CORRESPONDENCE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 221, 5 September 1929, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE

It must be distinctly understood that we are not to bo identified with the opinions expressed by correspondents in our columns. H.B. RIVERS CONTROL. (To the Editor.) Sir,—One cannot but help feeling a good deal concerned at the attitude now being adopted by the H.B. Rivers Board in their apparent hurry to press on with the Hay scheme. When it is so apparent to the most sane-minded that the Investigating Committee’s scheme is undoubtedly the best, as it will effectively divert both rivers above the points where the real menace occurs—namely Raupare and Meeanee —by taking these rivers the shortest and straightest route to the sea. Mr. Jarvis says: “The opposition to the Hay scheme is gradually weakening!’ This is all tommy rot, as I have spoken to dozens of settlers and they are all of the same firm opinion—that the total diversion is the only scheme that will give a complete safety and immunity from flood. Mr. Hay is reported to have said: “It has never been known for a main stream and a tributary to bo in flood both at the same time” (see report “H.B. Tribune” September 3.) Now one could hardly believe this statement to come from an engineer, and if it is true it seems to me that this gentleman knows very little about rivers, as I have seen the Karamu stream (the old Ngaruroro) flowing towards the main stream when two feet above the rails of the Karamu bridge and still rising and it has soon to take the full unobstructed drainage of Te Aute Lake. So that both he and the chairman, if they go on repeating these things (without opposition) will soon go on believing them to be true themselves. When we hear what Mr W. Nelson, Mr. J. E. Lane and many other old settlers (who have had a lifetime experience of these rivers) tell us, and who, by the way, are all in full accord with the Investigating Committee’s scheme, we cannot help but feel what a nightmare the board ape trying to “put over." We are all anxious to get something done quickly, but that something must be the right thing even if we have to wait until a new board is elected and then we will see that the only safe scheme will then come into its own.—l am. etc., W. E. HYSLOP. Hastings, 4/9/29. RIVERS CONTROL. (To the Editor.) •Sir,—lt is time the people of Hastings woke up and took an interest in the doings of the Hawke's Bay Rivers Board, and the management of its affairs, which vitally affect the well-being and prosperity of our town. The chairman of the Rivers Board is going about boosting his scheme and getting the support of local bodies in Napier and the surrounding district while we in Hastings are looking on and doing nothing. Napier has nothing to lose and everything to gain by supporting the board's scheme, as it gets over the menace of the Tutaekuri river to their district. Hastings and the district to the south of the Ngaruroro will still be in grave danger from the waters of this river, as Mr. Hay’s scheme will not guarantee any relief in time of flood. Hastings is dependent for its progress upon the prosperity of the surrounding district, and practically all the small farmers who occupy the rich farming lands to the south of the Ngaruroro, are opposed to the scheme, for they know from practical experience with floods that Mr Hay’s scheme will not rid them of the evils of this river. Some scheme, such as advanced by the opposing party, of tackling the river higher up and shortening the course to the sea is the only way to ensure the safety of Hastings and the surrounding district. Gentlemen who have made a lifelong study of the rivers of Hawke's Bay, and who nave had a vast amount of experience with floods in this district, are strongly opposed to the Hay scheme as being quite inadequate to deal with a flood of large dimensions. Mr. Jarvis speaks of Mr. Hay’s scheme as one chat will make the district immune from floods such as of 1397. My own opinion and. I think, that of every man who had personal experience with the 1897 flood is that Mr. Jarvis must have a very poor idea of the vast quantities of water which covered the Heretaunga plains during that flood 1 believe the Hay scheme will cause widespread ruin should we get a repetition of the 1897 deluge. We want relief from the flood menace, and that urgently, but wo do not want to spend £250,000 on a practically worthless scheme. The chairman of the Rivers Board is to be congratulated on the energy lie is displaying in board matters, and it is a pity he has got behind the wrong scheme, which engineers - have condemned, but it docs not require an engineer to see the poor results we would receive from the Hay scheme as against the immense good which would result if the “E” scheme, as recommended bv the opposing party, were to be adopted. —1 am, etc., H. G. HARVEY. Hastings, 5/9/29.