FLOODING AT ST. MARTINS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20010, 19 August 1930, Page 10

FLOODING AT ST. MARTINS.

IMPROVEMENTS TO drainage. COUNTY COUNCIL INSPECTION. At the petition of several residents of Hillsborough, St. Martins, who suffered severely in the recent floods members of the Heathcote County Council yesterday aftern»» u*pecte<l the system of drainage in this district, particularly about Albert terrace and Lascelles street. Improvements were suggested, and these will come before the Council nt its meeting on J evening. In the morning Councillors visited Bowenvale, a district at the foot of the Cashmere Sanatoria, where the residents asked for an engineers estimate of the works necessary to prevent future floods. The chairman of the Council (Or. J. L D*S <>■ J- F- SiTrrw ing the Hillsborough llldi ngl> Crs. W. Kerr A G. Williams, and W. Vt. Scarff were present at the afternoon inspection. They were met at the «>rner of Albert terrace and Hills road by a deoutation of residents compr.simr Messrs A. W. Sibley, H. Yates, S. Mawson, R. Kelleher, 3. £> Adams, and J. Goddard. Cr Scott reported that members of the Drainage would visit the intersection on Friday next to see whetner theoutlet drain might be taken directly through to the river, instead of being diverted, as at present, to a considerable distance along Hills road. The owner of the propertv concerned had agreed to an easemejit. It was thought that with such a direct dram to the river, with larger pipes leading into it. and with an improved channel along Albert terrace the water coming from the hills would lie safely carried past the district. The residents pointed out that their properties were flooded, not merely by the exceptional fall of ram recently, but by two other heavy falls in the past four years. Drain Silted. After inspecting a property ill Lasoelles street, which had been completely and dangerously submerged, the Councillors investigated the central drain to the east of this street. This drain was badly silted np by the flood water and also blocked by trees and branches swept off its banks. It was agreed that this drain must -be adequately widened and cleared of trees, and an embankment thrown up. With this improvement and the diversion of tlie water from the hills, Cr. Danks hoped chat the district would not be endangered by any but _ exceptional floods. Opinion was divided among the residents whether they or the Council should meet the oost of the improvements. A report will be made to the full Council on Friday evening and the question will there be discussed The residents of Bowenvale asked the Council to have prepared an estimate of the engineering work necessary for relief in times of flood, and to submit the estimate back to them. Estimates of two methods of doing the work will probably bo prepared. CITY PARKS. SPORTS HELD UP. The Abattoir, Markets, and Reserves Committee, in reporting to last night's meeting of the City Council on "the recent floods in the City and suburbs, stated that owing to the heavy rain during the past fortnight all treeplanting and digging operations in the various Parks had been abandoned until such time as the ground was in fit condition to be worked. • Many of the Parks, especially St. -Albans, Sydenham. Barrington, and Linwood became flooded, and although in most cases the surface water drained away shortly after the rain oeased, 'the grounds were still very sodden, and it was considered inadvisable to allow any football' or "hockey to be played on these areas until they had dried up to some extent. During the peak of the flood both grounds at Linwood Park were completely covered with water to an average depth of 12 inches and, owing to inadequate drainage, the water had drained off very slowly, and it was questionable whether the Park would be available for winter sports during this season. It was also reported that a total of 410 trees had been planted on the banks of the Heathcote river between Radley and Colombo street bridges. Most of these trees were submerged during the flood, but apparently they had not Buffered in any way. The pollarding of willows and the repairing of banks along the Avon was proceeding. The report was adopted and a vote of thanks was accorded the Council's staff for the work done by them in assisting residents whose nouses had been affected by the flood. Petition from Ratepayers. Cr. Butterfield presented a petition from the residents of Chichester street, Radley, complaining of the . state of the footpath. The petition was referred to the Works Committee.