WAIMAKARIRI RIVER.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16299, 24 August 1918, Page 5

WAIMAKARIRI RIVER.

protective •works. Yeaterd&y morning a deputation from the South Waxmalcariri Hiv*r Board waited on Sir William Fraeer, Minister of Public Work*, to protest against the proposals recently made that lands north of tho xivov should be brought into the district controlled by the Boai'i, and that tho rating for proposed northern protective works should be extended over the enlarged district. The deputation, which oojaisted of Messrs W. P. Spencer (chairman), T. E. Jonets, C. Burgees, J. Leslie, J. P. W. Lee, H. E. Periymafi, A. 8. Bruce, and J. h- ScarveJl (secretary), was introduced by Mr G. Witty, M.P. At the request of Sir Wm. Freeer, th« Hon. G. W. Butsell, Minister of Internal Affaire, wo* also present. Mr Witty «ud that great care would hsjjpe to be taken in future to protect the scuth sido of tho river. The people on the north side purchased land with their eyes, open us they knew that a large amount of erosion wse taking place. They had done nothins to protect themselves. Mr Spencer eaid tllat about fifty year* ago the Waimakariri had' overflowed into Christdruroh, and since then people on the south bank had erected protective works. Ten year* ago there had nearly been a recurrence of the inundation, and there were still places along the river that needed Watching. His Board objected to the proposed amalgamation as it meant that the northern people would be reaping the bonefit of the rates that tile southern people hud been paying for .nearly half a century. In reply to a question from the Hon. G. W. Russell, Mr Sf>encer said that the Beard was at present receiving JS4OCO per annum revenue.

r Mr Leslie «aid til's Board had to bo vory alert at flocrj times to prevent the river from cowing' into the city. Men. were kept on watch ,6t danger places, and had a eratem whereby a number of men could he callcd on in. an emergency to deal with such places. In reply, tho Minister said he had eson for some time that something would havo to be done in connexion with the Waimakariri. He had been givwn to understand that tho effect of the protective tvoTka on the smith bank had been to drive the water on to the north bank. Both Ji® and Mr Russell believed that There a river had to ba protected, there ehould bo only one board, otherwise th6rt> would be tha spectacle of one board continually fighting this other. United control of one river did not necessarily mean that endowment* eet aside years ago would bo handed over to other people, and ho did •not think Parliament would pass legislation to give effect to a proposal of that kittd. Each side of the rivor Bhcruld pay its own rates. If jt could be ehown by the engineers that ojwi side was being injured by tho works on the other eicLe, it would only bo fair that compensation ehould be givem He would have to consider hia decision. Tho Hon. G. W. Rueeell eaid there were ehocking examples of the evils caused by contending river boards. There ehould be Tip multiplicity of beards, and only one body for each fiver, which ehould have control from its «ouroe to it* mouth. He nalieed tho heavy responsibility tit tho Waunakariri' Kiver Board, which had to protect a city at the book of it. He thought that the local bodies abutting on the rivcr_ should bo represented on tie Waimakariri Riw Beard, which should have the power to requisition on the local v authorities for funds. Mr Witty thanked the Minister and the deputation then withdrew.