THE FLOODS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10628, 5 June 1897, Page 4

THE FLOODS.

Sib,— The main difficulty whloh the farmers have to contend with as a conocqaence of the floods is their icabillby to geo on to thoir land to repair damages. Xhoir lands are kept wet by the closing of the arterial drains and watercourses wbloh are or should be under the control of tbe County Council, Elver Boards, or Bomo similar organisation. Until theßß are oleared there can be do outfall for farm drains, and unless the lands aie dried rapidly the loss to farmers and to I tbe district will be doubled by the lobu of a season, I am told by farmers that it would be useless to attempt to open the main drains by hand labor, aa tbere Is too mnoh water in the deposit, and I believe the only way to deal promptly with each material would ba by tbe use of n Priestman dredge. With regard to the flood relict land I do not know how the subscribed money is being nsed but there could be no better application of it than giving assistance which would enable settlers to go to work and help themselves. I think that It would not bo out of place If the enbscrlbed money were nsed (after providing for the widows' fund and immediate charity relief) to assist in works calculated to promote tua saving of a season for settlers. I bellevo the best course vronld ba taken by making temporary loans on security of special rates to the councils and rating bodies to enable them to carry out works nnder proper organisation nail expert control so that such nrtOilal channels as the Waima orcek or Tonaary-road drain, &c , may be oleared by dredging.— l am, &a, Feed, Fulton. June 3rd, 1897.