TIDAL FLOODING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19202, 19 June 1924, Page 11

TIDAL FLOODING.

TROCBLE AT ANDERSON’S BAY. RESIDENTS APPEAL TO DRAINAGE BOARD. A. deputation of Anderson's Bay lesidcnts appeared almost unannounced before tho Drainage Board last night to make strong complaint about the damage of their 'properties were suffering through flooding by a high tide. The Alayor (Mr H. L. 'J a ploy), who is also chairman of the Drainage Board, explained that Mr Metcalf had rung him up not long before tho meeting asking permission to wait on the hoard. He suggested that they treat this as a matter of emergency and suspend tho standing orders to enable (he deputation to bo heard without previous notice. Afembers agreed to take this course, and All 1 Aletcalf and five others were admitted to the council •'table Mr Aletcalf said they were the residents of Somerville street, Anderson’s Bay, and (hat night a. rather high tide had flooded ail their properties. They wanted sometiling done lo stop this. They had put their case to the Works Committee about intro months ago. but nothing had happened. About six times they had been flooded in this way. They wore all returned soldiers and thought tho board ought to do something for them.. Air Cecil Davidson endorsed what Air Aletcalf had said, and said that when they bought those properties the houses looked very nice, and they knew nothing about tho high tides. They found to their sorrow that the lidos came in and practically destroyed their properties after they had put in a great, deal of work on them. They wore practically certain that the Drainage Board could do something for them if it would. They thought tnat if tho creek at. the back of their properties were piped and a liood-galo put up they would be all right, and would have properties they could take a pride in. In reply to (Jr Taverner, Mr Metcalf said there were, six properties aflecled. H<> would guarantee there was 6in of water on all their sections that night. The Chairman assured the deputation of the sympathy of the whole of the Drainage Board. The unfortunate position was that tho Drainage Beard was not responsible for tidal water. At tho same tune ho felt sure they would do something to remedy the position complained ’ of. If they put up flood-gates they would swamp the road and flood other properties. It was a matter lor engineers. They realised that members of (lie deputation were not tho original owners and that they had come along and bought these properties in good faith. They had just had a change of cnginccia, and that was probably the reason why no action had been taken. _ Gr Wilson said they were waiting for a further report from the engineer on tho question of putting' valves on that cieek. Whether they could do that or not was another matter. Air Mclcalf said they would have another flooding (ho following mornhi" and afternoon, and (hey wished members of the council would come out to see for themselves. , . , Cr MacManus moved that (be engineer bo requested to report to tne next committee meeting as to what he was prepared to do in tho matter. Ho thought there was a moral obligation on Ihe board, because tho building surveyor must have passed the, buildings .-ofcre they could have been put up in such a. locality. Those men naturally concluded that everything was all right. Gr Shack lock seconded the motion, and said the matter ought lo go to th? clt V engineer for report. It was very difficult indeed to know what could bo done. The Mayor said he was wondering if something could not be done that evening perhaps in the way of sandbagging. Cr Shaoklook: I am afraid that it is not possible. If the houses had been built since the city took over that area tho by-laws ought lo have been such as to prevent anybody building on that site It was absolutely unfit for building, and it should have been reclaimed by 2lt Gin or so before building was allowed on it. If necessary steps should bo taken to frame a by-law to prevent any such occurrence m the future. . The motion was earned. Mr Aletcalf. amid laughter, appealed to his Worship not lo let env of this gom the papers, as they naturally did not desire Pl *CV < Douglas and Cr Bcgg both protested an-ainst the manner in which the discussion had been carried on in the presence of the The Chairman admitted that (ho discussion had been somewhat out of order, and remarked that their sympathies had earned them away.