WAIKATO NAVIGATION.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 564, 7 September 1920, Page 1

WAIKATO NAVIGATION.

Sir,—You have had various interesting articles in your paper lately, and none more so than your reports of Mr. McCutehan's address on the Waikato River, and the River Board's meeting. To my mind the improvement of the navigation, including a canal connecting the river with Manukau Harbour, is the most important public work to be undertaken in the North Island; yet the subject has received but scant attention, and needs stirring up.

With most of what Mr. McCutchan says I fully agree, though I doubt if it need be very costly to mako such improvements to the river as will suffice for some years, and lead to others.

About 18 months ago, in I came by steamer from Cambridge to Mercer especially to observe tne navigation. From Cambridge to Ngaruawahia there was ample depth, except at one rocky place, which has since been improved by blasting, I hear.

Below Ngaruawahia, where tho bed is of a different character, I noticed that wherever it was restricted to a certain width there was depth, regularity of channel, and a steady, not too rapid, current. Also, I noticed that willow branches caught or stuck in the sand on shallows grow, and 600n collect rubbish and sand, and form an island, which will withstand floods. Now, supplementary to Mr. McCutchan's remarks, 1 would suggest that the best and cheapest method of improving the river is to fix, from observation, the width that seems best to suit its volume; to limit the main channel to this width, guiding its current, not straight, but in wide natural sweeping curves, by a series of willow islands; leaving small openings between for relief in flood time; and at the concave parts of the curves where the current strikes the main banks put close protection of living willows or groins to prevent erosion. The curved channel alluded to would not only be easier to maintain as being what nature usually adopts, but would bring the navigable channel alternately to one side or the other, giving access for the landowners. The canal to the Manukau, I need only remind you, has been contemplated almost from the first settlement of Auckland; has been fitfully recalled to memory from time to time, kindly spoken of, and then forgotten again. I trust your able pen will keep the matter before the public and the authorities. Expenditure on the river will be of comparatively little value if the canal be not constructed and suitable for the river boats, as they could then bring their cargoes direct to Onehunga,-various points around the harbour, and eventually to Auckland, instead of having to transship into a quite different class of vessel for ocean work. The first step would seem to be the establishment of a "Waikato Ri\er Trust" with rating power, and full authority over the river, wher-! ever it can be made navigable, and including the canal; and also subsidiary trusts or boards to control the drainage of the districts requiring it. I do not doubt the importance of the drainage of those large and valuable areas, but the channel for navigation should be the supreme object, and what benefits it would certainly benefit. rather than hinder the drainage. It is not necessary to dilate upon the great area of farming and mineral land that would be served by water carriage if launches, barges and steamers were able to pass safely and regularly by inland waters from Onehunga to Cambridge, and far up the Waipa,

PERCY HOLT, "Te Puriri," Papakurn, 4th September, 1920,