MENACE DEFINITELY REMOVED

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 145, 4 June 1936, Page 11

MENACE DEFINITELY REMOVED

Floods of the Past Just a Memory

SETTLERS’ PERILS AND HARDSHIPS

The diversion of the Tutaekuri river, which is now almost completed with the turning of the normal flow from the Waitangi through

the Washout yesterday, definitely removes the danger of flood menace

from a wide district.

This work has not been achieved without leaving behind a lengthy trail of damage and destruction causing considerable losses to settlers and local bodies over a long period of years. Since its inception in 1910 the Hawke’s Bay Rivers Board has investigated every feasible method lor securing the district against Hood dangers. With each scheme that has been reported upon the settlers have looked for some means of relief being afforded them. The lack of unanimity on tho part of members of tho board, however, resulted in little being done to achieve this purpose. With tho rapid deterioration in tho efficiency of the river channel iroin Powdrell’s bend, the effects of flooding at both Meeanee and Papakura grew worse. Losses follow ing each flood became more heavy, placing many settlers in a sorry plight With the various engineers engaged iu reporting on the best means of controlling the Tutaekuri river, all recommending its total diversion at Powdrell’s bend, the settlers expressed a determination that such a scheme should be given effect to. The diversion in the opinion of the members oi the board as So the wisdom of the engineers’ recommendation, postponed any hope of such a scheme being iin mediately carried out. Although pressed by the members advocating its befog put in hand, the scheme was subject to a constant stonewall. Growing restive of the lack of progress towards making the district safe from flooding the settlers held a series of public meetings, at which they gave expression to some definite opinions with a view to forcing the board into action.

The flood in April, 1932, eclipsed the damage caused by previous floodings. At Aleeanee, the river broke through the bank just below the bridge, and tire waters escaping through the breach formed a vast lake ovei 1590 acres in extent which took over three mouths to

drain off. At Papakura the river established a new course tor itself across the district, converting the road into a channel lor about five weeks until it was closed off again. During this period the alarming earthquake on the night of Alay 5 occurred. Settlers were unable to get away from their homes which were surrounded witu water from the river fully three leet in depth. Relief had to be organised to enable the affected settlers to become established once more.

Public indignation at tho aputhy shown by the Rivers Board ran high, and at the public meetings which followed at Meeanee many lively scenes took place. By a great effort the members on the board supporting the diversion scheme succeeded iu having it approved by Parliament. Early in February of the following year a further serious flood took place when a potion of Aleeanee was again submerged in a lake. At a large public meeting in the Aleeanee schoolroom, at which several oi the board members attended, further lively scenes took place. The settlers demanded that the approved scheme be undertaken immediately. The chairman of the board, Air C. Lassen, gave his assurance that the starting of the scheme would be facilitated and that the closing of the old channel, which was insisted upon by the settlers, would be one of the first works. The assurance given was fulfilled, and in about ten weeks the channel was closed off to ring down the curtain on the history ol .muds at Meeanee. Tho settlers have uince viewed with satisfaction the manner iu which the scheme has progressed, and they state that in their new feeling of security they find it difficult to realise that a flood can be in progress in the river. Tho nights spent in constant watch and iu strenuous effort to protect the homes of the settlers at Aleeanee are now but a memory.