IMPROVEMENT OF THE AVON.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17701, 1 March 1923, Page 12

IMPROVEMENT OF THE AVON.

LOCAL BODIES' CONFERENCE. A conference of representatives of Christchnrch local ibodies and the Canterbury Rowing Association was held in the City Council Chambers yesterday afternoon, to consider the matter of improving the Avon and the Heathcote rivers. Messrs "W. HWinsor (chairman), and B. McGregor Wright (City Council), H. J. Otley, A. T. Smith and C. F. Champion (Christchnrch Drainage Board), J. W. Storry (Lyttelton Harbour Board), J. Gamble, W. H. Bellamy (New Brighton Borough Council), C. Curry, J. beymo ur (Waimairi County Council), W. Kerr (Heathcote County Council), 1? • D.-Kesteven and'R. J. j-iobbs (Canterbury Rowing Association). Messrs A. Dudley Dobson and S. E. McCarthy were also present by invitation, the last-named representing the River Improvement Committee. The chairman, in introducing the subject, stated that it would be useless to go on with the matter of river improvement unless it were done thoroughly. Personally, he thought the lower reaches of' the Avon and Heathcote rivers were in great need of improvement, and if they were made iga'oie for motor boats, etc., it would 'te of benefit to them all. Mr W. H. Bellamy stated that something should certainly be done in the | matter, but said that would ! be experienced in securing the necessary finance. ! Mr F. D. Kesteven agreed with the previous speaker in his assertion that finance would prove the greatest difficulty. They would have to be very, very careful in lowering the level of the rivers, he stated, because of the small quantity of water in them., If the level of the riverbed were to be lowered to too great an extent, it would leave the banks in a more or less ugly and untidy state. Mr R. J. Hobbs stated that the membership of'rowing clubs in Christchurch had been going back of late, and this was due to tue shallow state of the river—especially in the beginning of the season, it was too much of a drag to pull the boats over the mud fiats. He would like to see the River Avon dredged for a mile or a mile and a-half from the Fitzgerald avenue bridge. The Harbour Board s dredge at -Lvttelton might be available far this purpose. With regard to the carrying out of the scheme, he said that it was doubtful whether the meeting had sufficient authority to do anything. The river was under the jurisdiction of the Drainage Board, and it was a question as to wnether that body would help them. Mr H. J. Otley stated that the Board would be prepared to help them if the local bodies could raise the necessary funds. He did not think it would be fair to the ratepayers of Christchurch to tax them for river improvement, when there was so much other necessary work to be carried out. He was quite sure that tjig money would have to be raised finite clear of the Drainage Board. If the local bodies coruld find the money, he felt sure that the Board would, do everything in their power to assist the scheme. Personally, he..was in favour of the I scheme, 'biut he could not commit the Board to it. • V Mr B. McGregor Wright said that it would be for. the good of the city if something concrete were done to improve the Avon and the Heathcote rivers. However, no one seemed willing to undertake the raising of the necessary finance. Mr A. Dudley Dobson stated that for quite a number of years now the' Avon had gradually been silting up, and the way in which to improve it for boating was to take the silt out j again, lie suggested tnat a suction... dredge should be obtained. This could remove the silt and spread it over the ( flats. Scoops could be effectively employed in "the lowfer reaches of the river. , ■ , i Mr C. Currie stated that the only way in which the money could be raised would'be to form a river board and i. get legislation through authorising it to strike a rate for river improvement. He • moved that such a board, which should comprise representatives of local bodies through which the Avon passed, sports bodies and the Drainage Board we set up. • Mr Otley said that one Board was in existence now, and there would be little use setting up anotner. He thought that the best way to have the improvements effected was to get it done piece by-piece. He thought that the meeting should request the Drainage Board to ask Parliament for power to strike a rate over its whole district, to raise funds for river improvement. On the motion of Mr S. E. McCarthy, it. was resolved: ''That the Drainage Board be requested to apply for legislative powers enabling it to undertake the work of improving and beautifying all rivers and creeks in the district, and that such legislature include borrowing and rating power to permit its carrying out the work." Mr Currie withdrew his motion,'-and seconded that moved by Mr McCarthy. On being put to the meeting, the motion was carried unanimously.