FLOOD QUESTION

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 146, 5 June 1936, Page 5

FLOOD QUESTION

Hastings Case Put Before Committee

MISLEADING PHOTO.

The submissions made to the Government Committee of Inquiry regarding the rivers question by the Hastings Borough Council were endorsed by the Mayor of Hastings, Mr G. A. Maddison. who was questioned by Mr H. H. Holderness, counsel for the Hastings Borough Council.

Mr Holderness: About that photograph that Mr Jarvis has been carrying around for the past two days (depicting the corner of Keretaungu and Nelson streets under water): What have you to say about that? Mr Madaison: Mr Jarvis has misrepresented the position, in that the water shown in the photograph is surface water and not river flood water. It was proved at the 1919 commission that flood water bad never come nearer than 45 chains to the borough boundary.

In regard to surface water, be continued, tenders had now been called for a new sewage scheme for liastinu and this would deal adequately w tii all surface water. ‘‘Much has been made of tne earthquake damage to Napier and Hatting'’, and the ultimate cost to each place)” Mr Maddison went on. “It is true that Napier expended a considerably greater sum than Hastings in laying out this very fine town, but Hastings also was involved in considerable expense. It was able to effect most of its restoration out of reserves. The total cost of restoring services was approximately £50,000.’’ “I don’t think there is any danger of Hastings being flooded by an over flow between Roy’s Hill and Fernhill unless the proposed new works should raise the level of water at Fernhill and cause an overflow immediately at the back of Fernhill,” said Mr J. E Lane, a farmer who years ago managed Chcsterhopo. He gavp evidence of past floods and said that as a result of floods he had in tho past lost 13,000 sheep. The chairman of the Hawke’s Bay Rivers’ Board, Mr. C. Lassen, in answer to Mr. Holderness, said that no danger could threaten Hastings except from Roys Hill. Quoting from the “Hawke’s Bay Herald,” Mr. Holderness read portion of an article which read»to tho effect that the final work in connection with the Tutaekuri diversion would play a big p..rt in making Napier immune from floods. Mr. Lassen agreed that that was a fair statement to make. “Napier and Taradale get their whole protection from the Tutaekuri river,” he added. “In the past, the Rivers Board has found it very difficult to get enough money to maintain the riverbeds in the manner they should bo maintained. If these riverbeds are not maintained as they should be, it is going to be a bad thing for the Napier and Taradale districts.” He did not consider that Hastings should shoulder any of Napier’s liability for benefits which concerned Napier and not Hastings. “As the Hastings representative on the Rivers Board; I am standing by the 1919 commission’s finding insofar as Hastings is concerned,’’ said Mr. Lassen. “Hastings should not be given an increase in her rates.’’