DRAINAGE OF LAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21325, 28 October 1932, Page 9

DRAINAGE OF LAND

KAIHU STREAM SCHEME PROPOSALS TO SETTLERS [by telegraph —OWN correspondent! DARGAVTLLE, Thursday Fol- some time a scheme has been mooted for further work on deepening and straightening the Kaihu Creek, on* which some thousands of pounds have already been spent in the lower reaches with "good results by the Public Works Department. Proposals were discussed at a meeting of settlers interested and representatives of the Public Works Department, Crown Lands Department, Nativo Department, Public Trust, the Ilobson County Council and several land and afforestation companies, and Maori land owners. In explaining the objects, of the meeting, the district Public Works engineer, Mr. J. McEnnis, said it was proposed to widen and straighten the Kaihu Stream above the seven-mile peg to the vicinity of Marnarandi. If the settlers were interested, it was proposed to make a request to the Unemployment Board for men. He had had several offers from settlers of land which they would give the board in return for its finding labour. The total area of flat land which would be affected was 3442 acres. In that area was about 255 acres owned by natives. It was proposed to clear, deepen and widen the creek for eleveu miles. New cuts of 151 chains would be fiecessary, and the total excavation would be in the vicinity of 400,000 cubic yards, about twothirds of which could be moved by hand. While he had ?ome offers of land, said Mr. McEnnis, he did not think they could approach the Unemployment Board unless all land-owners interested expressed willingness to help by giving land, money or in kind. It need not necessarily be all flat land; some hill country would be acceptable. If the settlers were not interested in the proposition as put forward his department would drop it. The work was estimated to cost £17,000. A motion that the settlers present ap-proved-the scheme, and asked the Unemployment Board to carry out the work, was defeated in favour of an amendment stipulating an alteration in the schema as explained by Mr. McEnnis. Mr. McEnnis said that the department was not prepared to put up another scheme. After further discussion Mr. McEnnis agreed that he and officers of the Publio Works Department would attend another meeting of settlers on November 16.