THE WAIPORI RIVER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16664, 8 April 1916, Page 10

THE WAIPORI RIVER

THE SILTING QUESTION.

A conference of local bodies interested in the silting of the Waipori lliver was held at Mosgiel yesterday in the officcd of the Western Taicri Drainage Board. Tho various bodies were represented as follows: —'l'aieri County—Crs Freeman and W. Blackie; Western Taieri Drainage Board —Messrs J. T. Gibson and A. E. Kempshell; Bruce County Council—Crs T. 11. Russell, Bell, )and Driver; Dunedin City Council —Cr Shaddock and Mr Henderson (city electrical engineer. Mr It. Scott, M.P. for Otago Central, wan also present, and Messrs W. E. M'Loan (clerk, Western 'l'aieri Drainage Board), and B. B. Couston (engineer) and J. Logan (clerk) Taieri County Council. Mr Gibson, who was voted to the chair, referred to the acuteness of the position caused by the silting up of the river. Some time ago, through the efforts of tho Berwick settlers, Mr J. B. Thomson (chief drainage engineer) had been instructed to gather all possible information concerning the river. This should now bo before tho Government, and it remained for the meeting to urge them to tako steps to remove the existing trouble. Mr Kempshell said that unless ono lived in the vicinity he could not have a proper conception of tho evil being wrought by tho silt and willows. In past times there was a good 100 ft of water with a depth of from 10ft to 20ft. Now there was but about 20ft to 30ft of water in width, and only 3ft or 4ft in depth. In former times it was possible for a punt with 600 railway sleepers to pilot down the river to Titri; now one could not got right down with a duckboat. The Berwick Flat was once second to none for root crops, but at present tho settlers were afraid to plough it. The board and settlers had hanked with no great success. In one month, two years ago, the district had experienced 13 floods. If a big flood should come, the river might take a new course. The Drainage Board had spent a lot on draining and embankments. He suggested dredging or taking some similar steps. On Sunday mornings tho Waipori works sent down a supply of silt like porridge, and tho willows gripped it. This silt previously went down the river gradually, but through tho action of the Waipori works it was saved up all the week and then sent down in a large quantity. Cr Shacklock said that since the matter had boon brought under the notice of the City Corporation, the practice of sending down tho silt all in one lot had been discontinued, and a gradual discharge had been made. The Waipori works had nothing to do with putting the silt into the river. The way to stop the silt was to stop mining, but this was no easy matter. It was for tho engineers to say what was the cure for the lower',levels affected by the silt. The silt might bo kept 'in check by hydraulic lifts at the weirs if the corporation were subsidised; but there wore high hills on each side of the river, and a suitable dumping ground might be difficult to obtain. The city authorities were anxious not to impose any nuisance. Mr Henderson said the sluice gates were opened! in the event of a flood. Cr Driver said they could not do much from a rating point of view; some other source would have to be drawn on. Ho believed a dredge would bo a good thing, and that tho Government should come to their assistance. Cr Freeman raised the point of depositing the silt once it was dredged out, but the chairman said that it could bo used for banking. Cr Blackie said he understood that the Government had come to the settlers' assistance some years ago. Tho Chairman said that some 12 or 14 years ago—when" there were six small bodies, ono working against the other—Mr Allen (member for "Bruce) secured from tho Government the promise of a fully-equipped dredge if the settlers would work it. This did; not materialise. Ho considered nothing but "a dredge would do any good, and thought tho Government should take action in the shape of a commission of inquiry. A conversational discussion bctweeft Mr Scott and tho chairman on tho matter of somewhat similar cases in Mr Scott's electorate showed that the Government, recognised some liability in the matter of keeping sludge channels from discharging on freehold. Cr Driver asked how might tho costs be apportioned, and the chairman said this could bo done by classification. Cr Freeman asked what ajea would bo affected, and the chairman said the whole of the rating .area. If this silting kept on the board's works would soon become inoperative. The charge would be a continuous one, as the silt would always be coming down, and an open channel must be kept to the lakes. Cr Driver thought the city should pay a. larger proportion of the cost, and several of those present shared his views; but Or Shacklock would not admit this liability. Cr Russell saidi ihcy might argue for a considerable time. and never raach any finality. The . Government should take up the matter, and appoint a commission. Ho moved in that direction, also that Messrs Scott and Allen, M.P.'s, be asked to give the matter their support. Mr Scott stated that the primary cause of the siltation evidently was. tho mining. He ■ read the following letter from the Prime Minister: — " With further reference to your letter of the 11th Maroh, asking what was the result of the survey made by Mr J. B. Thompson, chief drainage engineer, on tho Waipori River, and tho best method of dealing with the silting up and narrowing of tho channel, I have to inform you that from a report made by Mr Thompson it appears that when tho, matter was considered towards the end of 1914, it was found that,' owin'g to the. absence of any reliable data < regarding tho Waipori and Taieri Rivers, it was not advisable to take any action until a preliminary investigation had been made. From Mr Thompson's inspection it appears ! (1) that tho root of the whole trouble- was the ' 'sluicing' in upper watersheds of both rivers; (2) that tho Taieri River, owing to small sectional area, and Jo position' of stopbanks, could not in times of flood 1 carry the water in a self-contained manner. Also, that old history showed that it- had neve;;, done so; (3) that, the Waipori River wag very restricted diid tortuous, and its outlets bad, and carried a lot of silt from sluicing claims; (4) that a flood in Taieri River occasionally would not do any permanent harm, but that the Waipori River was constantly in flood and a menace to the district of Berwick. After considering the position, the chief drainage engineer was'instructed to obtain the following data.: —Levels and cross-sections of Waipori River from t J he> Gorge to Waipori Lake, and thence along outlets to Taieri River; levels and crosssections of Taieji River from Ferry bridge to Outram; also contours of possible silt trapping areas at Taieri Lake and Waipiata. The chief drainage engineer accordingly placed Mr ' Gannaway on Waipori River, and he had completed this work, and plans are now well forward. A few months later he placed Mr Morpeth on Taieri River, and field work and olans have been completed from Ferry bridge toOutram. Giving to Mr Morpeth having joined tho Expeditionary Forecs it has not been possiblo to make contour surveys for dam sites at Taieri Lake and Wipita, there being no officer left available for tho work. Before very long it is hoped to place an officer on tho work of levelling tho two possible silt trap weirs at Taieri Lako and Waipiata. This is tho position at present, and when complete particulars have been obtained and furnished tho Government will then be in a position to decide what action should bo taken in the matter. —W. F. Masset, Minister of Lands." ' After bearing the letter, tho motion was altered to read that tho Government bo asked to expedite the works. Mr Kempshell seconded tho motion, and! it was carried unanimously. _ Tho business concluded with thanks to Mr Soott for attending, who said in reply that ho know the disabilities under which tho settlers were, and would give the matter every support ho could.