RANGITIKEI CATCHMENT BOARD

Wanganui Chronicle, 18 May 1949, Page 2

RANGITIKEI CATCHMENT BOARD

Removal Of Metal From Water Courses The Rangitikei Catchment Board received at its meeting in Marton yesterday, nine applications for licences for the removal of metal from the Rangitikei, Kawhatau, Whangaehu, Turakina and Makotuku Rivers. All were referred to the engineer for approval. The applications were the result of a recent Order-in-Council, In which all watercourses in the ooard s area have been vested in the board, and it is now obligatory for all persons, except farmers, wishing to remove shingle, sand or other material front any watercourse to apply to the board for a licence and pay a royalty. Mr. L. A. Mackintosh said there was apparently some confusion existing as far as taking metal from the Whangaehu River was concerned, and some contractors were unaware that it was necessary to obtain licences. He had informed them that the Whangaehu River was in the board’s area and .those wishing' to remove metal had to apply to the board. A suggestion that stricter control should be exercised over the removal of metal from the Kawhatau River at the Potaka Bridge (near Utiku) was made by the Kiwitea County Council in a letter to the board. The indiscriminate removal of the metal, especially upstream, by carriers in the Taihape. district, was altering the course of the river, thereby endangering the approach to the bridge and the adjacent properties, stated the letter. “This is a very difficult thing to check," said the engineer. The board decided to thank the Kiwitea County Council for drawing the board’s attention to the matter, and is to advise the county that the engineer will make an investigation. Other Business. The maximum height of the recent flood in the Rangitikei River at the Kakariki railway bridge gauge was 83 feet, reported (he engineer, Mr. H. Murray Reid. This, he added, was over one foot lower than in May, 1948. The rise in the river at the Otara bridge (Ohingaiti) was eight feet. The duration of the peak was between tour and five hours. Applications had been invited for the position of working foreman to the board, said the engineer, but although some 15 enquiries were made, no applications had been received. An endeavour was now' being made to fill the position temporarily. Rangitikei River. Reporting on the Lake Alice water supply intake at the Rangitikei River, the engineer said there appeared to be little immediate danger of erosion, but a change in direction of the river could have serious consequences. An area between the cliff and the well had been completely bared and consisted of unconsolidated silt and gravel, covering the perforated pipe. Some protection measures alon'; the river bank would seem desirable in the form of willows, said Mr. Retd, and the Ministry of Works had undertaken to do whatever protection work was considered necessary. The survey plans of the Rangitikei River, from Bulls to Rewa, were alj most completed, stated the engineer, i and a start had been made in compiling plans fok the lower Rangit ikei from existing survey data and Minls- ! trv of Works plans. I Severe unrelenting pressure by the Rangitikei River had been experienced near Flock House, and a further i two chains had suffered damage im- ' mediately below that part repaired at the end of last year, stated Mr. Reid. | This was where the current struck , hardest and slumping had taken place. Urgent repairs were required. The remainder of the work, with a few small exceptions, had stood well. The river was pursuing its break through above the Onepuhi bridge, but the situation still appeared to be satisfactory, with a large proportion of the flow moving down the centre channel below the bridge. RATA-HUIA TEAM TO PLAY WAIKATO MAORIS A combined Rata (Rangitikei) and Huia (Taihape) Maori Rugby team is to play the Waikato Maoris at Rata on Sunday, in what should be a spectacular match. The selector of the combined team, Mr T. Potaka, announced his team last night as follows: — Fullback, T. Punch (H); threequarters- T. Hakopa (H)- D. McCarthy (H), Tumata (H); five-eighths, W. Kingi (captain, R). C. Tamati (R); half. Nepe (H); back of scrum. P. Ataria (HI; middle row. F. Cashell (H), J Baker (H), W Tupaea (H), J. Hartlev (R); front row, K. Downs (R). S. Waterhouse (H), McCarthy (Hi. Reserves: Ko(ua (H). Ririnui (H), forwards; S. Hartley (R), back. Any player unavailable to notify the selector, Mr T. Potaka, phone 137 X, Hunterville. immediately. DUCK DAM AT KARIOI Permission to build a duck dam In the State Forest plantation at Karioi v.as sought by the Waimarino Acclimatisation Society at a meeting of the Rangitikei Catchment Board in Marton yesterday. The dam is to be constructed across a swamp, the expanse of water being approximately two acres. The depth of the water is three feet. “It' there are no complications, I think that the more duck dams we have the better ” observed Mr A. P. Howard (Marton). The application was referred to the engineer, Mr H. Murray Reid- for action.