SILT IF RIVERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13813, 28 July 1908, Page 5

SILT IF RIVERS

OHINEMURI COUNTY AFFAIRS.

[BY TELEGRAPH. CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Monday. Messrs. W. G. Nicholls (chairman of the Oliinemuri County Council). and E. ; W. Porritt (county solicitor) interviewed the Minister for Mines this morning regarding the silting-up of the Ohinemurr and Waihou Rivers, owing to the deposit (if raining tailings. The deputation was introduced by Mr. Poland, M.P., and placed before the Minister a full statement of the steps taken by the Council and the settlers. They pointed out the damage being done, and the increasing losses suffered by the settlers, and urged that the matter vitally affected the drainage operations on the Hauraki Plains. As a result of the interview the Minister has agreed to go carefully into the ques-tion-of the proposals oi the Waihi-Paeroa Gold Extraction Company, and also Mr. R. 0. Clark's proposal for making bricks out of the tailings. He will also have an immediate test made of the bricks and hydraulic pipes. The Minister also agreed to the request of the deputation for financial assistance towards removing the willows from the banks and beds of the rivers. As a pre-* liminary to other steps being taken it was also 'arranged that Mr. Breakell, engineer-, in-charge of the Hauraki Plains drainage works, should inspect and report on the whole question of clearing the willows and the tailings. The matter of clearing omS the willows will be taken in hand at once v The Minister in charge of th* Roads Department was also seen in regard to the question of a grant towards the construction of the Paeroa-Te Aroha Lower Road, and a main road from Paeroa to connect the goldfields with the Hauraki Plains. The Minister promised consideration of both requests.