PROTECTIVE BANK.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXIX, Issue 57, 28 February 1913, Page 5

PROTECTIVE BANK.

INSPECTED BY MINISTER.

On his return from O'atlins on Wednesday afternoon the Hon. W. Fraser (Minister for Public Works) paid a visit to the protection works at Balelutha. He was accompanied by the I Mayor (Mr Stewart), Mr.Malcolm, M.P., : and Messrs Algie and Penuycook. After a walk along over the bank for the , greater portion of its length the matter was formally referred to by Mr Stewart, , at the request of Mr Malcolm. Mr Stewart said the bank was built by the Government after the flood of '7B, and practically nothing had been done to it since, as until recently it was considered that it was unnecessary to do anything. At the request of Hon. T. Mackenzie, when Prime Minister, Mr Furkert (engineer) had inspected the bank, and said it was in good condition. Then a few months ago there was a

fairly heavy flood, which gave the people a scare, and another report was obtained. The borough's great trouble was that only half of the length of the bank was in the borough, the rest being in the Clutha Bounty. It had been erected in a scare time, immediately after the big flood, and the land had never been properly acquired and had not beeu vested in any body; the owners had simply given their consent to the erection of the embankment. It was beyond the power of the borough to raise and strengthen the bank in the

manner suggested by Mr Furkert in his last report, and the county council re- ! fused to do anything; in fact, they could hardly expect the county to do ! very much. The flood a few months ago had been only a foot or two from the top I of the bank. They asked 'the Government to pay a fair share of the cost of '■ making the town safe by raising and ' strengthening the embankment. It i would be cheaper for them to do this than to build a railway bridge ovijr the new branch of the river which would be formed if the river broke through the bank at the tog of the town. The people did not want to go the length reported on by Mr Furkert, who would form a bank right round the town. They would | put up with the back-water if they could [ he assured that the bank would not I break and let the river down upon them. They would like reasonable assistance to raise and strengthen the bank down as far as Mr Bishop's place. Mr Algie said there had been a good deal of discussion on the subject of control of the bank, and this should be settled. They should strengthen the bank and have rails along the top and a couple of trucks in readiness to make repairs in any emergency. Mr Pennycook pointed out that it was only the first-portion of Mr Furkert's report they wished- adopted. The total of Mr Furkert's works was £25,000, but they thought they would be reasonably safe if the first portion (£5000) was adopted. This would raise and strengthen the present bank as far as Bishop's. He impressed upon the Minister the urgent ] need of something being done. It was a matter of the greatest importance to the town of Balclutha that something should be done. He hoped Mr Fraser Would take steps to have the land properly vested, and that the Government would give them a substantial sum to help strengthen the bank. Mr Malcolm, M.P., also referred to the vital importance of the work, and said they would trust and hope that Mr Fraser would have something done. He thanked Mr Fraser for the interest he had taken in the work, and for the trouble he had taken in making a personal, inspection. Mr Fraser said, in his opinion, the first thing to be done was to have the title to the land settled. They would be foolish to do anything until that was done. He would give 'instructions that full inquiry be made into the matter and have the place properly vested, even if it required special legislation. He could see it was an important matter and a case where legislation was warranted. Then they could see what was to be done to set the bank right. He would ;have the matter seen to at once. The Mayor: A proclamation would do the whole thing. Mr Fraser; They would have to make full inquiries bejore making a piocUana-'

(iou. He agreed that the bank should only go as far as Mr Bißhop's, and dieapproved of carrying the bank to the railway bridge, as that would tend to throw the water on to Incbelutha. That would never do. They would have the title properly settled and the bank vested in the local body, but ft would have to be looked after. When they had got the title fixed he was sure the Government would act in a reasonable manner so far as assistance was concerned. He was satisfied that something should be done at once.

Mr Stewart pointed out that part of the land benefited was outside the borough and should be brought into it. Mr Fraser thought the better way would be to have it included in a speeial rating district. They could not include it iu the borough without the consent of the owners. All those who benefited should be made to pay their share, and this could be done by proclamation,