HOKITIKA RIVER

Hokitika Guardian, 8 July 1935, Page 6

HOKITIKA RIVER

FUTURE FLOOD PREVENTION

CONFERENCE HELD TO-DAY

In tin endeavour to reach a solution to the Hood water menace to the town members of the Borough Council and Harbour Hoard held a conference tins morning, at which the District Railway Engineer (Mr McNair) was present. There were present the Mayor (Mr G. A. Perry), Os A. Thompson, G. Hein/., E. Teiehelmann, H. L. Michel, E. Park, T. W. Duff, and A. R. Eleoek, and the Town Clerk (Air H. G. F. Coles), representing the Council, and Messrs M. Houston (chairman), 1 • J. .vielntosh, W. E. Richards and R. Wild (representing the Board). The Mayor referred to the recent disastrous floods in the Hokitika river, and explained there was no way by which the flood waters could get away from the low-lying areas, of the town. The question they were concerned with was how to let this water escape in the event of a fmther flood. The last visitation had been not only injurious to the town, but also to the foundations of the goods shed on the wharf. Mr Mclntosh saitl the level of the water in the town at high tide had been from five to six feet above the level of the river. The Railway Department had its own property in the low lying area in the town. Mr' Houston said the Board had discussed the question, but no definite proposal had been formulated. He thought some big outlet might be made at the transit shed, or better, perhaps, one at Sewell Street. Shingle deposited by the Department in the past few years had raised the level of the river bed, and he considered this responsible for the overflow of the river into the town. The railway line embalmment was only a few feet from tno river’s edge. It would be preferable to stop the water from coming in than getting it away afterward. He thought the best thing to do would be to make a large outlet under the railway line on the embankment.

Air McNair thought this would be quite practicable. The Mayor suggested raising the embankment from the railway bridge upstream, thereby forming an effective stop-bank. Mr AlcNair estimated the cost of this would not be much more than £2OO. He did not, however, consider the Kailway Department could he held responsible' for the flooding. The shingle was put in only when there was a very big scour—they had no other option. Experience had shown that the shingle wears down. Air Mclntosh said the shingle must sopner or latex - find bottom, and would then, mount up. ■.

•Mr AlcNair considered the shingle might be removed by later floods. Mr Houston questioned Mr AlcNair regarding railway property and fixture flooding, to which Mr AlcNair said few complaints had been made in the past, very little damage having been done. He could meet the authorities in any way he could, but lie could not commit bis Department to any expenditure. Mr Mclntosh again' stressed the gravity of. the situation, several business houses having been heavy losers in the past. He referred to the bad designing of the traffic bridge where the wider spans were on the outside, and the. small spans in the centre. The fatter collected much driftwood arid timber brought down in flood time, causing the damage to the.Tiridgc. Mr AlcNair agreed to the proposals to raise the embankment, stating the Department would assist in lifting the track, while there would be no objection to an outlet underneath. Mr AlcNair also promised to make representations regarding an improvement in the signalling system on the traffic bridge for the benefit of traffic.