HOKITIKA RIVER

Hokitika Guardian, 13 April 1933, Page 4

HOKITIKA RIVER

SHOALING EFFECT ON DRAINS.

COUNCIL CONSIDERS-REPORT.

Consideration of the .action of the shoaling of the Hokitika..riyer oh the drainage system of the borough was given by members of the Hokitika Borough Council last evening when a report was submitted by the borough fore, man (Mr F. Chestennan). After consideration it was decided that no action be t.xken in the meantime.

The report stated that, in regard to shoaling up of drains at the outlet into the river, an inspection revealed,*! that the late floods have piled up «, ' quantity of gravel chiefly at the outlet of Brittan and Sale Street. The rest of the drains have a good drop at low water, and, as the drains are tidal,' the drop at the outlet must be taken at low, water. Each flood deposits a certain amount of debris along the water front-.

To endeavour to bring the water from the middle channel into the wharf side would entail a good deal of expense, a s a wing dam would have to be started at the top of Mclntosh’s island, with piles driven and fascine bundles loaded with stone put in to direct the water to the *top of Rutland’s island, which, if not protected, must go.

To divert the bed of the river to the ' wharf side would entail considerable

expense, on account of the depth of the water in the middle channel, There is about eighteen or twenty feet of water gt the railway bridge and only a foot op two at the wharf side.

If a wing dam were put in, it would have to be of substantial nature, 'to withstand the pressure of water in flood time, so a? to procure a scour along the wharf side.'

At the present time the outlet of the drains are all right, except for the two mentioned, .but if the shoaling continues then it will become serious.

The Mayor (Mr G. A. Perry): The problem -of altering the river is so big, and so serious, that it is really beyond the finances of the borough. Cr. A. R. Elcock said that the suggestion ’was to co-operate witjh,.-the Harbour Board and County Council.

Cr. E. W. Heenan said that further shoaling had taken place at the bank at . ' the top end of Sale Street. The river was going to come home and block the drains there. He noticed that the Rail- , way Department was. standing, by its engineer’s report, and lit would not budge from that.. It is going to be a costly matter, he added.. He suggested calling a meeting of the local bodies concerned to see if something could be decided on. An engineer had reported that it would cost £1209 t 0 .bring.the river through, that was by piling it.

The Mayor observed that , the middle channel was coining over to the north channel gradually, more than most people realise, Cr. Heenan : The river appears to be working at. present in.. preparation to coming down.. Although the position ig serious, we may spend a lot of money and make the position worse. ,v‘ .

The Mayor: One engineer has reported that the waters coming down the Hokitika river when in high flood were thirty-three times the normal volume. “Do you think it- worth ivhile doing anything at present ? I don’t. We would- only get satisfactory results by expending a large sum, far beyond the powers of the local bodies whose funds are insufficient for adequate results'. I suggest that- the matter be allowed to rest in the meanwhile. Personally, . X don’t see light anywhere at present. We cannot tackle" jobs like this cheaply. The report wa s adopted, no action being taken in the meantime.