TAIERI FLOODS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19010, 5 November 1923, Page 2

TAIERI FLOODS.

GOVERNMENT PROTECTION SCHEME. THE GLASSIFICATION CRITICISED. RATEPAYERS FAVOUR FLAT RATE, A meeting mostly of residents of the Moinona and Berwick destricts called by the Vigilance Committee of the ratepayers under the Taieri River Trust was held at the Alomona Hall on Friday night. In the absence of the chairman of the Vigilance Committee, Mr D. 11 Shand. through indisposition, Air A. P. Fleming, secretary of the committee, was voted to the chair. There was an attendance of about 50 persons. Among those present by invitation of the committee were -Messrs R. T. Sadd (late Comiuisisoner of Crown Lands), chairman of the Taieri River Trust, W. Blackie, and L. B. Campbell (district engineer of Public Works), members of the Trust, Mr B. B. Couston (its engineer), Air J. T. Gibson (its secretary), and Mr J. M. Dickson, ALP. The Chairman, at (he outset, referred to the meeting as probably the most important that had ever been held on the Taieri Plain, lie referred to the Government promise of £75.C00 and the attached conditions, that the scheme adopted must bo flood proof, and carried out to the satisfaction of the Public Works Department and that the settlers themselves must contribute a like amount of £75,000. The scheme had been arranged by (lie Trust in conjunction with the Public Works Department and the classification had been completed and made known. He v.orjJd call on Mr Dickson, AI.P., and several associated with the Trust to explain the position to them. Air Dickson said that in his opinion the offer of the Government was a generous one. In I his case the Government was willing to give £75,000 provided the settlors would agree to the Trust, being empowered iu raise a like amount from them if required. The department wan empowered to spend up to £150,000, and there was a distinct, arrangement that no money would tie called un from the Trust until the whole of the work was completed, a matter probably of three or four years. 'Hie Trust had that in writing. He would like to know from some of them what these last two floods had cost the Taieri. Me had heard a great deal about floods on the Taieri and had seen some of them, and he sincerely hoped some thing definite would be arrived at. If this offer of £75,000 was turned down he did not see Coat in tho event of another (loon bo would have any standing as their ropretentative to go and ask for any further assistance. The Government was willing (o spend £75,000 of public money to benefit directly private individuals and "indirectly to benefit the country by protecting a very large amount of valuable land, it was for them as ratepayers to decide whether the loan of .*(75.00 ii should be made or not. Mr A. Moynihan asked, if the Government dul not intend to cal! up the money for three years what was the necessity for making the classifications now? Mr Dickson said that was really a matter 'for the Trust, but he b;ink it that before a vote could bo taken there had to bo a classification- They should not disapprove of the scheme because they took exception >.o the working cut of some of the details. He hoped that when the result of the poll was known the proposal would be carried. •Mr W. Bryan;: asked for further information as to the likelihood of ratepayers being called on for money before the completion of the work. Air Dickson again referred to the letter be hud from Air Massey stating that no call would be made upon the Trust until the work was completed. They were perfectly secure and safe on that point, and Urey need not be at all afraid about that. Mr AV. Baird asked what the £150,000 was to be spent on. Air Dickson said that was a question which the district engineer, Mr Campbell, would answer best. Mr L. B. Campbell said ho had no idea ho was to bo called upon, but he would do what he could to outline the scheme prepared by the Public Works Department lor the improvement of conditions on the Taieri Plain. Tho Government had had commissions in 1916 and 1920, composed of prominent engineers, who went exhaustively into the problem of Taieri flood protection. The present scheme was founded on a combination of the findings of these two commissions. The 1920 scheme, as thev probably all knew, was an embankmeiit scheme. They fell that dredging would not bo satisfactory. He proceeded to outline the various works to be undertaken. From On tram to Allantcn tho la mis were to be raised to 2ft above the highest flood level observed by the 1916 commission. From Allanton to Henley they were to bo raised Ift above the Highest observed flood level. The banks -were to be strengthened and at certain places which he described set back. He further explained the position by the use of a large scale plan. There was no work to be done on the Waipori, which had been loft nut on account of the cost. In any case tho City Council's scheme for impounding a year's flow of the Waipori would make floods from it a thing of the past. It was proposed to spend £ISOO in opening out the Lee Stream, and £3OOO in the Contour Channel in strengthening weak and improving some of the inlets. There would be a new bridge over the HenlcyBcrvvick road to take the diversion of tho Contour Channel. The new pumping plant situated about 30 chains below the bridge on the Henley-Berwick road would have five times the capacity of the present plant. Obstructive willows would be cleared out. The crux of the whole scheme was to give the water in tho Taieri Gorge a greater slope or head to enable it to carry away all the water in time of flood, and that could only be done by raising the level of Lake Waipori. Thev believed that that could be done, and that they could raise the level of the lake sufficiently to enable it to can ? 