WAITOA RIVER DRAINAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20889, 3 June 1931, Page 12

WAITOA RIVER DRAINAGE.

AMALGAMATION PROPOSAL.

SUPPORT BY ENGINEER. [FROM OUR OWN' CORRESPONDENT. ] TE AROHA, Tuesday. Evidence before the commission, Mr. F. W. Halts, S.M., to report on a proposal for the amalgamation of the Waitoa, Elstow, Tahuna and Hungahunga Drainage Boards was concluded last evening. Mr. R. G. McMorrin, chief drainage engineer for the Lands Department in this district, set out the position from his point of view. He had charge of drainage works in an area of 90,000 acres on the Hauraki Plains and was engaged on a scheme of an estimated expenditure of £90,000, which would ultimately benefit 50,000 acres, widening the Piako River, of which the Waitoa was a tributary. His work included not only improvements to the Piako but drainage necessary for the throwing open of new land for selection. The main channel of the river was being enlarged under a further scheme estimated to cost £IOO,OOO. This included an area from below Ngatca to above Patetonga. The department was spending considerable sums in conjunction with the Elstow Board under a special agreement involving the sum of £70,000. Witness favoured having one controlling uuthority in this district from the sea to the source of the Waitoa River. Ho had been over the Ohine Stream to its junction with the (Waihekau and had noticed the Waitoa was badly blocked with willows and a large number of snags. It %vas in a bad condition, with numerous sand bars and banks dotting its length. If drainago was to be satisfactorily worked there was no question but that the stream should be cleared.

Illustrating his point, engineer said that Brickall's bank, which had been put across the head of tho Ohinc to prevent the Waitou breaking through, had given way in recent years and if nothing was done further breaks wore to be apprehended. There was only one thing to do, and IhaL was to clear file stream. The best form of administration was for one board to control the whole catchment from the Piako-Waitoa junction Southward.

1 he engineer said he favoured amalgamation. Any other form of control meant, the inauguration of yet another board. Jilstow could amalgamate with two nr three boards lower down the river, but witness was of the opinion that it. should be included in the scheme now proposed. It obvious to him that the Tahuna and Waitoa drainage systems wero one and the same and should be under the onf head.

The. commissioner, after further brief evidence from Messrs. \V. J. Andrews and W. W. Dunn, of the Elstow Board, said he would forward his report to the Governor-General.