INCH CLUTHA AND THE LATE FLOODS.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 283, 31 January 1879, Page 6

INCH CLUTHA AND THE LATE FLOODS.

I -^ _ i On Saturday morning a deputation of : settlers and landowners at Inch Clutha, J representing the local Road and River ' Board, and consisting of Messrs W. Bar- [ ron. Anderson, Smaill, and others, waited '• upon the Hons. J. Macandrew, J. Ballance, and R. Stout. The deputation's : object in waiting on the Ministers was to 1 ask the Government to repair the breaches j in the river bank at Inch Clutha, and to '■ request a loan of LSOOO, to be expended | in repairing damages to roads and works caused by the late floods. The various speakers contended that the breaches in the Island had been caused by the Govemj ment works, as the effect of the railway i embankment was to divert the force of | the wafer against the portions of the river j bank which had given. The Government i on this account, the deputation considered, i should therefore repair the damage done. ! It was impossible for the water to dry up | till the breaks had been repaired, and 'as i the district was "consequently in an un- | productive state, if affairs were permitted ! to remain as at present, there must needs i be a loss to the Government of L2OOO per, | annum. If the loan of LSOOO were granted > it would be repaid by annual instalments. i After consulting with Mr Blair as to the j probable cost of repairing the breaches,. ( the Ministers declined to accept the liability for the damage caused to the river bank, but under the circumstances they would consent, "in this instance, to allow the breaches to be repaired at the Government expense. Respecting the loan, as but little was now left of the L50,000 vote to Otago, they -would advance L2,500 without interest, the sum to be repaid by yearly instalments of LSOO each. — Morning Herald.