The Ohinemuri River.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 43088, 4 May 1907, Page 3

The Ohinemuri River.

THINKS

THE SILTING QUESTION,

WHAT THE HON. J. McGOWAN

While in Auckland last week the lion. J. McGowan, Minister for Mines ;; rad Justice, told a newspaper reporter that one important subject he would be inquiring into was tl at of the silting up of

the Uhinemuri and iVaiiiou Eivers, and consequent damage to the land on the hanks, as a result of the m ning operations in the neighbourhood. This matter was brought under the notice of the Hon. E. McNab on bis recent visit through the district.

Asked what he had in view for the purpose of relieving the farmers, the Minister replied that he was having investigation made and reports submitted by the Public Works officials and inspectng engineer for mines, and further action would depend largely on what was re pjvted. “This is no new question,” he continued. “I have had representations iade to me time after time. No silting p is possible with the Ohinemuri Eiver,

s there is a sufficient grade and force

■f current to carry the material away. It is after the Oliinemuri joins the Waihou that the trouble commences. The Waihou has a level bed and is a deep, slow running stream, consequently the tailings brought down accumulate and cause the mischief complained of. But I secured a legislative enactment some time ago, by which' these concerned were placed 'll the position of helping themselves in this matter. They failed, however, lo take advantage of the opportunity given them to get an allocation of a portion of the geld duty through the Warden’s Court. They neglect.d. to assist themse’v s. and nnv come back to the Govern Lin ni for v lief. It appears to me that having got so much assistance from the Government in the past, they rely upon setti-i- further • id in every and any appeal made 'Jhitis the troub’e.” The Minister added that he would go fully into the question. As the river had b- e;i gi..:e tid a sludge charnel the Waihi Col Turning Company was quite within ics lights in turning tailings into it; but another source of trouble was the solid material carried into the channel from the increased number of drains resultant from the progress of settlement. The Minister’s impression was, however, that the quantity of material emptied into the river was not as large now as was the case some years ago, a factor bemg the cr ishing of the ore so finely that it is carried out to sea before it can settle. Regarding damage by cyanide, he mentioned that the small percentage which did find its way to the water wouid not be sufficient to cause any appreciable mischief.