THE RIVERS COMMISSION

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4298, 1 August 1921, Page 2

THE RIVERS COMMISSION

COMMENCES TO-MORROW. The Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Commission, 1921, commences its sittings at Paeroa to-morrow, in the Central Theatre, at 10 a.m. The personnel consists of Messrs H. J. Blow (chairman), late Under-Secretary to the Public Works Department, and who was a member of the Thames Harbour Commission, Mr W. S. Shortt, also late Under-Secretary Public Works Department, and Geo. Buchanan, late chairman Thames Valley Dairy Co. The Commission.will inquire into and report upon the allocation of the cost of providing the funds required under the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Act, 1910, and kindred matters. Without bias it may be stated that, goldmining having declined, those interests canrftit now contribute the ■same amount as formerly; on the other hand, the farmers and residents of Paeroa and Te Aroha boroughs consider their respective liabilities under the Act heavy enough already. Th.e Government, by way of (recognition of the fact that it made a mistake in the past in declaring the Ohinemuri River a sludge channel, contributes one-sixth from :the Consolidated Fund. Whether or not this amount will be increased remains to be seen. InWespeet to the cause cf the damage, one party considers that it is due for the most part to the silt from the mines; another expresses the view that agriculture, and the

making of drains and new roads, has I so loosened the surfaces that a much ( larger volume of pumice sand is washed down annually into the rivers Mr E. W. Porritt is appearing for settlers on the rivefr bank, and Mr J. L. Hanna for the Pae-roa Borough Council ; Mr E. J. Clendon for the Ohinemuri County Council; Te Aroha Borough, R. Coulter and J. Willis : Piako County, F. W. Walters and W A\ Clark ; Te Aroha Chamber of Commerce, R. Coulter and C. Andrew • Elstow Drainage Board, G. W, Horn • Waitoa Drainage Board, F. W. Walters and G. W. Horn ; Hungahunga Drainage Board, F. E. Hughes ; Waihi Borough, Mr Donaldson (Mayor), ami Mr J. J. Ritclre (clerk), Mr F. Jackson (solicitor), and Mr M. F. Hazard, engineer and surveyor.