CLIVE'S OBJECTIONS

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 72, 27 April 1929, Page 6

CLIVE'S OBJECTIONS

opposition to river diversion. MINISTER MEETS BOARD AND RATEPAYE1IS. Objet.fion to tlie diversion of the! river in tlie direction of Clive was i made by tbe Clive Ratepayers' Assoeiation to tlie Minister of Public I Works, tlie Hon. K. A. Ransoni, yes- j tcrday. ' j During his tour yesterday the Minis- '. ter, acfonipauicd by Mr A. Dinnie, I Public Workj Deiiartment EngSneer, Mr \\ . E. Barnard, M.P., and a deputation of the Clive ratepayers, proceeded to tlie low levei liridge at tlie Washout, wbere tliey were met by a large doputation representing Clive, Pakowhai, ^Mangateretere, and sur- J rcundiiig districts' Anti-Diversion 1 Committee. Mr H. E. Morgan, chairman of tlie conunittee. exjfliiined tbe position to the Minister and read to bim tbe following stnteiiicnt wliicli liad been ; drawn up by tlie conunittee. "We a bsoliitciy object to any diversion of tbe Tutaekuri river. We contend : Tliat tlie banks be of tbe same level and dimensions 011 eitber side of tbe river ancl overflow as from Redcliffe 1 bridge. "That tlie overflow should be diverted through the Washout. "That tlie Rivers Board be rcstraiiied from doiug any work at above or below the intake of tlie overflow tliat would ea use any more water to be diverted into tli© overflow other than is :vt jirescnt going down. "That as the existing banks bave already brokcn several tinies anv inereased flow of water in tlic overflow would eonsiderably increase the danger and goes to prove absolutely tlic utter bopelessness of tlie total diversion sclieme. REMAIN IN PRESENT COURSE. "Tbat it is a fact tliat a large percentage of ratepayers of Meanee and Napier Soutli dfi.stricrts (as well as tbe Napier Harbour Board, vide iMr Holmes', engineers', evidence before tbe Royal Commission) are in favour of tbe river remaining in its present course, and we lionestly believe tbat this is tbe considered opinion of s big majority of ratepayers in ths whole of the Hawke's Bay rivers distriet, and further we fecl tliat before any definite decision is arrived afc the ratepayers should be given the opportunity of proving the above statement. "That no attempt has been made to keep the present course of tlie Tutaekuri river clear from tlie intake of the overflow to its outlet "That at 110 time have the Clive, Whakatu and Mangateretere ratepayers askecl for an overflow for the Ngaruroro or Tuki Tuki rivers. "That a great point has been made by tbe eliairnian of tbe H.B. Rivers Board that Clive lias been taking three-fourths of the Tutaekuri water for a considerable time — the map will prove the fallacy of this statement. "That the whole cost of any seheme for tbe overflow waters should be borne by the ratepayers 011 the northern side of tbe distriet eoncerned. "We point out tbat the chairman of tbe H.B. Rivers Board at its last meeting made a lot of the fact tbat tlie board liad offored to build an adequate bank on eitber side of the Ngaruroro and tbat we bad turned this offer down. "We oontend that we had ex-cc-llent reasons for doing so, as ^ we had tbe bitter expcrience of the Ngaruroro and also tbe Tuki Tuki overfiowing above Clive and Pakowhai, causing serious loss of stock and property — and liaturally banks would seriouslv accentuate tbe position. "^Ve plaee the above facts before you, sir, and know that you will give them fair eonsideration before making vear replv to tlie PI.B. Rivers Board."' DISCUSSED jWITH BOARD. Tlie same question Avas later diseussed by tbe Minister with tbe board and its engineer, Mr F. 0. Hay. Tbe Minister lirst met the board on the Brookfields bridge, 011 the Tutaekuri overflow, and consulted with Mr Hay over a map of the proposed sclieme. Mr Hay said that the present ebannel of tlie river was inadequate to take tlie flood waters and to make it so would be far too expensive. Tlie dredging that was being done in tbe lower reaches of the river in conncction with reclamation was improving tlie course Mr Hay outlined the development oi tbe overflow ebannel for taking the flood waters down to the sea. _ The Minister: "Wbat protection is to be given to Clive f Mr Hay: All the surplus waters of tbe Ngaruroro are to be cliverted from Clive and a stop bank wilL be provided. Tbe Minister: The work that lias so far been done, if a big flood came, would rcsult in tbe whole river going down the overflow. Mr Hay: I don't tliink so. 1b would bc a great win if it did. The Minister questionecl the height of the banks 011 the overflow and Mr Hay said tbat they were to be raised six feet. The Minister: Unless tbe river is cliverted the banks will not be continued in height or lengthP Mr Hay said tbat tlie board was now considering lurthcr iniprovements. Care would bo taken to protect Clive. No modiflcd sclieme. however, could be absolutely safe in tbe case of an "old man" flood. Tbe Minister asked wbat were tbe intended beiiefits of the proposed combined sclieme for tbe control of both rivers, and Mr Hay said that the progrcss of Taradale and Meanee lsould be furtliered by tbe Tutaekuri diversion and reolaimod harbour endowments would be safer from floods. Lines of eonimuiiieation would be safe from wasbing out. Tbe Ngaruroro scheme would make safer from floods tbe farming lands ronnd Hastings. THE PRO.AirSE QUESTION. "Tbe safe thing ancl tlie best thing is a coniprehen&ive scheme for both rivers," he said. "and if it were not for the cost we woulcl not talk anything else. But. from tlie economic viewpoint, a modified scheme has to be considered." Tbe Minister referred to a promise wbicli bc said be understood bad been given to tbe Clive people that tlie diversion eut would not bo opened up rigbt to tlie river. Mr Jarvis said tbat be could not understand wbere sucli an understanding came from. Tbe whole poliey of the board bad always been toward making tbe overflow as efficient as possible by keeping a stream of water in _it. and it was on the unanimous decision of tbe board tbat it was decided to clean out tbe vegetation in tlie overflow. Tbe Minister: But it seems to me tbat tbe board has triecl to put as much water down tbe ebannel as_ possible. as tbe ultimate scheme provided. Mr Jarvis said tbat any promise tbat tbe out would not be opened did not emanate from bim. Tbe board_ made its decision before be was chairman. This wns denied by Mr Hellver, but Mr Jarvis said thaf tbe decision was made tbree days before be wns chairman After the visit to Brookfields the t party proceeded yia th6 Meanee and

Redcliffe bridsres to tbe Puketapu bridge, where Mr Hay expiained to the Minister tbe proposal for straightening tbe river there by banking and tbe erection of groynes. Tbe Minister tlien proceeded to tbe Fernhill bridge on tbe Ngaruroro, wbere Mr Hay exnlained tbe board's proposals in regard to tbat river. Tbe party then proceeded to Hast-ingirr-yhere lunch ,wa« taken s