DRAINING THE LAKE

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14767, 5 October 1921, Page 7

DRAINING THE LAKE

+ NEED FOR CONSTANT VIGILANCE. LAND O.N FAR FIDE REQUIRED. I Reporting nn the Lake Reserve In Iho ; Hamilton Domain Board lasl night, the chairman (Mr A. Swarbriek slated as follows:—'•Finco Die last mooting of ■ Iho Board I havo devoted a eonsidor- ; ablo amount of timo In the question : of llio Ihroatonod lowering of Iho sur- ! face of |,hc lake. As previously slated, Iho 50 acres nf land lying between Iho lake and railway is a bed of peat which is percolated hy |he waters of Hie lake, ami the draining of which can only he effected hy lowering Ihe level of the lake. The railway embankment acts as a I dam and prevents the waters from Ihe swamp areas on one side passing |o Ihe oilier, cxcepl through Iho railway culverts. On Ihe railway drain reserve there is a culvert under [he railway which was formerly used for laking wafer from Ihe lake to Ihe railway pumping station. Feme time since (ho owners of Iho land In question obtained permission from the Railway Department to connect their drains with this disused culvert, which they re-opened for that purpose. The effect nf this was tn draw Ihe water from the peat lands and ultimately from the lake into Ihe drainage system of the borough of Hamilton. The Borough Council objected lo ihis, as it, imposed an improper burden on Ihe borough drainage system and was calculated tn ultimately injure or destroy Ihe lake, and Ihe borough solicitors were instructed lo put an end to this illegal use of the borough drains.

I have had several interviews with Hie railway authorities, who fully realise the necessity nf maintaining the level of Iho lake. The drain in question has now been filled in and the culvert slopped, wilh Ihe result of completely stopping Ihe flow of wafer from fhe ground in question and thereby from the lake. There is another culvert across the railway rather mnre than half a mile from Frankton, hut Ihis culvert is at n higher level than Ihe land in question, anil therefore floes not draw water directly or indirectly from Iho lake. The lake is nnw at almost its full winter level, and as long as the present slate of affairs continues T do nof think there will be any further serious fall of Ihe level of the lakeIt is, however, manifest that so long as the 50 acres of low-lying land adjoining the lake is in the hands of private owenrs attempts will he made from time lo time lo drain it, and this can only be done hy draining the lake. At the present time we have the assistance and support of the Railway Department, and the Borough Council is keenly alive to Ihe interest of the district in this matter, hut as long as matters remain in their present, position there will be the risk of our losing the lake in the, manner indicated. We should therefore, I think, make an effort lo secure (hat 50 acres of land in question as public property, and so permanently protect the lake."