MANAWATU RIVER COMMISSION,

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 305, 18 September 1908, Page 6

MANAWATU RIVER COMMISSION,

EVIDENCE BY MR, JICKELL. (flr TEI.EGKArn.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Palmerston North, September 17. The River Commission continued its sittings yesterday, and evidence was taken at considerable length. Samuel Jiekell, borough. engineer, stated he had four and a half years' experience of the river protection works here. During tho last twenty .years the borough had spent some £12,000' in this work. Willow planting had been carried on in places with considerable success. There were places, however, where willows could not be planted with success. In his opinion works should be constructed above the borough boundary for the protection of the banks from erosion. 1 It was necessary to start from tho mouth of the river and work up to the Gorge. Another large flood would probably cut'through Mr. Flyger's property and do considerable damage to the borough lands. He held that a river board should be established apart from the drainage question altogether. The carrying away of tho Cliff Road had nothing to do with the erosion at tho Esplanade. If the velocity of the current were increased the erosion would be greater. The river board should control',the river from' its mouth to the Gorge. The rating should be on the betterment principle, and on an acreage basis. The Oroua River did a little,damage to Palmerston by backing up the Manawatu. All tho streams contributed to the damago in a greater or lesser degree. We got no floods here from local water; they came through tho Gorge. He looked upon the proposed scheme as a national undertaking. A subsidy should bo given by tho Government, Where the banks of tho river were high and tlje erosion took place underneath the bush on top was of little protection. He thought the whole of the drainage boards should be amalgamated. Tho drainage boards and the river board should bo kept separate, as the ono existed to drain the lands and the other to protect tho river bank. It was quite possible that the Oroua River near Mr. Hocking's place would cut into the Mangaone Stream and adopt a new course. Tho "Toyncs above and below the Fitzberbert Bridgo "had done a great deal of good, and ho felt confident that after another flood or two tho channel of the river would work away from the Esplanade. Tho proper thing to do was to protect before the damage was done, and not afterwards. It, would be better to have ono board for tho Manawatu and Pohangina Rivers up to their sources, aud another board for tho Oroua and its tributaries. The river board should be constituted in a similar manner to the harbour boards. The members should be in proportion to tho rateable value of each district. Ho would rate all lands affected. The peoplo through the O. ;o should contribute in some , manner to . ,'s the proposed board. Those ir"' ,looted should bo rated as first-class lands.