RIVER AVON.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19317, 23 May 1928, Page 8

RIVER AVON.

PROPOSED BUILDING OF WEIRS. CONFERENCE OF INTERESTED BODIES. A conference of representatives of the Citv Council, the Drainage Board, and the Beautifying Association, decided last night to recommend the City Council and the Drainage Board to seek legislation to permit the erection of "weirs, . in the river Avon, to improve it for boating purposes, subject to certain limitations. There were present representing the City Council Cr. G. R. Hunter and Mr A R. Galbraith, City Engineer; representing the Drainage Board, Messrs H. J. Otley (chairman), H. G Livingstone, and E. H. S. Hamilton; and representing the Beautifying Association, Messrs A. Dudley Dobson and R. B. Owen. Cr. G. R. Hunter, chairman of the Citv' Council Works Committee, said that the object of the conference was to see if some method of control i tespect of the Avon could be devised. There was some duplication at present. The City Council possessed some powers, the Drainage Board had some powers, and to a certain extent so had the Beautifying Association A lot ot people were anxious to take up rowing which, all admitted, was a very healthy sport, and the desire was to make the river suitable for that sport. The City Council's powers were limited, he knew, but its desire was to do something in the matter. He asked Mr Otley for his views. Mr Otlev said that he was not prepared to make any suggestion on behalf of the Drainage Board. Whatever was the position in respect of the banks, the river itself was under the absolute control of the Board. If the City Council was prepared to pay tor improvements or alterations tha were not going to be detrimental tp the Board's ratepayers, it might do so. The Board was authorised to raise rates for a certain specified purpose, and could not spend the money in any other way. He would sooner hear what others had to say; or what the City Council wanted. Mr A. Dudley Dobson said that he was one of three engineers who had reported on the improvement. of the river Avon. The characteristics of the river were that from the Fendalton bridge to the Barbadoes street bridge there was a fall of about six feet to the mile; beyond the Barbadoes street bridge there was practically no fall. The committee of engineers recommended that three dams should be erected, and that dredging should be done on the lower reaches. They had not been quite clear whether the dams would do harm or not; if they did not do any harm they would greatly improve the upper reaches. Mr R. B. Owen referred to the report of Messrs Dobson, Cyrus Williams, and Cuthbert, made in 1916, and to the supplies of subterranean water as disclosed by the drainage works in Garden road. He considered that it would be a mistake to erect fixed weirs; they should be moveable, and_ should be moved during the three winter months. He regretted that the Drainage Board had not sought some of the powers proposed in the River Conservancy Board Bill. He considered that the argument based on the flooding of cellars was a bogey; it was an easy matter to-day to stop leaky cellars. As the result of the operations of the river-sweeper the level of the water had dropped one foot at least, and lie considered that the height at which it previously stood should be maintained. Mr H. G. Livingstone, chairman of the Drainage Board's River Improvement Committee, said that it was the Board's duty to reduce the subsoil water and prevent the land from being water-logged. The result of the operations of the river-sweeper had been to remove the filth, mud, and weeds, but there had been no material increase in the depth of the water. If it was desired to improve the river weirs would have to be put in. There seemed to him no reason why weirs should not be put in in certain parts of the river, as long as the level of the water was not increased beyond what it was before the sweeper was put into operation. Personally he was in favour of weirs. No improvement worth the name could be made unless weirs were put in, and, personally, he was of opinion that the weirs would do no damage, provided they did not raise the level of the water above the present day level. Any legislation should be in the direction of giving additional powers to the Drainage Board. Mr Galbraith asked if the three engineers had definitely decided upon the sites of the weirs, Mr Livingstone said that one was to be at Antigua street, the second at the Riccarton drain outfall, and the third opposite Victoria Lake. Mr Galbraith said that if a weir were erected lower down than Antigua street there would be a risk of flooded cellars, and if a claim for damage were made it would be very difficult to disprove. As weirs were not to be erected lower than Antigua street the question was much simplified. As far as weirs on the upper reaches were concerned he felt certain that they would have no influence in the City. Mr Otley said that the Drainage Board had taken counsel's opinion, which was to the effect that once the Board had lowered the water in the river they must not raise it. The only way to improve the, depth was to dredge the pools between the natural dams. Mr E. H. S. Hamilton said that the three points to be borne in mind were: (1) The present water level must not be raised; (2) th<| position and number of weirs must be settled once and for all, and (3) the question of finance had to be considered—where the money was coming from. The chairman suggested referring the matter for a report from Messrs J. Cullens (Drainage Board's engineer;, Galbraith, and Dobson. Mr Hamilton said the matter was not an engineering one. The Drainage Board had no power to put in any weirs or grant permission to any person or body to put in weirs. The question was whether they should move for Parliamentary authority to put in weirs. On the motion of Mr Livingstone, seconded by Mr Owen, it was resolved: "That the Christchurch City Council and the Drainage Board be recommended to approve of the proposal to apply for legislative authority being granted to the Board to erect weirs in the river where it considers they are necessary, provided always that they do not, and will not in the future, raise the existing level of the water at the points where they are constructed." A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the conference.