WAIMAKARIRI RIVER.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18287, 22 January 1925, Page 7

WAIMAKARIRI RIVER.

MEETING OF TRUST. . The "Waimakariri River Trust met yesterday. Present—Messrs J. Wood (chairman), J. Leslie, W. P. Spencer, Horrell, A. Manhire, J. H. Blackwell aaid K. .0. Dixon.

Mr C.R. Russell reported that since last meeting.of the Trust the position and height of tho required .stop banks of the Eyre River had been calculated from 12 miles 30 chains to 23 miles, at which distance the river passes into the Oxford County. At the point the river was enclosed by high tefracea extending up the river to the limitß of the survey (34 miles) with tne exception of a few oreads. These terraces were' mostly a great distance apart, leaving a river bed more than ample to pass the estimated discharge of the river with even a few feet. depth and the available elope. With a width of bed of, say, ten chains, the hydraulic radius was very Bmall, being generally under 2 feet, and the slightest variation of the. flood) slope was sufficient to .throw tho calculated discharge .100 per cent: either way. Calculations had also been made on the Oust River and the flood slopes, position and Heightß of the stop banks calculated. Except for a distance of about half a mile, it wp.s found that the existing stop banks would have to be increased in height, and where no stop banks existed these'would be required'to prevent the river- overflowing. In a number of cases it, would probably be necessary to w ideu the 'Main Drain road, as the stop banks would have to be built on the side of e. road, which is already very narrow. The total, distance calculated on the Eyre River was 11 miles 30 chains, and oil the Cust River 9 .miles. 70 chains. The report waa adopted, the chairman stilting that by the' time the next meeting was held there should be available an estimate of the whole cost of flood protection in the Elyre and Cust Rivers. ■ The overseer, in his report, stated: Since the . last. meeting of the Trust there have been three floods in the Waimakariri, no serious damage being done to any of the works. The course of the river has altered in various places along the north bank and has taken' away all the willows which were planted above the -No. 10 road, also about three chains width of the bank at this place. No. '1 groyne, north' bank,, has been completed at a cost of £534 14s 7d. Good progress is being made with the Nos. 2 and 1« ! groynes, which will be completed next month. No. 10 groyne is the place about 1£ miles ! above No. 10 road, where much erosion was'going on last month, but since then the I river has altered, and 1 am taking advantage of this and going on with the groyne. "The ■ laying of water, Kianga Settlement! j has been completed at_a cost.of £144 4s 2d 'The Eyre River has been in times since the last meeting of the Trust. Erosion set in adjoining Messrs .Parish Bros', property and the bank is now back to the water-race. This place requires a groyne which would cost about *'o. that t'oc Waimakann-Ashlei

"Water Supply Board would help in the matter. The work for the coming month will bo cutting Californian thistles, clearing of •willows out of the beds, groyne work on the north bank, repairing and putting in groynes on the Eyre River." The, report was adopted. The Kaiapoi Borough Council wrote asking if the Trust would subsidise the coat of. the work at Kairaki £ for £. . The matter was referred to the works Committee for report.