THE WAIMAKARIRI.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1329, 17 May 1918, Page 8

THE WAIMAKARIRI.

PROTECTIVE WORKS WANTED. DEPUTATION TO SIR W. FRASER. That serious results will attend any further neglect of the north bank of the Wahnakariri River, between Kaiapoi and a point opposite Courtenay, was made clear by a deputation consisting of Messrs A. J. Rich and R. 0. Dixon, the former a member of the Eyre County Council, and the latter a well-known resident of the district, which waited on Sir William Fraser at the Government Buildings to-day. The position at present is that the south bank of the river is controlled by the South Wahnakariri River Board, but there is no such controlling authority for the north bank, with the result that the Eyre County Conned just does what it can in the way ot protective works out of the ordinary county revenue. The River Board, which controls the opposite bank, is more fortunately situated, as it has ample endowments and revenue to expend in confining the restless river to its northern course. The result, however, of confining the river on the south side has been a constant seeking of the river to escape on the north side, and it has succeeded to the extent that it has encroached a distance of half a mile into the surrounding country during the past ten years; thereby destroying valuable land, and threatening even more serious encroachments in the future. Worse N than this, the possibility of a complete break-away exists, in which case a great area of land, of a capital value of approximately t'500,000 will be devastated and ruined. The deputation had come to the Minister to ask his advice and assistance, as the mat-, ter was extremely urgent. At present the' Eyre County was to some ex'tent carrying out the functions of a River Board, but it was really spending money illegally, by devoting part Of the ordinary county revenue required for roads to the building up of protective works. The trouble was that the whole area seemed to be blind to the danger, only a few people taking any interest 'in the question. What was wanted was a definite board, vested with definite powers to control not only the Waimakariri on both banks, but*also all the rivers in the vicinity. The Minister expressed his keen interest in the matter, making it plain that he thoroughly appreciated the extent and reality of the threatened danger. Mr Holmes, the department's engineer-in-chief, in a re* port presented to him, had come to the conclusion that what was wanted was one River Board with wide and comprehensive powers, controlling both banks of the river. The trouble was that there was no pro-perly-constituted board controlling .the area, and the effect of the protective works on the south side had been to drive the river against the north bank. One controlling board should be created, and the whole area likely to be flooded should be created a rating area. Altogether too much apathy had been shown in the past concerning this matter, with the result that unless effective steps were taken the surrounding country was threatened with ruin and devastation. Incidentally, Sir William referred to the fact that in Italy there were rivers carrying down shingle and other matter from the mountains, the beds of which were now 20ft above the level of the surrounding plains. Mr Dixon interjected that exactly the same thing was happening in connection with the Waimakariri. The bed was constantly rising. He would suggest the setting-up of a Royal Commission to investigate the whole matter. Mr Rich said that difficulty would be experienced in inducing the ..River Board, which has plenty of endowments, to co-operate. The Minister replied that if the district would not create a board the Government had power to create a board and rate the district in spite of its opposition. Mr Rich asked if a board could be created to control all the rivers in the vicinity.

The Minister replied in the affirmative, and instanced what was being done in that respect in Nelson. Mr Powrie, Eyre County Clerk, who was present, said that under the existing arrangement the whole county was endangered. Consulting the map, the Minister agreed with this contention. The town of Kaiapoi would have to be included in fhe rating area. His suggestion to the deputation was that the County Council should spend sonic money in getting a survey made of the area, so that accurate data could be secured for presentation to the Government or a Parliamentary Committee. That being done it would be perhaps wise to ap-

point a Pioyal Commission to determine the area to be rated. The nature of the works to be undertaken need not concern them; that was a matter for the engineers. He had no doubt that when this was done that the Government would be prepared to assist on a reasonable basis.