QUICK ACTION NEEDED

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 89, 11 October 1941, Page 11

QUICK ACTION NEEDED

EROSION AT OTAKI

FARM LANDS IN JEOPARDY

(0.C.)

LEVIN, This Day,

The vagaries of the Otaki River have always been a problem, but the position grows more serious as year follows year. The settlers and the Public Works Department have made minor efforts to control it in days gone by, but the time has arrived when tinkering should cease and more effective measures be undertaken.

The matter was before the Horowhenua County Council yesterday. Councillor Colquhoun, who presided in the absence through illness of the chairman, Mr. G. A. Monk, said that no one knew when the Rivers Control Act was to function. No provision had | been made in the Act for finance, and it was very evident that with the heavy rain storms experienced this winter^ and the consequent floods, there would be few if any farms on the river bank to conserve. Only this week the riverhad broken through in a new place and the farms of Messrs. Elliott and Ryder had become almost derelict. Mr. Elliott had had to remove from his house, as water 10ft deep was swirling near it. If the river broke through to its old' course the Municipal Milk Factory and a large portion of the Otaki Borough would, suffer severely. The County Council as a council had no power to deal with the erosions, greatly as/they affected the ratepayers adjacent to the river. One preventative job which might have been done for £300 a month ago would now cost at least £1000. The Public Works Department engineers had the matter in hand, but the horse would be stolen long before the stable door could be 'locked.

After discussion the council resolved that the works committee, with the county engineer, take up the matter with the Public Works Department immediately.