70,000 cubic fret of water a second through the gorge. Internal drainage was a mailer that, he thought, should be provided directly out of rates. The capital expenditure of £150.000 was to deal with the problem of keeping the water out of the plain. The estimates had been gone into very thoroughly before, they were adopted, and ' the whole amount would he required for the strengthening of embankments and the various works he had outlined. Mr B. B. Couston said he had been asked to speak on a rather delicate question. Ho was a little surprised that he had been asked at all to speak on classification. There were certain portions of (he scheme that could only rightly be discussed in court, but any information regarding general principles of classification they were entitled and moat welcome to receive. The classification this time was quite different from any thev previously had made. The Art made a complete change. Tho trust had put all its cards on the table to them before the classifiers set out on their work. This work ho described in terms of the relevant clauses of the Act. Every man was set down in pounds, shillings, and pence for the yearly rate for which he was liable. i Mr J. T. Gibson referred to the raising of the loan, and said it was quite correct (hut they would not be called upon to find the money till about the completion of the work. He thought that if the time ever came when they would have to find tho money that there would he a saving of £IOOO in interest, or a fifth of the total figures on which their calculations had been based. As an old resident: of the district be expressed the opinion that if (hoy did not take advantage of this more than liberal offer from the Government he was afraid thev were rushing into serious trouble. Foods were becoming more frequent than ever, and they knew that meant, in addition to other loss, serious depreciation of their property. Mr Sadd assured that meeting that the members of the trust were just as keen as the residents to sre the Taieri plain thoroughly protected, from floods. The lands had to be classified before they could co ahead with the taking of the poll on the loon. All who conducted the negotiations with the Government considered the offer a most liberal one, and they ought certainly to take advantage of it. It was too good a chance to be lost. If the loss liy one of these Tug floods was somewhere about £3(X),OCO, as was said, surely the aspergillure of £75.f00 from the ratepayers was very modest. If some big scheme was not nut in hand things would go from had to worse. The Chairman here invited general questions from flip meeting. .Air VT. Bryant asked what height t)ie .embankment would be at "the bottom end of the plain. Air 'Campbell said the new level won'd lie about 4ft above the present level of the emban'-'ment referred to. Air W. G. Reid asked if 4ft extra em--1 inknient would be sufficient to cone with the extra water that wouhl come when the embankment was set hack ?5 chains. Mr Campbell explained his reasons tor believing that 4ft was quite sufficient.

Air Reid asked if it would not be cheaper to buTd the embankment by dredging. Air Campbell said the department had had considerable experience 'of dredges and of the machinery it intended to use, and was satisfied that the machinery it proposed.was the best. Mr A. Moynihan asked why East Taieri was not brought into the scheme. Air Campbell said they were governed by the Act in this matter. Air V\. Blackie remarked that East Taieri would be quite willing to come into the scheme if West Taieri would conipensate it for the damage West Taieri had done it Air Aloynihan said the classifiers were the paid servants of the ratepayer, and surely they should give the ratepayers information as to reasons for the classifications made.— (Loud applause.) That was largely the object of the meeting.—(Applause.) Otherwise, if they were not satisfied with the classification they would be put to the ex-' pense of -going to the court to get the,information they wanted. Mr Gibson, replying, drew attention to the clause of the Act basing the classification on the rates of individual benefit to the total estimated benefit in the area. That was the principle on which they had proceeded. Air Moynihan asked if the work was purely protective, why there should be any difference in the classification.—(Applause.) Air Couston said he thought they were very foolish to press this point, but" if' the chairman of the Trust desired it he would put all his cards on the table and tell them how all the classification was made. 'Air Moynihan : That’s what wo want to know.