RISE IN HEIGHT OF RIVER BED

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22111, 5 June 1937, Page 14

RISE IN HEIGHT OF RIVER BED

SHINGLE DEPOSITS* / jjj WAIMAKARIRI - \ OFFER MADE TO LOCAI?j BODIES free removal to lesse* FLOOD DANGER A Plan to reduce and control Vbm u of the Waimakarirx river bed nd lessen flood danger was discussed yesterday at a conference cussed yesi bet Ween repre- . i oca i bodies and memberfolthe Walmakariri River TrmV * Nineteen local bodiea. from and rural areas, were invited to delegates, and the many present inspected the shingle depot*. • the river, discussing a suggest S,n from the tn*t that the^o«« might combine to erect m plant to remove the shingle, making the river safer and provide ing cheap shingle for local body; work It was stated that the rivrf bed rising each year and vate contractors, with smail planL could remove only a very small part ° f A h compaSon between the recent flooding of the Mississippi river the banks of which were higher than the surrounding countryside, and the state of the Waimakarin if the banks had again to be raised to cope with the rising bed was made during the discussion. No decision was reached on the action to be Taken, and the delegates, who inspected the river near the new bridge on tha Main North road, will report on the position to the next meetings ofthei* councils. “The Lower, the Safer” “The lower we keep the river bed, the safer is the whole countryside said Mr J. H. Blackwell, chairman of the trust, explaining the P osi:lori to the delegates. About mQQO tons of shingle a year was being deposited in the river, he said, and in the last five years the bed had risen in height by two feet three inches. The rate of increase was about five inches a year, and under present conditions, with little ofthe stance being used, that rate was likely to continue. It was the trust s concern to keep the bed at as low a level as possible, and the conference was called so that local body members might-see for themselves the P° £ sir bility of reducing’ flood danger ana at the same time ensuring a cheap supply of good shingle, sufficient to meet all local body needs. . Private contractors now taking shingle from the river, with small plant, were able to make a profit. If a big plant was in use and facilities provided for grading the shingle on the spot, it could be taken from the river much more cheaply. Local bodies which adopted the plan would benefit both directly and indirectly —because they could get cheapshingle supplies and at the same time make the river safer. Dual Interests _____ The trust’s engineer, Mr H. W. Harris, also spoke in support of the plan, which he said served dual interests. He discussed the work of the present contractors, and said that a plant on a big scale could obtain supplies much more economically. The river was ideally suited as a supply depot, connected as it was with the railway service and arterial roads. After several questions had been asked and answered, Mr Blackwell said that the trust would give every facility to local bodies combining to take shingle. Previously a small royalty had been charged for the privilege of taking away the shingle, but that was now to be abolished. A. delegate: Will the trust consider giving us a premium to take it away? (Laughter.) Mr Blackwell (smiling): We will look into that very carefully. After the delegates had inspected the present method of handling, the shingle, used by a private contractor, they were the guests of the trust at afternoon tea. Possible Saving Praise for the plan, and thanks to the trust for the opportunity of seeing the position for themselves was expressed on behalf of all the delegates by Mr T. Newnham, chairman of the Waimairi County Council. The shingle available at the river under a scheme such as that proposed gave local bodies a chance of making a great saving, he continued, and he would report favourably on the plan at the next meeting of his council. A similar plan to take shingle on such a scale had been rejected some years ago, and that rejection must have cost his council thousands of pounds. Mr Blackwell thanked the delegates for their attendance and interest, and said he trusted that the afternoon had demonstrated to them that both the quality and quantity of shingle required by local bodies could be taken from the river. He hoped that the plan would be taken up, either by the local bodies in combination, or by private enterprise. The higher the bed of the river became, the higher its banks must be, and the present state of the Mississippi was an example of what could happen to a river in flood time if its banks were higher than the surrounding country. The trust’s concern was to get as much of the 6 i. as out of the river. H ,j ®ed continued to grow, there would be more risk of danger from an abnormal flood..