THE DWINDLING AVON.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 249, 24 November 1914, Page 3

THE DWINDLING AVON.

* •■ • ' ,. —•-———- ■ ■•»'.■• v DISCUSSED BY ROWING ASSOCIATION. OARSMEN ANXIOUS.

At last night's meeting of the Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Rowing Association there was some discussion on the unprecedented fall in the Avon, and means . for deepening the water for the benefit of rowing clubs were jmt forward. Messrs Hobbs and Nightingale, who recently went as a deputation to the Drainage Board on the matter, the report of which appeared in The Sun on November 18, gave an account of their efforts. . The. chairman, . Mr F„ D. Kesteven, said he believed that the Drainage Board, in having the mouth of the river cleared for the benefit of motor boats, had been, responsible for the big drop in the level of the river. Now that the banks were cleared away, the water ran away too quickly. Mr Nightingale thought that the installation of high-pressure water had something to do with' it, in that many artesian wells which formerly drained into the river had been closed. In answer to a question he stated that the river "showed no difference in level for the past three weeks, as measured at the Avon Rowing Club's staging. Mr Hobbs suggested that if the Drainage Board would ■ not ■ vpijrmit. a dam of sand, it might allow, a dam composed of sacks of weeds, or something that could do no damage should a pleasure boat strike it. Mr Smith x>roposed that the river should be deepened over the mile course, and that the board might do so if the Association took the responsibility. It would have to be re-dredged at intervals. He thojdght the board might give an estimate/of cost for dredging the river from the willows down to the mile. It was necessary that a clear eighteen inches of water should be given on the mile. Other delegates approved of the suggestion, which woulcl mean practically that a basin would be constructed for the distance proposed. It was suggested by some, that the members of the rowing clubs might get to work with Dutch hoes, and dig the bed out, but it was also pointed out that there would be difficulty in disposing of the material.

"Mr Smith said the Association might go to the Drainage Board and ask it to do the work if the Association provided £IOO, which it could easily afford for the purpose, the board to provide another £SO. i

To Mr Hobbs's proposal that the board should be asked to permit the building of a "soft" dam, there was a general opinion that such application wouldn't meet with success. It was eventually decided, on the motion of Mr Smith, seconded by Mr Hobbs, that a letter should be written to the Drainage Board, askiug for an estimate of the cost of dredging the river from the Fitzgerald Avenue bridge to a mile below.