LAKE SHORE LANDS

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LX, Issue 17, 3 March 1939, Page 7

LAKE SHORE LANDS

SETTLERS' DIFFICULTIES IN WORKING

DRAINAGE FROM WIND-DRIVEN

WATER

OPENING OF OUTLET WANTED

Difficulties which were being experienced by property holders on the lake fiat in the Motukarara and Kaituna districts were related to members of the Ellesmere Lands Drainage Board at their meeting on Wednesday by three of the settlers who waited on the board on behalf of other farmers in the district, urging it to make an attempt to open the lake outlet. Mr H. A. Nutt said that the level of the lake, lft. 4in. or lft. 4Jin. was really a dangerous one and one where the nbr'-west and sou*-west gales caused considerable damage. As a case in point he referred to the damage done to the culvert over the new cut at Motukarara where the wind drove the water from the lake along the channel until it rose above the pipes in the culvert, doing considerable damage. If it were at all possible to let the lake out, the sooner it was done the better. In certain areas the crops were not harvested; some had been damaged and others completely ruined by the action of wind-driven water. Mr Nutt asked if the tractors and plant were ready for work at a day's notice. Replying, the chairman of the board, Mr H. J. Macartney, said that the lake had never been let out at; lft. 4in. The attitude the members of the board took was that if they thought that it could be let out at that level, the attempt would be made. The cut had been on one occasion opened at lft. lin. but then there had been practically no bank and the channel had just been closed after previous attempts at opening. Mr F. Coop supported the request of the deputation. There was a shortage of feed on the hills and the farmers were not able to use the lake flats for grazing. The water seemed to be strongly impregnated with salt at the present time and was killing vegetation over which it had flowed. For the first time he had found that stock would not drink the water. The settlers were placed in a very difficult position and he urged that the board | should make the attempt to give relief. The board had previously decided that it was not desirable to make the attempt with less than twc feet on the guage, but it would be a great advantage if the outlet could be successfully opened now. The settlers had suffered much during the last three seasons through not being able to take full advantage of their lake flat lands, while in addition the board's rates had been increased. The chairman, in reply to Mr J. O. Coop, said that the cost of opening the outlet was about £300. Mr J. O. Coop said that the little lake had been let out three times this season, and the farmers could not afford to neglect this. Mr F. Miller replied that there was a great deal of difference in the cost of letting out the two lakes. Settlers Offer to Help Mr J. O. Coop said that some of the • settlers were prepared to find men to assist in cutting the outlet, oi to undertake the work with the plant under the board's supervision. The chairman: We can't do that. Mr Coop: We did it in the old day* with teams. Mr Miller: Then a lot of men with horses and scoops could do the work with tractors it is a different matter matter. Mr J. O. Coop again urged thai some attempt should be made am said that the settlers were preparec to help. Mr F. Coop considered that mci who were accustomed to handling tractors could learn in a short timi how to use the scoops. Mr C. E. Gray said that he ha< 1000 acres on the flat and thre< parts were under water. He had t: pay rates and got nothing out of th' property. I The chairman replied that th board recognised the difficulties o the settlers, but it could not do th

impossible. !Mr J. O. Coop: Let us do it. Mr Miller: It is doubtful whether the lake can be let out now. Mr J. O. Coop: We could do it; we could do it at any time with favourable weather. Mr R. McLachlan: If the board found its usual team would the settlers be prepared to pay for them. Mr Coop: We have not considered that aspect of the question. The chairman: If the board thinks that the lake can be let out it will do so without asking the assistance of the settlers. He assured the deputation that it would do its best, but if it decided to make the attempt and it failed and it cost £300, he hoped that the settlers would not complain when asked to make the amount up out of rates. Mr J. O. Coop: The amount is nothing compared to that which the settlers are losing. Cost Limited to £200 After the deputation had retired, Mr Coop moved that an attempt should be made to open the outlet. He said that he was disappointed that the tractors were not ready. If the lake could be let go at the present level it would be a great benefit to the settlers.' The chairman explained that there were difficulties in the way of securing sufficient labour on account of the harvest. Mr John Sharp was agreeable to giving it a go. Mr Miller seconded the motion, saying that he realised fully the conditions which the settlers were facing. The chairman said that he was quite willing, but considered that some limit should be put on the cost. It would not do to keep the work going when there was little chance of success. Mr Miller: Make one opening. It was decided to spend up to £200 J in attempting to open the cut;. It was also suggested that if the settlers wished to go further they should be prepared to assist with the cost. The lake committee was authorised to! i make the necessary arrangements, f Mr Downey: I hope you get it j through, but the chances are 100 to one against it. 1 Mr Coop suggested that it might be 3 possible to keep the tractors at the 3 channel for a time after the water * started running, for which a little excavation work it might be possible t to keep the channel open longer than f usual. 2 Mr Miller said that the scour

would maintain the channel. It would be impossible to take one of the tractors across the channel after the water started flowing.

Mr Coop replied that the tractors could be covered and that they would not be there very long.

The board decided that the plant, after its work at the outlet had been completed, should be overhauled and made ready for the next opening so as to avoid delay at opportune times. This was to be regarded as standing instruction for so long as the tractor plant was required to cut the outlet.

A plague of black caterpillars is causing havoc to crops throughout the highlands of Kenya, and all native maize over a large area near Nairobi has been destroyed.