SEA INVASION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23037, 14 May 1938, Page 17

SEA INVASION

INADEQUATE STOPBANKS HAURAKI PLAINS DAMAGE SETTLERS SEEK PROTECTION MINISTER PROMISES RELIEF [BY TELEGRAPH —OW>' CORRESPONDENT] '■ NGATEA, Friday The claim that settlers were not adequately protected from such a natural phenomenon as high tides and had boon induced to take up farms under the impression that they wore protected was one of the arguments advanced by a large deputation of Hauraki llains settlers to the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. It. Semple, at Ngatea this afternoon. . . The chairman of the Hauraki 1 laius County Council, Mr. C. W. Parfitt, said that from 8000 to 10,000 acres of firstclass farm lands had met with disaster on the night of May 4. The cx j- ra " ordinary tide, with a high wind, had topped the stopbanks, in which the settlers and the Larnl Drainage Department had put their trust, by 211., and considerable damage had been caused. He estimated the loss at between £IB,OOO and £*20,000. Mr. F. K. Hammond, representing the West Drainage Board, stated that 45 settlers had been affected by their

dairying entirely ceasing, to which loss had'to be added the cost of restoring pastures, repairs and paying for glazing for tlieir cattle. Protection Essential Mr. Semple said the question of the protection of land did not belong to his department, with the exception of two miles along the Waihou Rher bank, and that would be put in order immediately. Ho would make the strongest representations to the Lands Department and to the Minister of Finance. The State had induced settlement, and adequate protection was essential. "You can take it from me that the settlers are not going to walk off their farms," said Mr. Semple in reply to a deputation of settlers from Bond s Road, Matatoki. It was stated that at least £SOOO would be necessary to protect Bond's Road settlers from future flooding. "You can go home k happy with this assurance," Mr. Semple added. "This applies also to the request from Wharepoa settlers for protection from high tides." Bridge and Canal

A deputation from Hauraki Plains settlers and the Thames Chamber of Commerce asked for an immediate start in the construction of the Pipiroa Bridge over the Piako River. Mr. Parfitt stated that the council had made provision for its share of the cost and hoped the Highways Board would facilitate construction. Mr. Semple said he had already " promised that the work would be pushed ahead. The plans for the bridge were about completed ar.u tenders would shortly be called.

A deputation of settlers met the Minister nt Patetonga, asking for the Maukorc-Waitakaruru canal to be fuij ther extended so as to junction with the Piako Stream at Patetonga and drain a large area of the county more efficiently. Mr. Semple promised to confer with the Minister of Lands and see what could be done. Another deputation, from the township settlers, also asked that the Maukoro canal be kept clean by the Land Drainage Department as. promised. The Minister said ho would go fully into the matter.