THE DRAINAGE OF LAKE ELLESMERE.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13098, 24 April 1908, Page 8

THE DRAINAGE OF LAKE ELLESMERE.

TO THE EDITOR OF "THE PRESS."'

<s* V) —Will you kindly grant me space to express my indignation at- the action of the i/ako idles mere Dra.i-nage licard in p-roposkwr to levy a special rate, on the Lake Elles-inere settlers- as security fcr o loan of £10,000, which "they propose borrowing under the Loans" tj Local Bodies Act at 4i per cent, for twenty-six yeans, also at their action in spending money on plain; tor a culvert when they have already af.o-.ved Mr Pu.iuiott, at his own risk, on the principle cf "no cure, no pay,"' to start drainage works. lVr-onadly, 1 havo no faith i-n dana icing" by culvert; I prefer a protected open waterway; if that cannot be fi.ua.nced, than "I hold the opinion that a dredge is the nest best method for get-ting the kike let out speedily. But if _•_• "i> to 'do done bv culvert, no engineer will design aniv-thing superior to what Mr Pannett is already engaged upo::-. I have lately had a talk with Mr Pamnett, and am thoroughly satis-ned that the pri-ncri-pl-3 on which he is working is a.'l right, and I would have implicit faith in it if it were built sufficiicntly strong and placed wh-.ro tbo lake h usually let cut—that is the shortest cut through the shingle b_Mi.lv. But 'nithongh Mr'Pninn-e-tt feels confident lie will succeed in his takinc;, I think he will havo n job tt> get a scour at tlve place where he is working, as it bias rover been opened since ita natural formation; it is considerably wider than where the lako ii>*lct out, and will lie found to be mii'd concrete in consistency. Any of tho men that have been in the" habit of working at letting out Lake Forsyth well knew the.t a.t any time when it has not been let out for a season, as sometimes happens, it is always hard to got a ecour the next time! as. it seems to cement tcgethcr bv tho sediment in the water.

"There is nothing gct& on my nerves like EUesmere rates. lam always williag to pay all just assessments, but t feel" very core at having to pay drainage rates for Lake Ellesmere>, with nothing occomplishcd in tho -hapo of drainage, and a law on tho statute-book which has provided a fund up to date of at leo-st £30,000, which has bectn appropriated by the Government for g-enerrel purpcfi?.?. I call it- disgraceful shilly-shallying for nnv Government to eo humiliate the Lake. EUesmere Da-ainngo Boar<l that thoy are willing to accept a niiserab'e composition for"a violated rrneV Wiha-t would be the good of the £10.000 loin if it would not provide, what by covenant with tho Government, we are entitled to,. a complete drainago scheme. I .ben to suggest to the Lake Ellrpmero settlors that wo hold a meeting as eoon. as possible to discuss these nropositaons:— 1. That out of Lako EMesmere drainage fund of £30,000, more or less, at present hdd by tho Govern*ment pay off all liabilities, on. the present culvert. It was sanctioned by the as a practical means cf drainiing, but ewovod usolesß, and it is aito?et'h-Tr unjust to ask the settlors to pay fbr it.

(2) 'That we are willing to forego all further claims on the Lako Ellesntero draiiiago fund if the Government will cran-t to tho Lake E3lesn.»ro Drainage Eos>rd third? of rents in lieu thereof.

The overdraft- on tho present culvert iff semewiheire iico.r £3000. .which- would leave' tin? Ccverntncnt in, undisputed pos.nec.ii.cn of £27.000, the Lake EHosmore rents are £1600 per annum, thirds for it.he Drainage Board £533 fe 8d per annum, and the Government would receive in , perpetuity £1006 13ra 4d per annum for land that cost them nothing hut the ccst of surve.y, and which, prior to settlement, was let at verv' little, more than pcr.-pen.crn rent. If the Lake Eiles-mcirc e-sittle.ns do not f.i>e.edily take acition thoy will be d-oithily (.wainped with water and debt.—Yours, etc.. F. GREAD. Ataahua.