RIVER AVON.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18671, 21 April 1926, Page 8

RIVER AVON.

CLEANING OPERATIONS. DRAINAGE BOARD'S ENGINEER'S REPORT. At the meeting of the Drainage Board last night, the Board's engineer, Mr J. Cullens, submitted tho following report on river improvement, and Mr R. T. Stewart's experimental plant:— "Having been requested at last meeting of tho Board to give an opinion on tho plant used by Mr 11. T. Stewart in cleaning a length of the river Avon, 1 stated that the work had not gone far enough for me to form a reliable opinion as to tho suitability, or otherwise, of tho plant. •"In connexion with thc result of the hydraulic sweeping, I have now to report having made ail inspection of tho river at several points tetween Manchester street and Madras street, on the 13th instant, when it was found that there was a depth of about three inches of clean sand on top of the river weed. This sand had apparently been washed down from the hydraulic sweeper when at work up stream from Manchester street. Some movement was observed in the sand mentioned, but it is difficult to say what the extent of such movement has been since the cessation of work by tho sweeper. "While the sleeping plant effectively cleaned the length of river which it passed over. I' am of opinion that the progress will be slower than that stated by Mr Stewart.

"Even though Mr Stewart's expectations may not be fully realised, tha experiment shows that the plant is capable of effectively cleaning the bed of the river. It is possible that the detrituß may accumulate in the lower reaches of the river, but even if that is so it will not be a difficult matter to have it removed to tho low-lying ground.'' The report was adopted. Purchase of Plant. The River Improvemapt Committee reported that negotiations for the purchase of a river-cleaning plant from Mr Stewart had been entered into a,nd an agreement in connexion therewith had been prepared by the Board's solicitors and submitted to Mr Stewart for approval. Mr H. G. Livingstone said that the agreement was now being considered by Sir Stewart's solicitors. The report was adopted. Oarsmen's Appreciation. The Ohristchureh Regatta Club forwarded the following resolution:— ' "That this meeting of the Christchurch Regatta Club views with pleasure the decision of the Christchurch 1 Drainage Board to clean out the river Avon, and looks forward to the day when deep water will be available for the encouragement of rowing." A similar resolution was forwarded by the Canterbury Rowing Association, its resolution concluding with the statement that the Association trusted "that when tho work is put in hand due recognition is given to the fact that deep water is essential to enable oarsmen to compete on equal terms jvith crews trained elsewhere."