CONTROL OF RIVERS.

Thames Star, Volume LXV, Issue 18245, 20 July 1931, Page 2

CONTROL OF RIVERS.

iWAIHOU AND OHINEMURI. Rivers Board Suggested. MAINTENANCE OF WORKS. CONFERENCE CALLED. The Paeroa Borough Council has decided to convene a conference oi the local bodies which will be afi'ected by the proposal of the Government to bring down legislation during the present session to deal with the future control of the works comprised in the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Scheme.

According to information supplied by Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P., in September last, the propos_als in the Bill are, briefly:— 1. That a Rivers Board be set up to take over the administration and maintenance of the completed work. 2. That the Board consist of six members, three, including the chairman, to be apponited by the Government; one to represent Hauraki Plains, one to represent Paroa Borough and the other to represent the Thames, Ohinemuri and Piako Counties. 3. r That interest and sinking fund charges in respect to the capital expenditure be a charge against the Government funds; any gold duty and contributions by the mining companies, in terms of the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Act, 1910, section 17 (4) (D), to be now paid into the General Public Account.

4. That the lands in the Rivers district receiving benefit be rated on capital value_ basis for maintenance and administration works. 5. That the sum of £IOOO from annual maintenance revenue be set aside annually towards an insurance or reserve fund to provide a fund to meet the cost of major reconstruction or repair works, or to cover losses due to floods. That this annual contribution be invested and funds allowed to accumulate (to the extent not drawn upon) till it reaches the sum of £25,000. Any interest that accrues more than that necessary to maintain the sum at the figure of £25,000 shall be repaid to the Board's ordinary maintenance fund. Should this special fund be depleted at any time, the annual contribution of £IOOO from maintenance revenue shall be made until the fund again reaches the figure of £25,000. Area Affected. The proposed area for election and rating purposes includes all that part of Hauraki Plains County between the Waihou and Piako rivers south of Kerepeehi-Wharepoa Road with the exception of Kerepeehi Hill and a little of the country near the Wairau Road. The Piako County portion is west of that part of the Waihou River and from the Hauraki Plains County boundary to the Mangaiti railway station. A small portion of Thames County, about Hikutaia township, is included, and all the flat land in Ohinemuri County south of Hikutaia to within a short distance of Tirohia. Practically all of Paeroa Borough is included but there is a smafl block of land west of Paeroa Borough which is excluded as it is not protected and will be a ponding area. The owner was compensated.