The Marlborough Express Published Every Evening. Saturday, August 10,1895. FLOOD RELIEF.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXI, Issue 195, 10 August 1895, Page 2

The Marlborough Express Published Every Evening. Saturday, August 10, 1895. FLOOD RELIEF.

+ Now that the Rose's Overflow scheme of flood relief has been reverted to it is to be hoped that the ratepayers will express themselves definitely on the matter, and give the River Board a decided answer to the question which will be again submitted to them m a short time. We do not believe, m fact it is generally admitted, that the rejection of the scheme at the poll a few months ago was not the outcome of real and general opposition to that particular method of flood relief. The scheme was refused m a negative kind of way ; not because the ratepayers' were averse to its adoption, but because the great majority of them were too apathetic and possessed too little interest m the matter to take the trouble of going to the poll to record their votes. It was a great pity that the ratepayers generally neglected their duty to such an extent. All the uncertainty which has since existed would have been avoided, the River Board would not have been put to a lot of unnecessary trouble ; and we would have been ever so much further advanced m the cause of flood relief. But we. think that the ratepayers' have seen their mistake, and it will hardly be necessary for us to impress upon them the great importance of the issue, how vitally the subject of flood relief affects common interests of the district, and how essential it is, for their own sake, that they should do all m their power to make the pathway to salvation from periodical inundation as easy as possible. The Committee which was appointed by the public meeting last week made an important suggestion to the River Board on Wednesday night: the acquirement of all the sections on the line of the Rose's Overflow Channel, if neoessary under the Public Works Act, and the removal of all obstructions therefrom, so that flood water might be allowed a free passage to the sea. This outlay, it was pointed out, would ensure to the Board an asset whioh, as a grazing run, would produce returns sufficient to pay interest on the capital expended. The Committee urged that their scheme could be regarded as an initiatory step towards the fulfilment of Mr Cuthbert's scheme of flood relief, and m the meantime would afford such relief as would meet present requirements. The acquirement of the whole of the sections orossed by an overflow would be, from a financial point of view, preferable to the purchase of a strip of land, say twelve chains wide, as proposed by Mr Cuthbert, because present banking would not be demanded, the Board would be free from liability to compensation for damage, and the asset would be a remunerative one. The Committee said that they were under the impression that the proposal was m harmony with the recommendations of Mr J. E. Wilson, C.E. We fail to perceive how this impression could be derived ; it is mere guesswork, for Mr Wilson has not yet made a recommendation. Apropos of this topic, we would like to know what stage Mr Wilson's promised report on the alteration of the bar of the river has arrived at. Some time has passed since he visited the district, and the delay is unconscionable. However, the proposal of the Flood Relief Committee is, on the face of it, a good one, and appears to be quite practicable. The one good feature about it is that it provides for some definite and substantial return for the large financial expenditure involved m the Rose's overflow scheme. If Mr Cuthbert's proposal is effected and turns out unsuccessfully, the ratepayers' £18,000 has been practically thrown away, but m this case, even if no perceptible outlet is given to flood water, there is a valuable asset m the shape of excellent grazing land to point to as some return for the money spent, It would be hard to say whether this new proposal would entail as large an expenditure of money as Mr Cuthbert's scheme proper. If it were adopted it would not be necessary, m the first instance, to cut a deep ohannel to supply an outlet for flood water, and expensive banking would not be required ; but there would be an extensive area of valuable land to acquire, and a good deal of banking (which has long been recognised as largely responsible for the increased flooding m the town) would have to be removed. But m any case its remuneratory quality is such a strong set-off against the risk of the Cuthbertian project, that its value is, m proportion, considerably enhanced. The River Board is, we understand, unanimous m their resumption of the Rose's overflow scheme, but want time to think over the above proposed manner of effecting it. The suggestion of the Flood Relief Committee is worthy of most careful consideration. _______^

It is stated that Russia is BussiA and fully m accord with England abmenu, m regard to the proposed reforms m Armenia. On the other hand the Novosii publishes an artiole tending to confirm the prevalent belief that Russia's interests m tbe Armenian question is regulated entirely by considerations and suepioions regarding the aims and oonsequenoes of British polioy, and by a desire to prevent England from playing any independent or predominant role. Any sincere desire to relieve the Armenians of Turkey dues not exist. In fact, it is well known at St Petersburg that Russia does not fully approve the eoheme of reforms presented to the Porte, and it is rumored that the Turks are quite aware of this. The Novoßti deolares that there oan be no I question of any serious pressure on tbe Porte, wbiob would be only playing into tbe bands of England. The Novoe Vremya deolares that England is meditating further "seiaureß" under the subterfuge of tbe Armenian question, and that Russia and France will not only rot take part m any offensive aotion against the Porte, but will energetically oppose any suoh aotion on tbe part of England, In tbe same number of this journal its London correspondent asserts that English hopes of diplomatio revenge are all centred m the Armenian question.

Formosa, which has now a rich passed into the possession fbizb ot Japan, is a rioh prize. It is an island of tea and ooal, oamphor and oranges, sugar and rice. Tree fernß flourish there, and hibiscus m great variety of shapes and oolours ; exquisite white lilies, and familiar honeysuckle are abundant— the " gold-and- silver flower" tbe Chinese call honeysuckle. Then there are morning - glories, wild roses, hydrangea, red azaleas, and numerous other flowering shrubs ; pineapples and pumeloes ; dog-violsts, mimulus, and many field flowers ; bamboos m hedges, thioketg, and plantations ; rattans and orohids and other jungle growths upon the hills and m the valleys ; ferns and grasses, large and small, growing luxuriantly ; and a goodly show of trees, from the slender firs m plantations and willow-like aoaoias to giant oamphor teees of primeval growth m "savage territory" on the hills. Under tho intelligent and enterprising rulo of the Japanese tbe valuable resources of the island are likely to be opened up and worked on a soale that oannot fail to revolutionise the old methods at present m vogue.