HAURAKI PLAINS

Evening Star, Issue 18714, 16 August 1924, Page 5

HAURAKI PLAINS

WINTER FLOODING. [Peb United Press Association.} WELLINGTON, August 14. A deputation representing the settlers and local authorities or the Hauraki South Plains district waited on tlio Minister of Lands to-day with reference to the serious flooding of a largo area during tho winter. _ The deputation asked that the capacity of the main outlets, such as tho Piako River, ho increased so as to deal with tho enhanced flow of water. In order to keep tho water below the ground level tho suggestion was that the river should ho widened on the eastern side. Mr Campbell, drainage engineer, said that certain works already in hand were intended to easo the bends of the river and to facilitate the flow of water. Tho strengthening of the stop banks was being undertaken right from the nouth. Six contracts had been let. Mr Miller, chairman of tho Hauraki Plains County Council, said tho county could not pay for the work. Mr Campbell: It is part of our scheme. Mr Miller asked for better roads for tho settlors. Without metalled roads, he said, the country was quite unfit for settlement. The Minister said his department was cot of tho opinion that the responsibility for metalling roads lay on the department. At least a proportion of the metalling should bo done by the county itself. The loading of tho land was for tho construction of roads, noo for metalling. Mr M'Leod added that tho officers of tho department had supplied a report on the floods. He would to into utile questions raised by the eputation.