The Whirokino Highway

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7007, 17 November 1932, Page 8

The Whirokino Highway

To the Editor. Sir, —In your report of tho Moutoa Drainage Board Mr. W. E. Barber, commenting on tho deputation from tho Foxton Chamber of Commerce which waited upon the Public Works, Engineers re the Whirokino highway is reported to have stated: "These people make statements and they don’t know what they are talking about,” said Mr. Barber, in referring particularly to tho remarks made by Mr. J. K. Hornblow, who was reported in the press to havo said: “It is said that the widening of tho main drain floodgates has been responsible for getting tho water off tho road in much quicker timo during the last flood, but it has to be remembered that the banks were cut also.”

“The point is that the board’s bank was never cut,” said Mr. Barber, “Mr. Speirs cut liis own bank to let the water off his property, but that had nothing to do with the highway at Whirokino.” Mr. Barber contended that the btatement tended directly to discount the efficiency of the new floodgates.

Now. sir, no one denied the efficiency of the floodgates in releasing the flood waters from the highway and I made no mention of the board’s banks being cut. But Mr. Barber forgot to mention that there was three feet of rvater on the highway from the ramp on the Foxton side and a similar depth of water on land adjoining the board’s area to release which, cuts were made in the banks constructed by private owners. This gave relief to a large body of rvater which poured through a breach in Woods’ bank from the board’s area which would have had to go back through tho same breach had not the banks been cut, to find its way to the flood-gates, thus prolonging the inundation. Mr. Babrcr’s comment "that these people make statements and they don’t know what they arc talking about” was ungenerous. The views of "these people” —presumably members of the deputation—were endorsed by both Messrs. Ronayne and his successor, expert Public Works engineers, which should be a sufficient refutation to Mr. Barber. Let me add that the Chamber of Commerce with the backing of the Automobile Associations and district Chambers of Commerce, desire only to provide a highway which will be free from flood waters and thus save the travelling public, whose contributions to the highways fund is considerable, from making a wide detour at added expense and loss of time. A section of the Wellington-Auckland main highway of which the Manawatu County Council is the controlling authority and of which body Mr. Barber is chairman, has refused to undertake such necessary work but is not averse to its consummation as a national undertaking. -The Chambers of Commerce and Automobile Associations desire to assist the controlling authorities rather tuan obstruct them. This is what we advocate: (1) The deepening of tho drains on either side of main highway, 564 chains, thereby consolidating and raising this section; (2) Continuation of the highway in a sweep on high land not subject to flooding, particulars of which are in possession of the Manawatu County Council including notice of Proclamation to acquire the land; (3) Widening the Main drain up to the point of the proposed deviation; (4) To find necessary work of a permanent nature for our unemployed who arc capable of undertaking it; and (5) the assistance and oversight by the Public Works Department. I am., etc. J. Iv. HORNBLOW.