RIVER SILTING COMMISSION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 107, 13 August 1910, Page 2

RIVER SILTING COMMISSION.

IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS. (MINING COMPANIES RESTRAINED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Thursday. The report of the Commission on'the ! silting up of the Ohinemuri and Waihou i rivers was laid on the table of the { House of Representatives this afternoon.' It recommends:— (1.) That the survey be promptly made of lands affected /by the recent flooding and as a result of such silting a Magistrate be authorised to fix amounts of compassionate ai'owances to be awarded for partial or total loss of land, stock and income. (2) That the 1805 proclamation be revoiced six months hence, and that a new proclamation be issued permitting slimes to be placed in the Ohinemuri river and from the existing mines only in the Waihou river and Komata creek; that no mining debris be placed in the Ohinemuri river, except under special permit, from the mines at Karangahake; that fine grinding of slimes be enforced in all cases, and that fine grinding be defined'as 95 per cent, of crushing to pass through a standard of 80 mesh screen; that the legal position should be determined, and, if possible, that the gold contained therein should be made available for the payments for the proposed works that the- Public Works Department will be employed on, to ma"ke. stopbanks, with floodgates, etc., along each river bank where required on lands to be taken without compensation; that the Public Works Department obtain the plant for and carry out dredging in rivers, for the removal of willows, making of river diversion in the Waihou at Ngararabi, Opukeko and Tekoutou, and so soon as it can be legally done, in the Ohinemuri river from IPereniki's bend to the junction; that a new wharf be constructed on the site of the present Te Puke-Netherton ferry. (5) That a survey be made and steps taken to divide the watershed in ae-. cordance with the information thus obtained.

(6) That any lands affected by the proposed works should either be purchased or be made subject to European conditions, and that any rating for river' purposes be enforcable against native land. (7) That the existing Ohinemuri River Board be abolished; that a new board be constituted, having special representation and jurisdiction over the whole watershed area, except \jithin the Thames Harbor Board limit, to collect funds to pay interest on the cost of construction of the works proposed, and on their completion, to undertake the duty of upkeep and extension; that the Board be given in addition to the usual river board powers special powers to deal with sludge channel interests and as a drainage board, and to deal with the influx of light sands from drains, with power to impose tolls on vessels using the navigation and goods using the wharves, except within the Thames Harbor Board limit. (8) That funds required (say £130.000 to £150,000) be advanced by the State to the River Board, and that the revenue of the Board to provide interest on and to repay same and to carry out its functions, be derived from gold duty, from the tonnage rate on discharge of mining debris and residues into rivers, from contributions from the consolidated fund, from rating powers over the River Board: and the drainage district (including native ihut excluding Crown lands), and from sundry tolls, etc. (9) That an equitable distribution of gold duty ibe made between the Waihi borough and the Ohinemuri county, and that the cost of upkeep of more of the main road be thrown upon the borough. (10) That the fishing industry nas suffered no substantial harm entitling it to special consideration. (11) That it is important that works > of re-afforesting hill lands be under-] taken.

(12) That the Commissioners advise that in so far as their recommendations cannot now be legally carried into effect, there should be special legislation. The report has been unanimously adopted. (Referring to the financial aspect of the question the Commissioners state that while they have not been enabled to make estimates in great detail, they have satisfied themselves that the works they recommend, including payment of compassionate allowances for damages by floods, and including the plant necessary to execute works, can be carried out probably for £IBO,OOO, but in order that there may be sufficient funds.they recommend that provision should be made for a Government loan to the new board of the sum of £150,000, which it is presumed can be provided at the rate of 4y s per cent, to cover interest and the extinction of the loan, or an annual charge during the existence of the loan of £6750, for the annual upkeep of works after completion, for dredging where and when it is required, with office, engineering and management expenses, including cost of collection of rates and elections.

The Commission think a liberal allowance would ibe £3250, or a total annual expenditure to be provided of £IO,OOO in proportion. 'lt is recommended by the Commission that the gold duty would bear one-half or a maximum of £SOOO. Mining interests -would bear one-sixth or a maximum of £1667. The consolidated fund would bear one-sixth or a maximum of £1*167. The rates from the new district would bear one-sixth or a maximum of £1667; total £IO,OOO.