RIVER BANKING.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLII, Issue 1734, 9 February 1921, Page 5

RIVER BANKING.

KAXRAXGA COUNTY VIEWS. INCREASED FLOODING FEARI^H Considerable fear was expressed BB members of the Kairanga Council at yesterday’s meeting eerning the probable effects from banking operations being carried by various settlers along the the Manawatu River. A private ter supporting the proposal to a new drainage board, having diction over the floodable areas of Manawatu and Oroua Rivers Awahurl to Foxton, served to duce the subject for discussion. *• Councillor D. Collis said thatdently a movement was afoot to ate yet another new board despite fact that there were already about.®|| drainage and river boards in ence. The Kairanga County had three Representatives on the est one—the Palmerston North Board. It was a big mistake to too many of these boards. They all to be merged into one big possible. The private settlers other side of the river were a long bank, which would have tendency to flood this side of river. It seemed ridiculous to half a dozen boards controlling river. He suggested that a be held of all present drainage river boards and the councils when the matter of banking river on both sides, as well as Important subjects could be discuss^H Cr Linklater (chairman): Can do anything in the meantime? Cr Collis: Seeing that there ready a board in this district ing of three of us and four from borough, it would be just as well 9| find out what is going on . down river. Cr P. J. Small: We should have* certain amount 1 of say in our We are going to have more thrown over this county if this is erected than ever before. . The chairman agreed •• with* Small. He was willing to take paH in any movement they might suggeiH Mfl P. W. Connell told the meetiß that the Aorangi Drainage Board hiß thought of circularising all local bofl ies in the district with a view to movement in thfc matter, but he that it would be better for a body that the one mentioned shoun take the initiative and convene meeting. B Cr Small expressed the opinion very seldom did any finality resnH from such conferences. Their drailH age board would certainly be greatlH affected if \the water was thrown Q*jß the county. Something in the waß of a recommendation should H placed before the ratepayers. FiOP<n gates and banks would be the onfl things to protect the coupty. -' - ■ Cr P. W. Hubbard said that thj Intention of the bankfng settlers we* to make cuts and straighten the rlv«« in places, and it was their oplnlq* that this would relieve an immenaß amount of water from this s?lde of thß river. .■ Cr Collis said it would have tin effect of raising, the bed of the riven Cr Small urged that the Govern* ment authorities, or powers that bn that have any control over this pan ticular part of the river, be Conn municated with, pointing ouh the great danger which the count* would suffer in the event of the bank* ing on the other side being carrlen on. It was going to flood thousand* of acres in the county that was nev ®B

under water before. Cr Hubbard pointed out that t] settlers concerned in the scheme hi already been in communication ,wt the Government. They were det* mined to continue with the work J respective of the consequences. _ Cr Small: If the bank is complet. there is not the slightest doubt tn any amount of our ratepayers w not be able to get to Palmerston f weeks at a time. ' After further discussion J-™** tlon was carried to the effect that u attention of the Minister of Publ Works bo drawn to the erection banks on the southern side of/ ti Manawatu River and of the dang which would probably bounty as the result of floods.