The Waikato Times. "OMNE SOLVM FORTH FATRIAL." THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1572.

Waikato Times, Volume II, Issue 91, 28 November 1872, Page 2

The Waikato Times. "OMNE SOLVM FORTH FATRIAL." THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1572.

It is apparent to all who have watched the banks of our two rivers that they are gradually washing away, also that the navigable channel is becoming shallower each summer. This is a matter for very serious consideration ; they are our only highways for the carriage of merchandise and produce, yet not the slightest effort has been made to obviate the destruction which is gradually, but surely, going on. In some places the river has encroached as much as twenty feet during the past year. We are aware that to interfere with the natural course of a river is often a dangerous experiment, but that is no reason why an attempt should not be made to keep the channel of a river open which is obviously filling up. It will of course be for an engineer to decide what steps should be taken, but we may suggest how, at a trifling cost, much good might be effected. In the first place, it is well known that willow trees are great protectors of a river bank ; their rcots bind the soil together and prevent its being washed away by every flood ar.d the waves from the paddles of every steamer that passes up and down. Willows should also be planted on sand banks wlrch form above the surface of the water in order to make them permanent; a channel would then in a'l probability be kept open 011 either one side or the other". We have in other rivers seen a breastwork built at nearly right angles from the bank ; these are generally composed ol stakes driven into the bed of the river and interlaced with supple-jack or thin manuka saplings. They are crccted above places wbire the river is washing

iiwiiv badly, or whore the river is shallow, with the object in the first place of preventing more of the bank from washing away, and iu the second, of narrowing the river so that the water is compelled to work a deep channel for itself- In addition to the ordinary difficulties that have to be by those on whom devolves the duty ot keeping rivers in good working ordei that is to say, capable of being made the medium of communication, both for passengers and commerce—both our rivers are infested with "snags. 1 iheir existence makes freights much higher than they otherwise would be, as the repairs to the bottoms of ,' tearners is an important item in the expenditure uf their owners, and the progress of the district is proportionately retarded. The Government are expending large sums of money on railroads and other works which are not likely, in the majority of instances, to prove nearly so reproductive as the keeping open of our rivers; we are surely entitled to some assistance at their hands. We would remind them of the old homely saying, as it applies iu this case —"A stitch in time saves nine. At some future dale, when the river has become useless as a means of communication, it will be found absolutely necessary to re-open the channel at a very much greater cost than will be necessary to keep it open. We have every right to ask that an engineer whose speciality is dealiug with water, shall te appointed to report as to the best means to bo adopted, and that immediate action shall be I taken in accordance with his suggestions. It would, however, be unreasonable to expect that the Government should continue to bear the whole cost lof keeping our rivers in order; it would be so, because it is more than has been done in any other ; ! part of the colony. It will be necessary, if the work I is to be done efficiently, that we take the management of our rivers into our own hands. There is an Act of the General Assemoly in force in Canterbury of a very similar nature to that which we are of opinion is required in our case. By that Act, a board of conservators is elected by the members of the di fie rent road boards comprised within the boundaries of each conservancy district, the limits of such district to be fixed by the Provincial Council, any ratepayers being eligible to serve on the board. The board isempoweredto strike a rate notexceeding one shilling iu the £ on the annual rateable value of all property. The duty of collecting such rate devolves upon the different lioad Boards, thus saving the expense of an additional staff of collectors. In addition, special rates may be levied on any portion of the property in a district for the execution of works specially benefiting the owners of such property. In cases where the land is occupied on lease, the landlord has to pay all rates leviable under the act, except in cases where the tenant holds under a lease with a purchasing clause. The Road Boards are allowed a reasonable sum for collecting. The Board of Conservators has charge of all streams, sewers, and water-courses. All works that, on the advice of an engineer whom the Board deems competent may be undertaken. The Board is granted power to borrow 011 the security of the rates : the sum so borrowed to be applied to such works as they may deem urgent. In suggestin"- that an act such as the above should be brought into force, it must not be understood that we do not consider that we are entitled to assistance from the <r overument. Our rivers differ from those in Canterbury in being navigable for a considerable distance from their mouth, thus without expense to the government have admitted one of the finest districts in New Zealand to be occupied by settlers and brought under cultivation. It will take a large sum annually to keep our rivers in repair, and a very considerable outlay in the first place to put them in order. It is of course impossible that the settlers can bear the cost of doing the latter, but it is reasonable that they should pay their proportion of that of keeping in repair the works constructed for their immediate benefit at the cost of the colony. Some assistance from the government may be necessary for a few years, when we anticipate seeing the VVaikatooneof the most flourishing districts in the North Island. Our burdens are necessarily heavy at the present time, but we must remember that there is a prize in store for us in the future. Sufficient for the day, &c., is a proverb that does not apply to settlers in a new district. Most of those who have taken up land doubtless intend remaining in the colony; they must remember that the rates they are paying now will be abundantly returned to them or their children. If a new country is to be made, its inhabitants must bo thrifty, industrious, energetic, and willing to bear present privations for the sake of gaining future prosperity.