RIVERS CONTROL

Grey River Argus, 26 February 1943, Page 3

RIVERS CONTROL

GREY COUNTY COUNCIL MEETS.

Arrangements for the forthcoming visit to tire West Coast of the Soil Conservation and River Control Council were discussed at a special meeting of the Grey County Council yesterday. Mr. J. Mulcare (chair- : man) presided and there were present, Councillors A, McDonnell, J. I Ryan, W. Fisher, T. G. Jamieson, H. j G. Carter, Hon. J. Ryall, Miss E. M. I Heaphy (County Clerk) and Mr. J. I Higgins (engineer). 'The engineer (Mr. Higgins) presented the proposed itinerary of the Council’s visit. It was to arrive at Hokitika on March 9th and go south the following day. On March 11 it would return and go to Mitchell’s, Lake Brunner. On March 12th it would visit Inchbonnie, Rotomanu and Kotuku and lunch at Greymouth, where it would meet repre- ' sentatives of local bodies at. 1-30 p.m. j On| March 13th it would go to Reefton and Westport and on March 14th ’ to Nelson. i Cr. Fisher pointed out that the bad j breaks in the Kopara were' not in- ; eluded in the visit at all. [ Cr. Ryall thought that the Coal Creek embankments should be visited. The chairman suggested that as much as possible of the Grey Valley j should be seen on the morning the ‘ Council left for Reefton. | Cr. Ryan, pointed out that the time ' available for inspection on the mornj ing of the conference in Greymouth would be very short. , Cr. Ryall said that he assumed ■ that ’the Public Works Department would report on places which the Council was unable to visit.

After th e engineer (Mr. Higgins)’ had suggested that many places as possible be visited on the day of the conference, and that the conference * be held at 7.30 (/’clock in the evening, Cr. Carter moved along these lines, stressing the necessity for first hand attention to the worst scenes of erosion. The Council could be provided with a picnic lunch on the road. This motion was agreed to. In reply) to a suggestion by Cr. Ryan the chairman said that small ; creeks which were causing trouble, at Rotomanu did not require inspection Jso urgently as th e trouble at the ’ Kopara and other such places. Cr. Ryall moved that the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Coun- ’ cil be met when they entered the Grey County territory. This was agreed to and the question of transport was left to the chairman and engineer.

CATCHMENT AREA. 'The possible establishment of a Catchment Board for the Grey watershed was mentioned by the chairman, who asked whether Councillors would agree that the catchment area should include part of the Inangahua County. r rhe engineer said that the watershed should not be divided but should be regarded as one district. It was pointed out that territory included in both Westland and Inanga-

hua Counties would be part of the catchment area of the Grey watershed- U , ,r Cr Carter said that the whole of the catchment area that drained into the Grey would have to be discussed. It would.be a good thing if the other counties discussed the whole position before the conference. - The chairman said that any Catchment Board set up would not be controlled bv the Grey County. The people of Inangahua would have as much say in the matter if part oi their territory was included. He agreed with suggestion made by Cr. Jamieson that it was possible tnat there would be one catchment area for the whole Coast, but throught it more likely that the Buller and the Grey would have separate Catchment Boards. The Engineer, who had left tne meeting to communicate with the Inangahua County Council, which it was understood was meeting yesteidav returned at this stage and ieperted that Mr Archer (Chairman of the County Council) was opposed, to any of the Inangahua County going into another district The Chairman said it seemed foolish to establish two boards for one river. It was regrettable if the old

local boundaries were going to be bi ought into a new matter of this sort. At anv rate, the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council would have the final say. It was decided to support the principle that the area covered y any Catchment Board set up should comprise the whole of the Giey watershed, including part of Inangahua and Westland Counties, a that these Counties be approached to see if they had any objections. . Cr. Ryall said that al erosion I spots in the district should be set lout for the information of the Couni cil since it would not be able to visit 1 many of the smaller ones. I The task of compiling this memlorandum was left to the Engineer, ; the Chairman remarking that in many cases much expense would be 1 spared if a “stitch-in-time-Saves-mne policy was followed. The Engineer quoted a legal opinion given to the Featherston County, which said that wherever protection work was carried out by a local body that bodj' was bound to maintain the W The Chairman suggested that this point be discussed by the Engineer with the visiting Council, and that it be pointed out just what this

would mean to the County. The payment of £5 10.= as ine County’s contribution towards expenses arising from the recent conference on rehabilitation '.'.as raui he Aoproval was given to the suggestion Kt a Counties' Conference be /held this winter. • Correspondence was received fiom the District Manpower Officer (Mr G G M. Mitchell) regarding the establishment of a committee to deal with the position of Scheme 13men and decide whether they should re main in their present ° made available for work elsewhe . The committee was to consist of the District Manpower Officer, a representative of the Trades and Council, and representatives ol each

10 The b Engineer (Mr Higgins) was appointed to represent the County CO The n question of holiday pay for County employees in the Aimed Forces was discussed, and it "as stated that the sum of £73 Ils 10d a year, in payments to six men, would bp involved. This covered a tortnight’s holiday on full pay in each case. It was decided to hold over a decision' till the ordinary montniy. meeting. , ~ The Engineer reporting on further flood damage said that there appeared to be no end to the damage which the County had been suffering for the last three years. He presented a detailed renort on damage done bj the Ahaura River at Haupiri Flat, and Slatv Creek, in the Rotomanu district. Application had been made for a subsidy on a sum of £6OO for | the work at Haupiri, and for a subsidy on a .sum of £2OO for the work at Rotomanu. . The Engineer’s action was approved. . * i The Engineer stated that further changes were going on at the 453mile peg on the road between Haupiri Flat and the Waikiti River, re--1 ported on at the last meetf.ng. He 1 would suggest that nothing be done there until the position was stabilised.