—(Applause.) Air Couston said the chairman must take the responsibility. He took it, on looking round the room, that nine-tenths of them were south men in favour of tho scheme. If he put his pards on the table every lawyer would know how his evidence would go before he went into the box. If they were for the scheme they were very foolish to press for more information. That was his advice. Air Gibson said the feeling of the meeting was evidently in favour of a flat rate. (Voices: “That’s right.’') Rut they were overlooking the fact that the Act was clearly against a flat rate, "After half a dozen other questions had been dealt with Air Campbell said there was provision in the £ISO,(XX) for land compensation. Mr T. Begg. who was called on by. the chairman, disclaimed any connectirin with tho Taieri floods, but said he had for many,years been connected wlb much more serious floods at the Ciutha. He referred to the serious silting of the Ciutha River and to the danger of (he whole township on one occasion. They should pull together and. work out some scheme that would Vie permanently beneficial. He dealt at some length with the difficulties of the Ciutha settlers. Air Dickson su’d there wasno analogy at all between the Ciutha and Ta'eri Rivers. ("Hear, hear.") , Air J. A. Snennan asked about the effect on (he Berwick district of the raising of tho embankment. . Air Campbell said the Berwick floods were due to the'Waipori. The lake level would not reach Berwick. Air Aloynihan. who claimed to be a great supporter of the scheme, expressed ; tje opinion that the classification was not just. If it could be explained many of the people who were opposed to the scheme would favour it. . Unless he was given a thorough explanation he was going to object. Ho was saddled with £l3O extra rates above, what ho was already paying. .They were entitled to more information.—[Applause.) Air Reid asked if the figures opposite their properties were binding, and claimed that there were errors in his figures. Mr Couston, after consulting with otners of the trust, said he had had to take the responsibility, and he had decided that that was hot the place to disclose the information, and Tie was mol going to give it . Mr Sadd said such errors as Mr Reid referred to could be easily adjusted. Air -Aloynihan continued to press for further information. Mr Gibson said that a flat rate for thy district had never appealed to him. It was obvious, was it not, that in saving me plain from flood they would not confer equal benefits on all? Who, suffered most from a break? Mr Aloynihan; The man opposite the" break.—(Applause.) Air Gibson said he differed entirely. The man who suffered most, wag the man ,on whose land the water lay longest —(Voices: Quite right!) He • further explained fo. Air. Moynihan that the classifiers could not take into consideration previous expenditure or damage. Air Leary asked further particulars about the work of the classifiers, and several others put more or less intelligible questions. Air Snell ventured the opinion that the classification would kill the scheme, though everyone would favour it if it were on a flat rale. Air Reid said the rates were going to Ixs so high that they were more than the value of the land. A level rate would alter the feeling of the meeting. Air Dickson again emphasised the fact that in this case the Government was finding £75,000 of public money. Air Leary asked if there was any chance of getting the system of classification altered. .Mr Sadd said the classification had been before the trust and had been adopted by it The classification was in accordance with the Act and could not bo altered. Air Moynihan added a few more requests for. information about the classification. Mr Gibson again' pointed out that a flat rate would not have; met the requirements of the Apt, so .they could dismiss that absolutely. Air Couston said that if the whole meeting was right up against the scheme tho scheme would not carry. He did not care whether he won the -classification scheme or lost it. Ho would explain the whole thing. But if the meeting was for the scheme than he was working in their interests in not giving the explanation. ,Ho emphasised the very valuable nature of the Government’s offer and of the works proposed, they were getting, a mighty good fiVo.COO worth. He did not care whether he dis closed the position—only this. He would not afterwards go into the box for them. They would have to find someone else. Air Leary said they were not opposed to the scheme, but only tp the classification. The Chairman then look a vote and found tnat 38 were in favour of the scheme and none opposed to it. A second vote showed that the meeting was equally unanimously opposed to the present classification. Air Aloore said he would be in favour of going right on with the scheme and fighting the classification afterwards. Air Couston advised (hat in view of the attitude of the meeting they should all appeal and arrange for one test case from each section. The Chairman- moved a very hearty vole of thanks to the members of "the (rust and to the member for the district. Mr Dickson. This wag carried with acclamation; A similar compliment wa s accorded the chairman. Mr Aloynihan moved—" That this meeting is dissatisfied with the want of information by the classifiers as to how they arrived at their classification. The motion was seconded by Air Snell and carried unanimously. The meetimr terminated at a-quarter past 11.