BITER CONSERVATION.

Marlborough Express, Volume XIII, Issue 1052, 17 August 1878, Page 7

BITER CONSERVATION.

.Sir, — As Editors are supposed to know everything, I -wishydu to inform your readers whether, as directed by the Conservators Board, the Secretary is to offer a "premium for the best means of dealing with shingle-bearing rivers," as it is now a considerable time since I noticed m the report of the Conservators' meetiog he was so directed. I have my fears thab he maybe advertising m other districts and leaving us of Marlborough m the dark ; or it may be that he treats their instructions as he did that body, by consigning them to that place where we hope

they will not be sent, While we are being menaced by the snow-capped mountains and frowning elements which only require a warifi rain to inundate the whole district, which is so detrimental to its prosperity. It is well known by those who visib Ledry'a Breach that it looks worse now than ever it did, and every flood causes severe inroads to be made on the banks there, from which place there is a natural highway for the river m almost a direct line to Blenheim. Then I ask why this delay of weeks before any action is taken by the aforesaid functionary. I know that there are several designs can be obtained m this district, but m each case the most positive opinion is expressed that the work done at Leary's since Douslin's dam was allowed to go to wreck has been so much money thrown on the waters; and very strong opinions arej.loudly. expressed that the present Conservators are hardly doing justly by the] whole district m expending so much at Leary's and Dodson's instead of, as was their promise, to go to Rock Ferry, Where is now the wattling erected there at. a cost x>f £200? And^yet we find they purpose doing more. This is wasting money and valuable time ; and granting that they could conquer the. enemy at .Leary's it is only passing it ou fo« another pitched battle on Dalziel's, Thompson's, or M'Oullunrs. But I can hardly think that even the Conservators can hope to stay its progi ess at that point, if they spend the whole of their rates m theii' endeavours. And when we Blenheimites are washed out, which positively is threatened, we will no.t have the satisfaction of saying — "Who would have thought it?" — Yonr3, &c, K.<gg£: , A^ti-Wattling.