FLOOD DANGER

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23914, 5 April 1943, Page 3

FLOOD DANGER

SERIOUS POSITION AT KAIKOURA A letter to the Minister of Lands (the Hon. J. G. Barclay) will by the Kalkoura County Council pointing out the seriousness of flood danger from Lyell creek in the township of Kaikoura, and asking that the work be treated as urgent. The chairman of the council (Mr F. J. Monk) moved a resolution to this effect at the monthly council meeting when a letter from the Minister in relation to the flooding of Lyell creek in the Kaikoura township, was received by the council. The letter from the Minister stated “that from a report he had received he found that the statement in the council's letter to the effect that the sale of sections is one of the main causes of the narrowing of the creek, is apparently baped on an incorrect assumption, as the area in question was ‘made’ land before it was disposed of by the Crown.” The letter continued that "he was informed that the County Council had been consulted before the sections were offered for sale and the then county chairman and the council had decided not to proceed with protective works and would not therefore require the land." Mr Monk considered the department was entirely wrong. With the removal of the present bridge the volume of water in the creek would be more dangerous. When the Hon. R. Semple had visited the site he had expressed the opinion that it was a "serious matter." By selling the sections the council had been unaware of the present boundaries. Cr. G. E. T. Shand stated that the position was definitely serious.