LAKE ELLESMERE—II Conflict of interests in future management

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32892, 15 April 1972, Page 12

LAKE ELLESMERE—II Conflict of interests in future management

(By

W. J. HARRIS)

A report on permanent drainage of Lake Ellesmere was prepared m 1932 by Mr F. Langbein, then District Engineer in Christchurch for the Public Works Department. When assessing the different methods used for making the outlet, he referred to the operation of the culvert without naming the designers.

When the lake was considered sufficiently high to scour a cut through the shingle bank, the shingle was shovelled from the seaward end and the floodgates opened for the scouring of the channel to commence. By the time the lake waters had run out, the culvert, supported on its long piles, stood in the middle of a channel at least eight chains wide. Mr Langbein, in his concluding remarks, commented that the lake and the mouths of the inflowing rivers formed one of the chief troutfishing grounds in Canterbury. “Also, the lake is noted for duck and swan shooting and it would indeed be regrettable if any scheme caused deterioration in either of these two sports,” said the report. Flounder fishermen At this time a considerable number of commercial fishermen were deriving a satisfactory living from the netting of flounders, the supply of which was dependent on the lake outlet. It is surprising therefore that the report did not refer to this section of the community. Permanent outlet proposals and land reclamation schemes were being given publicity by the Progress League in 1931 when Edgar F. Stead, a noted authority, wrote “An Appeal for Lake Ellesmere,” specially for “The

Press.” One wonders to what extent Mr Langbein was influenced by this appeal when he wrote his report shortly afterwards. E. F. Stead’s appeal The conclusion of Mr Stead’s appeal, headed "Profit or Pleasure,” is reproduced in full:— To drain the lake, as was proposed at the Progress League meeting, will be to destroy almost entirely its value as a recreation ground. And what do we get in return for it? Forty thousand acres of land, which, as one speaker said, would be of great value to Christchurch. No doubt they would be but their value to the city would be small in comparison with the value of the lake itself, for there is no other city in New Zealand that has such a recreation and sporting ground within an hour of its doors. The lake is public property and should remain so. Some of the speakers at the above meeting seemed to regard the whole question as one of pounds, shillings and pence—would the proposition be a financial success—and all other aspects were subordinated to that one; but Mr F. W. Johnston hit the nail on the head when he said that to drain the lake would be an act of vandalism. If the promoters of this proposal —those who place finance above all other considerations—are really keen on more acres under cultivation near Christchurch, start on Hagley It seems to me that, just as we praise the foresight of the early settlers in setting aside the park for the use of the public, so will posterity have cause to damn our lack of it if we allow an asset such as Lake Ellesmere to be ruined for financial gain. If civilisation is going to do anything for mankind, it should surely be in the direction of increasing the amenities of life, rather than decreasing them; and with the rush of life growing every day the need for relaxation and recreation becomes proportionately greater. Realising this, we set aside parks and grounds for players of games; areas of bush for lovers of Nature; hillside and mountain reserves for trampers and climbers; for the public generally, and for sportsmen in particular, we could have no finer area than Lake Ellesmere. Let us keep it. Fish and birds During the last 40 years there has been a marked reduction in the numbers of trout and flounders while birdlife has been adversely affected by the loss of marginal lands habitat. W. A. Taylor records that in 1885 Maoris were catching up to one hundredweight of flounders in one haul, using flax nets and in 1893 they were selling 40 cases a day in Christchurch fish markets. During the depression of the 1930 s some fishermen offered three large or four small flounders for one shilling at the door. The lake settlements of Timberyard and Fisherman’s Point attracted a wide range of nationalities, many with a seafaring background. Probably the most widely known

was Alex Freeman, now in his hundredth year, having spent 60 years on the lake with his boat Morning Light. His seafaring adventures began at the age of 11, when he left his birthplace, the Laotian port of Riga, on the Baltic Sea. It is not known how the paddle-steamers reached the lake but the 21ft 6in Morning Light, built as a lifeboat, but converted to a yacht, when purchased at Lyttelton was railed to Leeston. It was then placed on a dray which broke down near the destination at Timberyard. The €raft was sailed and, rowed before a motor was’ installed in later years. Selwyn huts The attractions of the lake brought campers in tents and horse-drawn caravans. Early huts had outer coverings of flattened kerosene tins, linings of sacking and earth floors. In 1894 there were six huts at the Selwyn. Frank Gread, who spent his early life at sea, was compelled in 1895 to build near Stony Point after a complaint that the section was not being occupied in compliance with the conditions of the Lake Lands Subdivision. The previous year his land had been inundated by lake floodwaters so his house was erected close to the road with an upstairs room as a precaution against further flooding. This upstairs portion soon became the headquarters for numerous peninsula shooters who had previously camped in a nearby cave. Drovers and commercial travellers were also accommodated in the red house, a well known landmark beside the Akaroa Road. Of the many colourful personalities associated with the lake early this century. Ranger Scotty Mayne stands out for his devotion to duty and an uncanny ability to track down offenders. He survived two shotgun attacks and was also knocked out by an assailant when his youthful assistant fled. Armed ranger He was afterwards permitted to carry a revolver, being an accurate marksman. Out-of-season shooters who boasted of their exploits were apparently kept under close observation and then trailed from the time they left home. Most people are probably more interested in what the lake holds for the future, than in its history. Management of the area as a valuable water resource for a wide range of recreational and conservation activities often conflicts with local farming interests. Our national parks system has proved increasingly popular with the public. National forest parks and the Hauraki Gulf marine park are now realities. A Lake Ellesmere aquatic reserve, incorporating marginal lands habitat, would be an important link in the latest conservation proposal for national coastal walkways. Administration and scientific management by a representative body would seem to offer the best means of assuming that what we have today will be passed on to future generations. (Concluded)