THE TAIERI RIVER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2303, 21 April 1898, Page 11

THE TAIERI RIVER.

A deputation consisting of Messrs Steveneon (representing the Henley River Board), M'Pherson (Bruce County Council), and C. Samson (Taieri County Council); waited on' the Hon. A. J. .Cidman, Minister for Mines, on Thursday afternoon, asking if the Government would give some assistance towards keeping a clear water pa'sage throughout the Taieri Plain. The deputation slated that owing to the diggings going on at Waipori the river was gradually silting up, and if it went on the present protective works would in the course of time become useless, and the water spread over the whole plain. Toe farmers thought that if the Government would contribute something towards keeping the -vater passage clear the local bodies might take the matter in hand. The deputation thought that the local bodies might perhaps ba given an endowment, from which they might derive revenue for the purpose. It was stated, further, that the matter had bpen considered before by a meeting of settlers of the Taieri, when it wa3 suggested that the waterway might be kept clear by means of a Buction dredge, and the Government had been communicated with on the matter.

The Minister, ia reply, said that the bask thing the deputation could do was to lay some practical scheme before him, and then the matter could be further considered. He thought the suggestion of utilising a dredge and reclaiming the shallower portions of the lake was a very good one. There ought to be no trouble ia haying that done. So far as an endowment was concerned he could not give a definite assurance, but he thought that the Government would favourably consider the suggsstion. Personally he would endeavour to facilitate the request, but unless the deputation moant business there was no vie in arguing about the abstract question. He felt inclined to give what assistance he could, but did not think they should ask the Government to run the " whole show." The responsibility of carrying out the work should rest on the people interested, and if the Government rendered any assistance ib should be of a monetary character. After some conversational discussion, the Minister promised to send plans and reports to the chairman of the Henley River Board on the understanding that the deputation would communicate with him further when they had some aefinitn scheme to place before him.