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EFF~TS OF THE LOWER MANAWATU RIVER FLOOD CONTROL SCHEME ON THE FARMING IN THE LOWER MANAWATU
A Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Geography
at Massey University
By
JENNIFER MCNEILL-ADAMS
Massey University 1968
Chapter 1. Introduction.
Selection
or
Criteria.Source of Information.
Definition of Areas.
Contents
Part I. Background to the Flood Control Scheme.
Cllapt·er '2. Peysical and Economic Setting.
The 'Manawatu River Catchment.
Climate.
The Incidence of Flooding.
The Effect of Flooding on Human Occupance.
Chapter
3.
Development of Flood Control Measures.Part II. The Effects of the Flood Control Scheme.
Chapter 4. Land Values.
The Unimproved Value.
The Value
or
Improvements.The Capital Value.
Comparisons with County Increases •.
The Incidence of Rating.
Conclusion.
Chapter
5.
Land Use.·The Pre-scheme Land Use Pattern.
Changes in the Land Use Pattern since the Scheme.
Conclusion.
Chapter 6. Production.
Dairying.
Sheep Farming.
Conclusion.
Chapter 7. Conclusion.
Appendices.
Acknowledgements, Bibliography.
1 1 2 2
6 6
11 19 22
27
33 36 45 54
57
61 64 6771
73 82
84
85
95 114 115List of Maps, Graphs and Diagrams.
Figure.
1. Lower Manawatu: Counties, Districts and FFA1s.
2. Lower Manawatu: Location and Size of Sample Farms. 3. Manawatu River Catchment.
4.
Manawatu River Floodplain: Relief.5. Ma.nawatu River Catchment: Mean Annual Rainfall.
6. Manawatu River Catchment: Rainfall Associated with Storm Types. Type A.1.
1. Manawatu River Catchment; Rainfall Associated with Storm Types. Type A.2 •.
8. Manawatu River Catchment: Rainfall Associated with
9.
Storm Types. Type B.
Flood Levels of the Me.nawatu River above 50,000 cusecs, at Fitzherbert Bridge, Palmerston North.
10. Lower Manawatu River Flood Control Scheme and Extent of 1953 Flood.
11. Mean Annual Percentage Increase in Unimproved Value
Page.
3 4 1 10 12
15
16
17
21
28
Between Pre- and Post-scheme Dates. 41 12. Difference Between Increases of the 1, 5 and 20 yea:r
FFA1s and that of the 100 year FFA's. 41 13. Mean Annual Percentage Increase in Improvements Value
Between Pre- and Post-scheme Dates. 48 14. Difference Between Increases of the 1, 5 and 20 year
FFA1s and that of the 100 year FFA's. 48 15. Mean Annual Percentage Increase in Capital Value
16.
Between Pre- and Post-scheme Dates.
Difference Between Increases of the 1, 5 and 20 year FFA's and that of the 100 year FFA's.
17 ~ Mean Annual Percentage Increase in Land Values of Districts and FFA1s Compared with those of the Counties.
18. Lower Manawatu: Soils.
19b. Farms Showing Changes in Land Use since 1955.
19a. Lower Manawatu: Land Use, 1955.
20. Carrying Capadty of Sample Dairy Farms 1955 and 1965.
21. Production of Sample Dairy Farms, 1955 and ·1965.
22. Number of Dry and Breeding Sheep, 1955 and 1965.
23. Number of Farmers Cash Cropping, 1955 and 1965.
24. Acreage Cash Cropped, 1955 and 1965.
56
56
60 69 74 a 75 90 90 99 103 103
Table.
I-2.
II-2.
III-2.
IV-2.
I-4.
II-4.
III-4.
IV-4.
V-4.
VI-4.
VII-4.
VIII-4.
IX-4.
X-4.
List of Tables.
Mean Monthly and Annual Rainfall Figures for Selected St~tions in the Manawatu River Catchment.
Climatic Statistics for the Lower Ma.nawatu.
FrequenGy of Probable Floods in the Manawatu River Measured at Fitzherbert Bridge.
Estimation of Flood Dam.age in the Lower Manawatu.
Average Unimproved Value per Acre for Districts at Both Revision Dates.
Page.
13 18
20 25
37
Mean Unimproved Value of FFA1s at Pre-scheme dates. 38 Mean Unimproved Value of FFA1s at Pre-scheme dates. 39 Mean Annual Percentage Increase in Unimproved
Value. 40
Mean Annual Percentage Increase in Improvements
Value, 47
Main Period of Development on Sample Farms. 53 Average Capital Value per Acre for Districts
at Both Revision Dates.
Mean Annual Percentage Increase in Capital Value.
Annual :t:ercentage Increase in Values.
Capital Value and Adjusted Capital Value with Rates.
55
55
59
63 I-5. Classification of Soils According to Rate ofII-5.
III-5.
IV-5.
V-5.
I-6.
II-6.
Alluvium Accuraulation and Drainage.
Proportion of Land Use in Categories for Districts,
1955
and1965.
Number of Sample Farms in Each Category of Land Use,
1955
and1965.
Reasons Stated for Changes in Farming on Sample Farms.
Reasons as Stated by Sample Farmers for Changing Farming Types.
Numbers of Cattle, January 31,
1955
and1965.
Ratio Index for Correlating Stock Numbers with Land .Acreages of Dairy Farms between 1955 and
1965.
72 76 78 79 86
87
Table.
III-6.
IVa-6.
IVb-6.
IVc-6.
V-6.
VI-6.
vrr ...
6.VIII-6.
IX-6.
Production Levels, Carrying Capacities and Number of Runoffs; 1955 and 1965.
Case Study, No. 1.
Case Study, No. 2.
Case Study, No. 3.
Carrying Capacity of Fat Lamb Farms, 1955 and 1965.
Proportion of Sheep Farms Carrying only Dry Stock,
~·
91 a 92 93 94
98
1955 and 1965. 100
Proportion of Dry to Breeding Sheep, 1955 and 1965. 100 Increases in Cash Cropping Acreages in Districts
1955 to 1965.
Increases in Cash Cropping Acreages in FFA1s, 1955 to 1965.
102
102 X-6. Number of Farmers Cash Cropping in Districts,
XI-6.
XIIa-6.
XIIb-6.
XIIc-6.
XIII-6.
1955 and 1965. 104
Number of Farmers Cash Cropping in FFA1s, 1955 and
1965. 104
Case Study, No. 4. 106
Case Study, No. 5. 107
Case Study, No. 6. 110
County Increases in Stock Numbers and Cash
Cropping Acreages between 1955 and 1965. 113
'
List of Plates.
Plate. Page.
1. Extent of 1953 Flood in Lower Manawatu. 24 2. Floodwater of 1953 Flood in Lower Taonui District. 24 3. Lower Manawatu River Flood Control Scheme. 29
4.
Small Floodgate Outlets. 295.
Clearing Willows and Stumping. 1086. Providing Large Open Drains. 108
?.
Fencing and pasture established. 1098, Farm in Taonui Basin under water during a
Flood in 1956, 111
9.
10.
11.
The Extent of Flooding since the Flood Control Scheme.
Cash Crops: Grass Seed Harvesting.
A Wheat Crop.
111 112 112
