RIVER TO BE LOWERED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19372, 6 July 1926, Page 14

RIVER TO BE LOWERED.

THE KAITUNA SCHEME. REOPENING THE OLD OUTLET. [by telegraph.—own correspondent- ] TE PUKE, Monday A further stage in the scheme for the improvement of the Kaituna River was reached to-day when the dredger to be used in re-opening the old outlet of the river at Maketu safely entered the river mouth after having bean towed from the Waihi estuary. The scheme for improvements provides for straightening the river in certain places and restoring the old entrance at Maketu which was closed after a heavy storm in 1907, a' new entrance being made some distance westward. The restoration of the old entrance involve* a cut from Otaiperia to the old outlet at Maketu, a distance -of two and a,-half miles.' The estimated cost of the scheme is £13,000. Of this amount the Government is contributing £BOOO, the ratepayers of a special rating area £4OOO, and the Arawa Trust Board is making a free grant of £IOOO. The main purpose of the scheme is to lower the surface of the Kaituna River which , for some years has prevented a large area of rich swamp land from being effectively drained. Great benefit is expected to be derived from the scheme by the farming community and also by the flax planting and milling companies operating in the district. The re-opening of the Maketu outlet is a matter in which the natives are keenly interested, both because of the important effect that the restoration of the port is expected to have on the Maketu township and for sentimental reasons. It was there that the famous Arawa canoe landed with the ancestors of the Arawa tribe.

Before 1907 Maketu was largely used for shipping purposes for vessels up to a draught of six feet A meeting of the River Board was held on Saturday to consider the provisions of the Kaituna River District Bill