SILT AND FLOODS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 895, 15 August 1910, Page 10

SILT AND FLOODS.

,THB OHIKBMUEI COMMISSION,

; Tho .report, of,the Commission set,up. to inquire into thesiltihg of the'Ohinemuri and Waihpu ilivers and the consequent 'flooding- and deterioration of agricultural land adjoining the rivers has been presented to Parliament. The main recommendations of tho commissioners are as: lollow:— .

..That a survey be promptly made of the lands-affected'by recent.flooding; that, as the results of such'survey, a'stipendiary magistrate be authorised to fix. ' tne amounts of compassionate allowances to be awarded for total or partial loss of land, and of stock and_ income therefrom; '~' ..'

That the 1895 proclamation \ declaring the rivers sludge channels be revoked six; months hence; that a new proclamation should,tie issued.permitting slimes to 1)0 placed in the Ohinemuri River, and, from existing mines only, in the Waihou River and Komata Creek;, that'no mining debris be placed in the Ohinemuri River, ex-, cept under special permit, ifrom, the mines: at Karangahake; that fine grinding to 6limes enforced in all cases, and that, fine grinding bo defined as 95 per cent, of tho crushing to pass through a,standard' SO-ihesh screen. ' ' : ""'

That the Public Works Department be employed' to make stop-banks, with flood-' gates, etc., along each river bank where' required, on lands to be taken without compensation; that the Public Works Do-; partment, obtain plant for and carry, out; the dredging/iriUnqirivers removal of the; willows, the making "of the river diver-'-sion in the Waihou at Ngararahi-i Opukekc-To Koutou; and, so soon as it.can. be legally., done. ,in„tho.. Ohinemuri' fro'm\Perehiki's l ''Bend i to'"*'lho" *'Jurietibri;that a new. wharf be constructed on the site "of the'present "To Puke-Netkerton ferry. -' ~,.,/ , •V That.anyylands affectedly the proposed works-should"either.-be purchased'or be made subject'to European conditions, and that any rating'for'fiver purposes bo enforceable against Native .lands...

'■: t That.a!newfßiyeiV;Board be-constituted, •having 'special'''representation and jurist diction over the, whole watershed area, except'within'the Thames Harbour Board limit.- ■■ ■'■■;'■-..;■'.-■ ■

■ That the funds required—say, £130,000 -to ■ be s 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 a' tonnage rate on the discharge of mining debris and residues into the rivers, from a . contribution from the Consolidated 'Fund,' from rating powers over 'the-River Board and drainage, district, including Native, but excluding iCrown lauds, and from! sundry tolls,, etc.- -~ •

■ That an equitable, distribution ,of the gold'duty be made between- the Waihi (Borough and the Ohinemuri County. the Commissioners have not been enabled to make estimates in great de-. tail, they have, satisfied themselves that the works they,recommend,.including payment of tho compassionate allowances for damage by floods, and'including the plant necessary-j-to .execute the-works; can be carried'out'probably for. £130,000. But, -in'.order'that there may-be .sufficient fuhdsi "they recommend, that provision should' bo made for a Government loan to the.new board of the sum of £15C,000, .'which'it!is presumed can be provided at a -rate ai ii percent., to cover interest and the, extinction of the loan, or an annual icharge during the existence .of the.-, loan ol .£'675(1. lor annual upkeep of the worksafter, completion, for dredging where and wben it is required, with office, en--gineering, and management expenses, including cost of collection of rates, and of elections, tho Commission think a liberal allowanco'would be £3250; or a total annual expenditure: to be provided of £10,000,- .- - ■

In the proportions recommended by the Commission the gold duty would bear one-half, or a maximum of £5000; the' mining interests would bear one-sixth, or a.maximum of .£1667;. the"■ Consolidated Fund .would bear one-sixth,'or a maximum of £1667; rates new district would bear one-sixth, or a maximum of £1667. Upon "the present output of about 550,000 tons of ore treated per annum, the proposed charge amounts to less than ?d. per ton—a tax which cannot affect the Working of any low-grade ore, and ' an amount 'which it is believed tho mining industry can well afford towards a solution of the difficulty.