WEIR ON THE AVON?

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19613, 8 May 1929, Page 10

WEIR ON THE AVON?

ROWING ASSOCIATION'S PROPOSAL.

FORGOTTEN FUND'S USE. Tor over twenty-five years the City Council has held in trust for the Canterbury Rowing Association the sum of £4OO, the money having been set aside for the purpose of improving the Biver Avon for rowing. The money was raised by means of a floral fete. At a meeting of the executive of the Association last evening the matter was discussed, the executive being in favour of the proposal that a weir be built on the Avon, and it was decided to write to the City Council asking if the money was available.

The money can be used only for improving the river for rowing. The reason thai it has remained untouched for so many years is that no one remembered that the money had been handed over.

Mr B. J. Hobbs (honorary secretary) said that he had made enquiries at the City Council and had ascertained that £4OO had been handed to the Council. That amount had increased to £7OO.

Mr F. D. Kesteven (president of the Association) said that about twenty-five years ago the Association had held a fete, the funds to be used for improving the river for rowing. The fete had been a great success, and they had made about £BOO. The money had been placed in the hands of trustees (the late Hon. Mr Louisson, M.L.C., Messrs George Hart and Edwin Smith). A portion of the money was used in cutting off corners, and improving the river generally. Later the balance of the fund was handed over to the City Council. He considered that they should apply for sufficient money to build a dam.

The secretary said that he had interviewed Mr H. G. Livingstone, of the Drainage Board, on the matter. Mr Livingstone had stated that the Board considered that it would be better to erect a weir on the Avon, and to have a platform and rollers on each side of the weir so that boats could be taken over it. The Board would see that the work was done, but the Association would have to pay for it. The chairman: We don't want to nsk the City Council for all the money. The Drainage Board will see that the dam is properly built. Mr Hobbs: We will have to make to the Council and ask if the money is available for improving the river.

Mr W. S. Godfrey said that they should not forget the fact that, if the weir was built, it would bank up the water, but it would also bank up the silt. Every time a flood came down it would bring silt, which would shallow that part of the river. They would also have to use a portion of the money in dredging the river.

The chairman said that they should emphasise in the letter to the Council the fact that the grants were only for the improvement of the river, as the matter would be foreign to the new Council.

In answer to a question the chairman said that the money was not for improving the river banks. Mr W. S, Godfrey moved that' A letter be written to the City Council asking that the money held in trust be handed over to the Canterbury Bowing Association, to be expended on the improvement of the river, subject to the approval of the Christehurch Drainage Board.

The chairman: That is going too far. I think we will be able to get sufficient to build a dam, but we won't get the whole box and dice. Mr Hobbs moved as an amendment that the City Council be written to asking if the "money held in trust was available for improving the river for rowing.

Mr Godfrey said that he did think that Mr Hobbs's amendment was in order, as he asked if the money "was available for improving the river" when that was the purpose for which the money was held in trust. It was absurd. If the amendment was carried, it wiped out his motion entirely. It was pointed out that should the amendment be carried, and a favourable answer received from the Council, Mr Godfrey could again move his motion. The amendment, which became the motion, was carried. The chairman: That is only the start —we'll soon get going. A member: Why hasn't this fund been thought of before? The ehairman: It slipped all our memories.

It was suggested that the river should be dredged, and that the Association should obtain the river-sweeper for the purpose. The chairman: The river-sweeper is no good unless it goes right through. It won't shift the sand —it only shifts the dust that has been blowing off the street for years. It is the snags and other objects in the lower reaches of the river that holds the water back. If they were removed the river would run straight out. Further discussion of the proposal of building a weir was held over until a reply was received from the City Council.