WEIR OVER THE AVON.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20471, 15 February 1932, Page 13

WEIR OVER THE AVON.

OFFICIAL OPENING. INTERESTING CEREMONY. As was remarked by the Mayor of Cliristehurch (Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.), in his speech before the ceremony, it was difficult to know whether a weir ought to be officially opened or officially closed. After all, to open a weir would be almost immediately to deprive it of its only true function—so to close it would be the only way of demonstrating' its use. Accordingly the weir had to be officially closed. However, the function was well performed, with the aid of a bottle of champagne, when the time came, by Mr W. J. "Walter, chairman of the Christchurch Drainage Board; and a large crowd of people, assembled in the sunshine of Saturday afternoon on the banks of tho Avon, had a good view of an interesting ceremony. Besides the casual onlookers there were a fair number of members of the Christchurch City Council, the Drainage Board, and the Canterbury Bowing Association—all bodies interested in the weir—present. The newly erected structure looked very business like with its long line of iron gates, straining chains, and wooden supports. It is situated between the Fitzgerald Avenue bridge and Dudley Creek, on a wido stretch of the river, so that it seemed as if one shallow but regular waterfall were stretching from bank to bank. Even to a casual observer it was apparent that the water was much higher on the upstream side; and from the remarks of rowing men present, it was obvious that the weir was going to be a great boon to followers of the sport. To represent aquatics properly members of all the local clubs had assembled, and the upstream stretch of the river was thronged with boats of all descriptions, manned by crews well-known and otherwise.

Mr F. D. Kesteven, president of the Canterbury Rowing Association, introduced the various speakers, and had official charge of the ceremony. He said that the Mayor, Mr Sullivan, had kindly consented to attend, and would say a few words. Afterwards Mr Walter, of the Drainage Board, would declare the weir officially opened. Aid to Rowing. "I am sure that this must be a great day for the rowing and boating people of Christchurch," said Mr Sullivan. "All interested in the Avon have been concerned in recent years about its decreasing depth, and now, with the installation of this weir, a move has been made which should improve matters." He could remember that in his boyhood's days, when he lived on the banks of the river, there were rowing and boating clubs innumerable, and gTeat numbers of young men took part in the sport. The river had become lobs and less serviceable as the years had gone by. The erection of this new structure, however, if it were not going to remedy matters altogether, would at least be of very great use. In 1919 a Moral Fete vfas held in Christchurch to raise funds for the improvement and the beautification of the River Avon. A total amount of £4OO was collected, and this was put into the hands of trustees, many of whom had now died. Tho money had eventually come under the control "of the City Council. With the passing of the'years it had increased, and last year it stood at £7OO. Recently the Canterbury Eowing Association approached tlie Council, and put up the weir scheme. There was a certain amount of controversy over it, but it was agreed to, and now stood completed before them. "Now this weir is going to be the means of bringing rowing back to its former importance," Mr Sullivan continued. "In the past many fine young men took part in the sport, and some of them were equal to the finest in the world. But there are still fine young men, and they 'are going to be helped by this new weir to equal the achievements of their fathers." Following the Mayor, Mr Kesteven said that thero was general agreement that the silting jup of the Avon had made rowing, if not well-nigh impossible, nt least a sport that was too arduous to compete as an attraction for young men with others such as tennis, croquet, and bowls. Because of this, tho new weir was going to be of grent value. It had raised the surface of the water a good eighteen inches .it, the point where it dammed the river, and this shelved up. through tho Fitzgerald avenue bridge, for a good distance. • In the old days various devices had been adopted for clearing the

bottom. Rakes had been used at first, and scythes, operated by men working from opposite banks; but this had been only to get rid of the weeds, and the bottom had still silted up, with increasing rapidity as the City grew in 6ize. Later a river-sweeper had been installed, but it had not been of much avail. Improvement to Slyer. Mr Kesteven said that his Association wanted to thank the Drainage Board for the help they had given in the construction $f the weir, and in getting the Act passed which had been necessary to authorise the work. Thanks were also due to the CityCouncil, who had given great assistance to the scheme. Altogether the weir was going to be oif great advantage to the City. "Apart from the deeper water, which is of inestimable value to rowing men, the river is going to be moro picturesque now. I would rather see a wide, deep stretch from bank to bank than a shallow stream and muddy sides," Mr Kesteven concluded. Before he declared the weir open MrWalter said that on behalf of tho Drainage Board he would like to assure all present that they were always eager to aid as much as possible schemessuch as the present. In fact, he hoped to see more weirs erected on the Avon in the future. Actually the Board had nothing to do with the financing of such structures, but was ready to do the work when the money was put up. They had spent £2515 on the riversweeper, mentioned by Mr Kesteven; and ne, the speaker, was of the honest opinion that it had done useful work. He hoped that the time would come when pleasure boats would be seen in the very centre of tho City. Another weir or two would make this possible. Mr Walter then moved over to the centre of the weir, and broke a bottle of champagne over the side, to declare it officially opened. This was followed b7 cheers for the various organisations and officials connected with the project. After that the centre control of the weir was slowly moved round, and the gates as slowly shut. This was continued until the water gradually fell away to half of its previous volume. Then the weir was opened, or rather, 6hut; and tho crowd that had been pressing for a view of the ceremony slowly dispersed.