TAIERI PLAIN

Otago Witness, Issue 3112, 5 November 1913, Page 23

TAIERI PLAIN

THE DRAINAGE PROBLEM. ROYAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, October 29. The Lands Committee, to which, was referred the four petitions from residents on the Taieri Plains, praying for the appointment of a commission to into the present condition of the laieri Plain, in view of the silting up of the river which has been proceeding for some time past, to-day reported with the re commendation that the petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. When the report was presented Mr Scott said ho desired to thank the Lands Committee for its recommendation. In doing so he would urge upon the Government the necessity for doing something in this connection. The petition pressed for a commission to inquire into the position on the Taieri Plain at the present day, the reasons for the silting up of the rivers, and the adopiton of some remedial measures for relief. Many members would be acquainted with the deplorable condition which existed there to-day. Ever since it was taken up this piece of country had been subject to floods, but for the last few years, owing to the silting up of the river and the silting up of the Waipori and Waihora Lakes, the settlers found that they could not get rid of the water. Waipori Lake had acted as a reservoir for the storage of water, but the silting up had made it worse and worse until now it was merely a question of a few years before the whole of this valuable piece of land would be devoted only to grazing for a few months in the year. He had had communications from settlers in the last few'days which gave a gloomy account of affairs. One man said that for the last eight weeks thousands of acres of grass had been rotted out by the water. Some of the dairy farmers at Momona had had to sell their cows owing to having no grass on which to feed them. To a certain extent these settlers had a grievance against the Government, because since they took up their lands the Taieri and Waipori Rivers had been declared sludge channels. The debris had come down from the mining operations and it was both shallowing and narrowing the river. A few years ago the grain sent away from the Otokia Station in a season totalled 27,000 sacks. He was informed that this season it was expected that less than 1000 sacks would be sent away. In the Berwick district 20 years ago a considerable area was under cultivation, but to-day it was fit only for grass land. According to the latest report the grass would have to be renewed owing to the continued stagnation of the water upon the land. The settlers desired a commission of experts and practical men to report upon the whole thing, and be sincerely hoped that the Government would be able to accede to the request of the petitioners.