LAKE ELLESMERE AND THE DRAINAGE BOARD.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19376, 31 July 1928, Page 8

LAKE ELLESMERE AND THE DRAINAGE BOARD.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE PRESS. Sir, —The remarks attributed to Mr Yarr at tho last meeting of tho Springs County Council concerning the Ellesmere Lands Drainage Board, and the drainage of the lake, being in substance contrary to fact, suggests that tho speaker was labouring under a misapprehension; his statement thus becomes misleading to those interested, and calls for some comment. First, his statement that the Drainage Board are not doing all that could be done concerning the keeping of the lake waters at a low level, 1 would like to know how he arrived at that conclusion, for he is certainly at sea. One would expect a member of ' a local body to at least acquaint himsolf with the facts before condemning another such body. The Board are in reality alive to the situation, and are anxious, at tho earliest possible moment to investigate any scheme put forward that has a prospect of keeping the lake at a low level at a reasonable cost. Mr Yarr stated that it can bis done at a fraction of what it costs to do the work with scoops. I wonder just how he arrived at that conclusion, seeing that the Board havo not yet had any report from Mr Stewart as to how he proposes to do the work or as to its cost. I do not'wish to discuss Mr Stewart'B scheme at the moment, as the Board are negotiating with him for a report with plans and an estimate, which we expect to receive at a very early date. Mr Yarr states that he lias seen hills brought down by the use 'of water power. With that-1 agree with him, but he evidently forgets that they were inland and would stop down when levelled; not so with the shingle spit between the lake and the sea. There, we have the mercies of the Pacific ocean to deal with, and as soon as the bar is shifted, the ocean commences to put it back again, and when on the job it does not take long, and in so doing will test the endurance and strength of any structure placed in its road. I would like to point out that about £12.000 has already been spent on the culvert scheme (Mr Yarr being at that time a strong advocate for its sucoess), and to-day it is useless; so surely the Board in the interests of the ratepayers, must thoroughly investigate any future scheme, and be assured of some measure of success, befpre sinking a further large sum to be washed away by the sea. In conclusion, I wish to inform the settlers around the lake that the of the Board are fully alive to the importance of keeping the lake down to the lowest possible level, and are doing their utmost to find a suitable scheme. When that is available, it will be made known to the settlers concerned. There is just one other point that must not be lost sight of, and that is, that the lands around the lake between high and low water mark are mostly of the poorer quality and of low valuation. Hence the rates collected at the highest allowed under the Drainage Act would not amount to a very great sum, so that any scheme adopted must bo within a reasonable sum and acceptable to those receiving the benefits.—Yours, etc.. F. MILLER, Member, Ellesmere Lands Drainage Board. Motukarara, July 28th.