FLOOD PROTECTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19252, 16 August 1924, Page 6

FLOOD PROTECTION.

HAURAKI PLAINS DISTRICT. DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. fPuB United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 14. A deputation representing the settlers and local authorities of the Hauraki South Plains District waited on the Minister of Lands to-day with reference to the serious flooding of a large area during the winter. The deputation asked that the capacity of the main outlets, such as the Piako River, be increased so as to deal with the enhanced flow of water. In order to ..cop the water below the ground level the suggestion was that the river should bo widened on the eastern side. Mr Campbell, drainage engineer, said that certain works already in hand were intended to ease the bends in the river and to facilitate the flow of water. The strengthening of the stop .banks was being undertaken right from the mouth. Six contracts had been lot. Mr Miller, chairman of the Hauraki Plains Conn tv Council, said the county could not pay for the work. Mr Campbell: It is part of our scheme. Mr Miller asked for better roads for the settlers. Without metalled roads, he said, the country was quite unfit, for settlement. The Minister said his department was not of the opinion that the responsibility for metalling roads lav on the department.. At least a proportion of the metalling should be done by the county itself. The loading of the land was lor the construction of roads, not for metalling. Mr M'Leod added that the officers of the department had supplied a report on the floods. Ho would go into the questions raised by (he deputation.