ESTABLISHED 1866. The Marlborough Express MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1919. RIVER CONSERVATION.

Marlborough Express, Volume LIIII, Issue 224, 22 September 1919, Page 4

ESTABLISHED 1866. The Marlborough Express MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1919. RIVER CONSERVATION.

■-■ While admitting that the recent floods do not by any means afford a good recommendation, for the foresight of the River Board, we do not share the feeling that the occurrence has covered- the Board with disgrace. A fair-minded view of the Board's record and the peculiar difficulties associated with it will not encourage those extreme animadversions. It is easy to be wise after the event, but, aH _ things considered, the Board is entitled to retain a laige measure _of public confidence, even though it cannot very well claim that the recent experience has' left its -policy beyond criticism in detail. There are certain salient facts to bear in mmdv■ ■■ For many years fchb Board's chief concern was^ necessarily, the quisstion of ;protecting its district from the overwhelming incursion «6f water from the Wairau ;aaid Waihopal Rivers into- the OpaWf>- 'Kiver.' This taxed its resources fto their full extent; and the menace of the southern watersh-sd —not so ;.,serious in: ; . '.its, oonsequences arid ■' less ( frequently asserted—had to be left largely to fate. As is well known, the Board has arrived at a satisfactory solution of its more important problem, the bulk of the water having been turned down the Wairau River; and its position was rendered so fortunate in this connection that it has been enabled to relieve 'its ratepayers of the payment of a, rate for this year. However, finality has not yet been reached'- in this direction. , Until the Lower Wairau and Spring Creek River*' Boards have, merged into each ?vother', and one system of river- control has been established, it will riot be possible to regard the security given by the diversion of water from the. Opawa to the Wairau as a thoroughly stable factor, as something that could be counted on for all tinie. The Boards are discussing amalgamation with every prospect of coming to an understanding, and so it may be said that ■ the whole situation in regard tb the main fivers has been handled in a mariner that leaves little or no room for complaint. In this matter the 'judgment of the Board on whose, operations the interests of the Blenheim district depend, has been amply vindicated. What the Board's critics are saying now, though, is tli.at the recent i floods ha^e exposed ya serious .weak-. j<'ness;'■ in. its policy with respect to j the management of the southern watershed. -, .

Doubtless there is 'a case to answer. This particular' problem has not been receiving adequate attention. That much; may be said without going to .the length of accusing the river conservators of a 'shameful neglect of their responsibilities. The Board is hot without some reasonable grounds of defence. For one thing, there has been no pressure of public opinion in this direction, and the Borough Council and the Omaia Road Board, whose districts are threatened by the developments now causing so much general concern, have by their1 silence indirectly contributed to the state of unpreoaredness. What is more to the point, however, is that after the chief anxiety was removed by the diversion of water from the Opawa to the "Wairau River, enterprise in river conservation was arrested for a time by the intervention of the Government, and has been similarly affected by the voluntary amalgamation movement. Moreover, it has always been discouraged as far as the southern watershed is concerned by the anomalies of the River Board's rating area. But we think we are expressing a very general and strong feeling when we say that, despite all handicaps, the period of inactivity should be at once ended and a determined effort should be made to protect Blenheim and the surrounding districts from a repetition of the inundations experienced this month. An effective solution of the problem | seems to be well within the bounds of practicability. Apparently the chairman of the River Board holds that belief, and it is interesting to note that the propositions put forward by Mr A. McC'allum are fully in accord iwith the findings, of the AVairau River'Goihm,i^slbn, in whose report the following passage appears: —"Another cause of flood to Blenheim and- the lands adjacent is the Taylor River, and the Fairhall, Mill Creek, and the Doctor's Creek, which join the Taylor above Blenheim and run in the old course of the .Omaka. The old course of the Omaka was insufficient to carry' this" water, and even now, with the stop-banks which have been erected, it is doubtful whether it is large enough. The 1911 flood demonstrated this inadequacy, and the town' was flooded 4 feet deep in Market Square. It is to be noted that the banks hfve been raised since the flood, but the waterway, especially tinder the bridges, is insufficient. A proposal has been made to divrrrt the waters of the Fairhall and Mill Creek into the Opawa at or about the confluence of these streams, a course which we

consider necessary, though the most favorable point can only be deter- < mined after further investigation." The recommendations of the Commission read, as follows:—

The Fairhall and Mill Creeks should be led into the Opawa at a site to be determined after survey, preferably below their confluence, and the necessary stop-banks and protection provided. The present position 'of the Taylor seems to us satisfactory, but careful investigation must be made to ascertain whether in all parts its discharging capacity is adequate, and if found not to be so it must be enlarged and all obstructions removed. If the Omaka and Opawa are relieved as proposed the dangers of the flood to Blenheim will be obviated. The Co-operative Drain should be improved so that it may be adequate to deal with all the water which enters it.