MOLYNEUX RIVER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3105, 17 September 1913, Page 36

MOLYNEUX RIVER.

SILTING EVIL DISCUSSED

COMMISSION ASKED FOR,

Tho public meeting held in the Balclutha Borough Chambers on Wednesday afternoon to consider what steps should bo taken to evolve some systematic soheme for the protection from flood of all the land in Molynenx flat was attended by about 25 gentlemen (says the Clutha Leader), representing Earncgo, Balclutha, Stirling, ELaitangata* Inchclutha, Otanomomo, and Port Molyneux districts.

Mr D. Stewart (Mayor of Balclutha) occupied the d'-air, and in opening the meeting said that seme months ago he had interviewed the Prime Minister and asked him to appoint a commission, which oould perhaps evolve some scheme which would be for the protection of all the lands concerned, instead of each local body continuing to carry on separately its own protective scheme. Mr Massey had then promised to confer with the other Ministers and see what could be done, but nothing further had been hoard from him As Parliament was still sitting, probably he hud boon too busy to think of the matter, and it hud slipped his memory. He (Mr Stewart) thought it just ns well to wait till a meeting was hold, and the Prime Minister oould be re minded by any resolution which the meeting passed. The Mayor went on to say that the question of tho silting u.p of the river was a big one, and many were inclined to blame dredging a« the mam cause, but lie pointed out tliat in some rivers where there was no dredging done the beds became silted up. There was also trouble here on account of the bar at the mouth filling up and restricting the outlet. He was of opinion that the best thing to be done would be to get an engineer to report on the whole case.

Mr Jas. Mosley (chairman of the Inchclutha Road, River, and Drainage Board) contended that mining up-country had accentuated the danger of floods in the Molyneux flat. The Taieri River had been declared a sludge channel, but the Molyneux, though to all intents and purposes every bit as much a sludge channel, had not been declared one. therefore the settlers had no legal claim on the Government for protection, but they had a moral one. Ho moved: “ That this meeting ask the Government to appoint a commission of inquiry, composed of one or two capable engineers, to give a report as to what is best to be done to combat the danger caused by tho silting up of the river and the flooding of lands in Molyneux flat.” Mr John Smaill seconded tho motion.

Mr A. E. Farquhar contended that banks were insufficient protection. He said that they could put up banks 40 feet high, and then in a year or two they would not be sufficient to hold the water in flood time because of the amount of silt coming down and the riverbed getting filled up. Mr T. F Denniston (Balclutha) was of opinion that no doubt mining was to blame to a great extent for the silting up of the riverbed, but there was also to bo considered the “ wash” of the watersheds feeding the Molyneux. Mr J. Hall (Finegand) said that Mr Mosley’s motion was a step in the right direction, but ho thought they should go further and ask the Government to help them to straighten the river and keep the mouth clear

Mr J. Bamsay (county engineer) said he could throw some light on the question of “ tailings.” He had had something to do with mining, and had helped to put a few

million of feet of stuff into the river, ana no had no doubt that the mining operation# were the main cause of the bed getting silted up.—{“ Hear, hear.”) The riverbed at Alexandra was 25ft higher, and in some parts of the Shotover was 30ft and 40ft higher than the original level. As Mr Denniston had said, the clearing away of vegetation allowed surface water to run quicker into the river, but"' that compared to the effect of dredging and sluicing was a mere bagatelle. The only way to deal with the blocking up of the river was for the Govern)ment to clear the bed out and build a light railway along the course with what waa taken. That would bo killing two birds with one stone.—(“ Hear, hear.”) Mr D. T. Fleming (chairman of the Clutha. River Board) said he was prepared to admit that dredging was responsible for some ol the silting, but the level of the water eurface had not risen to. any extent during the last 30 years. The actual level of the rive* had not risen at all. Those who studied the history of rivers would know that the sea level of a river tended to work further and further inland. There were some rivers which, on account of obstructions made by embankments, rose above their original surface, but the Molyneux had no obstructions in its course, and - Nature was allowed to work its way in scouring "out a bed. This led to a great deal of discussion. Me Fleming stating, however, that he was i n favour of the motion.

On the motion being put to the meeting it was carried unanimously.