A SCHEME FOR THE RECLAMATION AND PROTECTION OF INCH CLUTHA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1418, 25 January 1879, Page 12

A SCHEME FOR THE RECLAMATION AND PROTECTION OF INCH CLUTHA.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— As most of your readers are no_ doubt aware, from reports circulated from time to time through the Press, the greater portion, I should say three-fourths, of Inch Clutha is fctill submerged, laid utterly waste, through the water from tho Matau branch flowing on to it through two large breaches, one five, and the other three chains w ide, on Mr Willocks' and Mrs Shepherd's properties. The first question to be considered is, are the settlers in a position to grapple with this hideous difficulty ? itich and productive iv the extreme as the land is, and has yielded most magnificent crops, still the most of the farmers, being of an industrous and persevering stimp, have been expending largely in bringing their farms to the advanced state they were in, and would, from the splendid piddocks which were this year eown with cereals, have received a large 1 eturn. Instead of that they have to start at the beginning again. Their road 3 destroyed, bridges, hedges, and fences torn up and completely swept away, and nothing to be seen through the water but a solid bed of silt. It is quite patent, from what outlay will be required when the water is shut off, in improving their land again, that they can't do much with regard to t topping the breachee. 1 cjnsider the district is fully entitled to the assistance of the Government, in so far that the railway embankment was the great cause of dividing the overflow down the Matau instead of the Koau branch. My suggestion is, that the Government send round a small steam barge to remove rock, which is very convenient on the opposite bank at the top of the island, to fill the breaches. The upper and largest I would fill to full height of banks, the other to only normal level of river; the Government to assist in opening a large storm- channel from there down centre road, in a direct line to now gap in sandspit, the channel to bo cut two chains wide by four feet deep, earth tj be thrown to both sides one chain from channel, and formed into a substantial bank. I would also throw a triangular groin of rock from top of island, to divide the water somewhat, and protect tho banks thereat ; also erect two embankmonts from, top of isbnd to and along sides of Mi Anderson's lagoon to Koau branch, to admit of some overflow, which thould go down that branch. I have a forcible conviction that; unless tint is done, tho celebrated "garden of Otago " is for ever comparatively useless; otherwise, if aboveschemo is carried out— which is of vital importance to the whole of the districts adjoining, namely, Stirling and district, Government railway, Kaitangata Railway Company, and likewise Port Molyneux and district, who should all combine, as it were, for their very existence to further tho execution pf the scheme— then the district will soon regain it 3 former worth and celebrity, and resume its position as tbe foremost farming district in Otago. Of course tho Board of Conservators will require to c<m*y out their work in a judicious manner, and those on the Stirling and Kaitangata side should take immediate steps to form themselves into a Board, under the Hawke's Bay and Marlborough llivers Act, to protect themselves. There is another subject I wish briefly to revert to, and that is: if the above works are cairied out, which must be eooner or later, that the Government is perfectly safe, aa was previously contemplatt d, in making Stirling the starting-point of the Catlin's River branch railway. With the, exception of a few chains at the tiver banks, the formation of the island aad of South Molyneux is of a tough vegetable nature, quite impervious to the action (were it ever tested) of water, which has been during late floods clearly demonstrated by tho Kaitingati line sustaining little or no damage, except some of the ballast removed from tho surface. Another forcible reason ia favour of this route, in addition to what has been shown by petition largely supported, is that tho Government would have a double chance of uninterrupted through-traffic on the main line. As the river has cut a new channel through Mr Willocks' property on a direct line wilh railway bridge, and in consequence of the Government protective works above Balclutha forcing all the flood waters through the bridge, will no doubt cause a considerable scour and deepening of the channel ; and, as is reported, four of the cylinders did not penetrate through the gravel, we may find ourselves, at no distant date, cut off from railway communication in that direction. — I am, &c. , Reclaimer.