FLOOD CONTROL

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11950, 22 May 1933, Page 5

FLOOD CONTROL

WATERS OF THE WAIPAOA

■ ’ • -*< * - ' v GOVERNMENT AID SOUGHT.,

RIVER*'BOARD'S DECISIONS.

discussion ; regarding control of Waipaoa River 'flood-waters occurred at a meeting of the Poverty Bay River Board last week, and io was eventually decided 11 to ask for Government assistance in ' clearing . the river-bed of impeding willows, thereby reducing the risk ol tlio flats being inundated. There were present- at the raecting j Messrs W. C. Pilmer (chairman), W*. Clark, C. Tietjeu, A. Judd and J. Turner. The chairman voiced the board’s appreciation of assistance received from the district members, Messrs. K. S. Williams and D. W. Coleman, and also referred to the sympathetic attention given to representations by .Aho Minister -for Public Works. Mr. f/ilmer paid a further tribute to the practical grasp of the hoard’s Problems shown by the P.AV.D. district engineer, Mr. O. G. Thornton. The first matter considered Was the scheme for diverting flood-waters through auxiliary' courses in the neighbourhood of Waerenga-a-hika, and at Mat'awTioro the approximate cost of this being estimated at £40,000. It wa s felt that in the present position regarding farmers’ finances, it was impossible to undertake this scheme for the meantime at least. It was pointed out that if the board struck a rate over its district, it would be unable to collect it from land-owners who are already in difficulties as the resuit, of rating burdens for other district undertakings; The alternative proposal, to clear th e Waipaoa. River bed ; of impeding willows, at a. cost- of between £3OOO and £4OOO, was also given consideration, the chairman mentioning that the board's share, of- tile' estimated cost of this work would he from £IOOO to £2OOO. It was felt, however, that the raising of this sum would be as impossible as the Heating of a loan for the major scheme, V alid the hoard reluctantly decided that the Only course open to it was to ask the Government to undertake tile work as one of sufficient importance to justify the expenditure from the consolidated fund, No alteriiative to this course presented itself, even after prolonged discussion of the problem from different angles. A further decision reached at the meeting was that the hoard will enforce strictly, in future, the obligai tions on property-owners, and occupiers on the banks of the ‘Waipaoa River in respect of limitation oc-tree-planting, and the depositing of rubhisli..' It was mentioned that one of the causes of recent trouble with tlio river was the gradual narrowing of tlio course, through reclamation of land from the natural bed of the river partly by .these means. Indiscriminate planting of trees and ’ c ~ elamation by other means would be prevented - for the"; future; it was announced, the ' chairman expressing the .views’ of the meeting in • the remark that if the board could not undertake* any considerable expense in ameliorating works, it could ensuro that no new obstacle would be offered- to' the speedy discharge. - of flood- wafers. .... .