FLOODING OF WAIKATO RIVER

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 135, 4 March 1929, Page 15

FLOODING OF WAIKATO RIVER

DAMAGE TO FARM LANDS By Telegraph.—Press Association. Hamilton, March 2. A conference • has been called to assemble at Hamilton on Tuesday to consider the silting of the Waikato River and the consequent frequent floodings of Ic—-teing areas. The trouble becomes worse every [years. Captain C. Roose, head of the Roose Shipping Company, which has several Vessels navigating the Waikato, told a “Waikato Times” reporter that the authorities were throwing money away. Spending thousands of pounds in raising tbe road at Mercer above flood level. The floods woijd rise still higher Unless the silting was prevented. The railway also yvould have to be raised. Many thousands of acres Of farm land have been ruined by long periods Of flooding. Mr. Roose advocates dredging the lower redtJips of the river, also the building ot groins to assist semiring by the Current. He said that the silting had greatly increased since the Arapuni hydro-electric dam was built and the river diverted.