WAIKATO RIVER FLOODS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20252, 11 May 1929, Page 13

WAIKATO RIVER FLOODS

MENACE JO FARM LANDS;* TROUBLE DUE TO SILTING. SETTLERS SEEK ASSISTANCE. [BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] RANGIRIHI, Friday. " I knew the Waikato River 55 years ago when ocean-going boats went up as far as Pirongia, and although there has been a gradual rising of the river bed sinco then, tho rate has been greatly accentuated in the last few years owing, we beliove, to tho effect of tho work at Arapuni," said tho speaker on a representative deputation which waited on tho Hon. G. W. Forbes, Minister of Lands and Agriculture at Rangiriri this evening. Tho deputation sought the assistance of tho Minister in securing an expert report to deal with tho serious menace caused by tho increased flooding of the low lying farming lands adjacent to tho river. There were present Mr. W. Leo Martin, LLP. for tho district, and representatives from Mercer, To Kauwhata, Rangiriri, Huntly, Churchill, and Waikato. Mr. Campbell Johnstono said a committee had been formed to consider what steps should bo taken toward remedying tho situation. Tho river bottom had risen considerably, and tho drainage had largely been rendered non-effective. The Arapuni dam works were thought to be the principal cause of the present troublo. Tho deputation wanted tho Government to do something to improve tho value of the river for drainage purposes, with a view to getting back to tho original level; otherwise tho best portion of tho farm lauds would bo lost.

Mr. G. Smith, of the Waikato County Council, said the council was agrccablo to supporting the Woodlands drainage scheme. Tho improvement of the Waikato River went hand in hand with the drainage scheme, for if the former work was riol undertaken tho additional mud and silt brought down would cause more silting in tho river. The committee set up to consider the matter had concluded that expert advico was needed. It suggested tho appointment of an independent engineer, a Public Works engineer, and one representative each of the Raglan and Waikato County Councils to investigate tho position and to determine whether a big scheme should be tackled, and if so to estimato the cost.

Mr. C. Roose, who was interested in the river from a navigation point of view, gave examples to show that the river was gradually silting up. Some of the creeks running into tho Waikato wcro actually deeper than the river itself, showing that tho silting process in the river was taking place al a comparatively fast rate. In reply, Mr. Forbes said that as Minister he was directly interested in the settlement of land and the produce from it. Accordingly, he would be very pleased to bring tho matter under the notice of the Minister of Public Works with a view to securing the report tho deputation dosired.