River Control Mystery

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 263, 5 November 1943, Page 4

River Control Mystery

Officially, the Manawatu-Oroua River Board is still in ignorance as to who gave instructions for the filling in of the spillway at Spring’s (bclow r Shannon bridge), an action which created a stir amongst settlers whose properties lie along the lower reaches of the Manawatu river. When the matter wa.s mentioned at yesterday’s meeting of the ManawatuOroua River Board, certain members expressed an unofficial opinion as to who had said “go ahead” to the Flax Plan officials. The position is, however, that the spillway remains blocked. Mr. H. .Seifert: Can’t we do something! The chairman (Mr. J. Callesen): We can’t fight the Government. If you want to test the position, order the Flax Committee to take the bank down. Mr. Seifert: Then this Board is useless. We ought to know which government department is responsible for this action. The secretary (Mr. R. H. Spencer) read a letter from the Minister of Public Works, Hon. R. Semple, who said ‘ ‘ this matter was not one in which my department had any jurisdiction and that the work had not been undertaken with the authority of my department.” The engineer, Mr. H. R. Farquhar, said the man responsible was Mr. Fawcett because, when telephoned and asked to have the work of filling in the spillway stopped, had refused to do so. Mr. Seifert: Who is Mr. Fawcett! The chairman: The Director-General of Agriculture.. Mr. Seifert: Here we have a properly constituted River Board with the responsibility of river control and yet a government department comes along and does what it likes. The chairman: They say the answer is for Makerua on the other side, to raise their banks. Mr. Seifert: That is no answer. Let us find out which department is responsible. Mr. R. J. Law said the Board had adopted certain proposals for the lower reaches of the river and had sent plans to the Flax Plan Committee. Why not ask that committee if it approved of the plans! This suggestion was adopted, the chairman stating that if the Flax Committee approved of the plans, then the spillway at Spring’s would be at a height conforming to a new gradient. The Board had before it a letter from the Makerua Drainage Board, asking that the spillway be reopened. A reply is to be sent stating that action was being taken to get the situation cleared up. Just below Spring’s spillway the Board desires to have a cut put through Parekawau point where the river takes a hairpin bend. It was stated that it was the next major work following the completion of the Whirokiuo cut which will take the main current of the river, bypassing the sweep past Foxtou. A cut at Parekaw'au will help to exploit the Whirokiuo cut to the full. The length is 43 chains while the distance as the river flows is 139 chains. The approximate estimate is £10,700, which includes* £IOOO for a floodgate for the Aratangata drain. Steps are in train to get the work underway, the engineer i being instructed to call tenders as soon as the approval of the Soil Conservation ' Board was received.