CONCERN FELT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 138, 24 March 1939, Page 6

CONCERN FELT

ASPECTS OF IRRIGATION WORKS. danger seen in CULVERTS. COUNCIL MEETS ENGINEERS. Concern at dangers and difficulties arising out of the construction of the irrigation channels in Ashburton County having been felt by the County Council for . some time, the ' Council to-day held a conference with. Messrs T. G. Beck (Public Works Department engineer in charge of irrigation) and j. 0. Riddell (engineer in charge of the work north of the Ashburton River). After a brief conference at the Council' Chambers the Council and the engineers went by bus to inspect the localities under discussion. The Council representatives present were Messrs H. J. Crothers (chaiiman), S. P. Taylor, F. Frampton, A. Doig; C. A. Campion, J. Carr, W. G. Gallagher,. H. O. B. Withell, A. N. Qrigg, J. Bland, J. Moore, J. Lowery (members), G. Kelly (County Clerk) and H. A Vezey (County Engineer). statement by' the Coned. The Council’s views were set out in the following statement: — ‘ ‘Culverts Over Irrigation Channels. much concern is being expressed by "motorists at the lack of visibility where culverts have been erected over irrigation channels in the Winchmore District and representations have been made to the Council of the very great danger or serious accidents. It; would be of advantage if these culverts could be inspected to-day in order that, the difficulties could bo discussed and overcome. “Mount Hutt Water Supply.—Some years ago you made a survey and prepared a report on the provision; of water for portion of the Mount- Hutt district, the water to he drawn from the Pudding Hill Stream, but the scheme has not yet been proceeded with, as all available water has been Required for the area already served. When the irrigation channel is completed, it might be possible for the Council to obtain its supplies of water for the stock races from this source and thus permit the use of the water, or portion of it, from, the Pudding Hill Stream for the area above the irrigation channel. The Council would be pleased to learn your views on this matter. “Dry Gully Bridge.—lt is proposed to erect a bridge over Dry Gully on the Methven-Mount Hutt Road, but the work has been held up until the exact site of the irrigation channel' has been decided on. Is the survey far enough advanced to indicate that the channel and the bridge site will not conflict? “Storm Water Channel. —The Minister of Public Works, in reply to representations from the Council, indicated that the flow of flood water from the foothills of Mount Hutt, would be controlled in such a manner that farm lands would not be detrimentally affected. The Council would be interested to know the proposed method of control of this flood water. ‘ “Roads in Irrigation Areas.—The extraordinary traffic on road's to and from the irrigation works is causing the Council great concern, and the Minister of Public Works has intimated to the Council that tho cost of repairs will be defrayed by liis Department. Would you please advise as to the system which is to be adopted in having the repairs carried out, i.e., if the usual Public Works Authority is to be applied for, and if the work is to be done by the Council or your Department? “Ashburton River Work.—The order of the erection of the various embankments on the Ashburton River has been the. subject of comment and inquiry by local land occupiers, andi it would be of assistance to the Council if the views of your Department in this matter could be given so. that all concerned could be made conversantwith the progress of the work. “Hinds River Control.—The Council is awaiting with patience, the report on the survey of the area affected* by this river, and the recommendations of. your Department on the. Works which are necessary to provide protection against flooding and erosion. Can fmv indication be given as to the elate of completion of the report?”. , ‘ < Reply by Mr Beck. * '• Mr Beck said that the Department had endeavoured to. meet the Council as far as possible in the construction of culverts, but they should bo £ inspected and his answer given op' the spot. Since the hydro-electric station at Highbank had been decided on, taking water from the diversion race, the question of Mount Hutt water had taken on a different and better , aspect.. He thought there might bo some misunderstanding about the Mount Hutt storm water problem. - The diversion race ;would not interfere with the storm water in any way,; it could be run under! or over the race. He did not have any advice regarding the maintenance of roads damaged by the Department’s vehicles. He thought the Council would be asked to do the work and the Department pay a subsidy, provided the Department undertook to make good the damage. In regard to the river control work, the Council should agree that the plans accepted should not be departed from, and he would not depart from them. The order of work, was a question for co-operation between the Council and the Department. He regretted ho had not been able to finalise the Himls river plans, though the maps had been completed.

In reply to Mr Bland, Mr Beck saicl the most serious point in the Ashburton River work was just above the bridge, where there was a bottle neck. Other work would, be carried out where it w’as thought to be most necessary. The stop bank at Digby’s bridge was thought to be the first because of the weakness of the bank there. As far as the rest of it was concerned, it was purely a matter of expediency. Mr Wit-heir referred to the making of water races by the Department in the southern areas of the County, and said that in some cases the cuts were too deep and liable to fall in, while

there should he some filling up m some of’the gullies. Mr Beck said this, question could be gone into. There was ample provision foT heavier demands on the water supply in the siphoning, or water under the big races. The margin allowed was 100 per cent, over tho present capacity. If further demand came to it, extra siphons could be put in. Question of Land Tax. Answering a questioner, Mr Beck said that where races were of a capacity of 40 cubic feet a second, or larger, the land would he taken by the Public Works Act and alienated, so that there would not be any taxes or other charges on that land. In the whole of the County there would not he many of these. The races would he fenced off, and in all other cases the owner of land who thought he had suffered loss by tile race coming though . his property he could enter a claim for sueli losses. Mr Frampton complimented Mr Beek on the answers lie had given, and .Mr Taylor added similar sentiments, at t.h< same time paying a tribute to Mr Bp;lv’s ability.