RIVER PROTECTION.

Inangahua Times, Volume IV, Issue 93, 9 November 1877, Page 2

RIVER PROTECTION.

[to the editor of the inangahua times.] Sib :— Any one with half an eye can see that the suspension bridge is in great danger of being either washed away or left high and dry hy tbe river cutting a now channel on the other side of it. Most people who were in favor of the present site must now see that it was a mistake to put it there, Now is the time then to rectify tho error. Let the bridge be taken down, and put up afc the ond of Bridge streot. It should not cost more than a hundred or so to do this and all bother about the bridge will ho once and for ever done with. Thero will bo no necessity then for protecting the other side, and if the river ever washes away Boss Town so much the better for the town as the people living in lower Broadway need then never fear the highestfloods ns the bed will he wide eno.ugh to carry off tho biggest flood without coming near tho top of the protective works- This will not ooly gave the cost of protecting the and present bridge, tho othor side but will make it unnecessary to raise tbo present wall. If the inhabitants lose anything' by tho removal of tho bridge they will gain a far greater advantage in the security they will then enjoy from floods. The sections will bo increased in value and the lower end of Broadway will become the best business part of the town. Unless this is dono they will have to be everlastingly patching up tbe protective • works and oven thon will not know the day that a big flood may come and undo everything. There is an old saying that it is never too lato to mend, and I think the County Council by following the course laid down will be setting themselves right with tho ratepayers and save the County from a future heavy expenditure. Only one or two persons will be affected by tho washing away of Eoss Town and I should be in favor pf granting a moderate compensation (but only moderate) to the owners of property on tho other side. Now's the timo to deal with this question before anything is done to launch into expensive protective works. If tho course suggested is carried out a few score of trucks of stone at the comer of the bank whero the telegraph dine crosses the river will shoot the stream right into the opposite side and after another flood or so a big shingle bank will bo formed on tho Eeefton side along the protective works and Reefton will be once and probably for ever secured from the action of floods. I make these suggestions in good faith and commend them strongly to the notice of tbe Council, as not only can we by these means get rid of the river difficulty, but immense value will be given to property in the lower part of the town. Look at what it has cost Greymouth and Westport to strugglo with the river, look at what it has already cost Beefton. Now, then, is the time to once and for ever get rid of the difficulty here. Unloss steps are now taken the opportunity may pass as a further flood may give the river another turn ou to the town and it will bo too lato tben. Think of what Keefton will become iv the course of another five or ten years. Think of the property tbat will be placed at the mercy of the floods, think of all these things I . say and if any sane manor body of men will persist in their short-sighted and dreadfully mistaken course of keeping the bridge where il is it will be strango indeed. With these few remarks on behalf of myself and a large body of the rate* payers I beg to subscribe myself. Youbs &c, Common Sense. Eeefton Nov. 6th 1877.