EXTENSIVE FLOODINGS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 245, 13 September 1935, Page 2

EXTENSIVE FLOODINGS

LOWER MAKERUA AREA. DEPUTATION TO BOARD. To bo given relief from repeated flooding was the request made by a large deputation from the lower portion of the Makerua Drainage Board’s area which waited on the monthly meeting of the board yesterday afternoon. After the position had been fully discussed Messrs W. Jackson (deputycliairman), E. E. Mabin, and T. D. Lynch were appointed a sub committee to consider the position and to collect further information which is to be placed before a meeting of representatives of the board and tlie settlers concerned.

Mr A. Seifert who, it had been arranged, was to bead tlie deputation, but had been unable to do so, outlined the‘position in a letter. “I estimate the area flooded was 2500 acres, to an average depth of nine inches,” said the writer. “The flooding was caused by a great deal of local rain not being able to get away through the floodgates being closed by flood water in the Manawatu and Tokoma.ru Rivers. Tho rain filled up the drains, then overflowed, covering the low-1 ving country with water that came from higher levels until about 2500 acres were covered with water for a considerable time before the floodgates opened to let the water away. Groat damage was done to the pasture and a severe setback was given to stock, especially dairy cattle. It is not necessary to stress this because the trustees realise the damage that was done by the flood. I feel you are all anxious to prevent a recurrence of tlio trouble, knowing as you do that flood water will have the effect of reducing tlie value of the land. This will be reflected in the rateable value sooner or later, thus throwing more rates oil the land free from floods. “What can be done? We cannot prevent rain and we cannot prevent floods in the two rivers. So the water must be pumped out. For your consideration .1 suggest an efficient pumping scheme with pumps of sufficient capacity to do the job instead of having one large unit situated at tlie mam intersection channel floodgate, and that pumps be placed at more than one point. The largest pump could be put at the intersecting channel, another ot a smaller size at the Makerua Drain | floodgate, another at Campbell s Road floodgate, and also one at the mouth of Akers’s Drain. Then, to prevent the land flooding on the eastern side ot the Tokomaru Stream, a pump or pumps be placed at a suitable situa~ tion. Electric power is near all these points so that the installation would not be costly.” . His reason for suggesting several pumps, proceeded the writer, was that the country for four miles upstream from tlie mouth of the Tokomaru River was liearlv level, and a pumping plant on the main intersecting channel could not give relief to land miles awav. Pumps with five times the | capacity of the present one would be needed. . , It was suggested by tho writer that the board get a comprehensive report from a competent engineer as to tlie cost of a scheme to prevent future flooding. The Public Works Department engineers had had a great deal of experience of draining swamps and tho disposal of flood waters. It was quite possible that the Government would allow its engineers lo report, acting on tho grounds that retention of fertility of the land was important from a national point of view. Between 200 and 300 acres of his own land had been flooded six times since May, interfering with grass growth and reducing butterfat production, concluded Mr Seifert. Tlie deputation was tlie outcome or a large meeting of settlers, said Mr P. K. Robinson, who was tho first speaker. At present farms were serviceable for only seven or eight months of the year. The waters did not really retire until November. I here was also a ! need for deeper draining of the area, said the speaker. The present system did not take the water away efficiently enough to give proper drainage. The bottom of the Main Drain was only about 12 inches below the grass. The grass was rotting in the soil a disi astrous position. However, the board j had made a beginning at tho lower lend, and the deputation hoped to re'ceive from tho meeting an assurance j that this good work would be completed. Tho withdrawal of tlie unemployed and tho Maoris had handicapped the board in this .work, said tlie deputy- | chairman (Mr W. Jackson). Settlers should not have to depend on unemployed and Maoris to get a decent drainage system, replied Mr Robinson. . i i Mr Aislabie said the deputation had I not come to tell the board wliat to do, | but it appeared that the water was be I ing collected on the lower lands from higher up, and was accumulating there indefinitely. _ , , ~ On behalf of the Gibbons Estate, Mr J. S. Moil- said his principal favoured a different scheme from that advanced by Mr Seifert. Mr Gibbons thought that tlio water should be concentrated I at a particular point—suppose the junction of tho intersecting channel j with the Tokomaru River—and that an I adequately powered plant be installed ! to expedite its removal. Tho question I of cost could bo met by approaching the Government with a request tor asI sistancc towards electric power supply, as the need was of such magnitude as to warrant national attention. The matter was one that had long agitated the mind of the hoard, said M, T D. Lynch, a member, and the possibility of serious trouble bad been realised. But the matter was one callfor the co-operation of ratepayers, mortgagees and the Government. Hie Makerua drainage system, as undertaken by the farmers on their own resources, was a great burden, and one that called for Government assistance. On a past occasion a subsidy of £1306 had been granted. He did not think that an outlay such as would be enta Ii ed by Mr Seifert’s suggestions could be undertaken by the board unaided. The present pump was a heavy expense and to j nsta 1 five would be a sheer-impos-sibility for the board on its own reI sources. ~ , , Probably fifteen men would have to be engaged if five separate pumps were installed, said the overseer, Mr I. V. The present pump had not lived up to expectations, said Mr Lynch. Bn , provided it would give any . practical I service at all, the board bad no j thought of abandoning the pump at present, despite the cost. Trustee J.-'D. Aitcluson confirmed I There was no doubt the present 'pump was assisting the removal of water at least to some extent, said Mr The board spent soine time discuss- : ing with the deputation the probable costs of pumping. ' Mr Jackson outlined to those present tho history of drainage and county rating through the Makerua, and said there were almost insuperable difficulties in the way of the board doing tho work. The bare position was that the board’s rates were devoted almost entirely to river maintenance and fixed charges, so that little could l>e done without further assistance. I The conclusion was that tho board

should obtain information as to levels and other matters, consider the merits of a drainage or an electric pumping scheme, ancl offer its findings to a meeting of tire settlers. This was agreed on as the iirst step to a request tor Government assistance. Unless assistance was forthcoming, the time was near when settlers would be either rated off or washed off, or would bo compelled to walk off, concluded Mr ltobinson. ’■