the Wai-

kato Biver League, made an appeal f for the improvement of navigation.

Mr opposed lb repSHng of the movcil < BSi&angita grqjrnes. He supphted fdf the improvement of navigation, but did not consider that tftndf£ lie the Aka Aka and Otaua districts, which* were dependent upon tidal influences ba .tbA .aame leopfrof jjfefj districts In reply Mr Guthrie said that hia control oDly extended to the land bordering the river. He thought the river should he controlled bja competent authority. He would the Minister for Marine to do what le could to improve navigation. With Regard to controversial matters he must for the present suspend his judgment. A " ft To-day the are viewing the river above Mercer, and the Whangamarino and Waikare swamps. -j