PAREORA RIVER CONTROL

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 13731, 22 October 1908, Page 7

PAREORA RIVER CONTROL

COUNTY- COUNCIL TO DO XOTHIXG.

At v«terdav'» oneling of the W annate Connty Council, the fiuestion of averting I a threatened diversion of the I'arcora , river near llolow Station was again | • -brought up. A report by **•%"*/< • engineer lu the Council, and by Mr r. : W. Majthant to Mr A. S. r.lworthv. . weTe/read. Tb«e report* have been already. u "i '«r'H. Klwortby ;*id bis brother, Mr S' Elworthv. thought that tbu *toj. bank proposed" by Mr Br*nuier would be wily a teMpotary barrier, for when tie iher readied it the bank would be - actrared a»ay with the'land beneath it. H* conM not consent to that scheiiK--Qb the other band, if protective works wein, put down that would secure the county roadr, and bridge-, ho hi other would be willing to contribute £ f»r £ of their cos;, ror hU own pari he «.» strongly of opinion that the matter should bo dealt with at «>m.. and as far as he could •«• th> case was of tby same sort a* that of the Waiifte, «betp ilicv u.«.i agreed to do something, and w'tlmut t.tl ling upon anyoi.e. Mr Manhaiit --aid that be bad no doubt that tUw t»vi woiuu j com* acro»-» the road and down the H;k. alld if it did m, it would mean a v.iv great loss. Unle»* eouuthiug was ooi.c the upper bridge would be lelt high aim dry, and the nwd be cut through in liv< places. Mr Marvliaiii's idea that eveiy on* effected br the ilanger should contribute was th~- fairest, but the faruier.down the river said tIK-y would -have 110thrng to do with a river board. It lemained then with the Council so piotcct the road and bridge. The chairman: 'Hie settlers down lielow don't aeeui inclined to do anything. In reply to .Mr Klwortby. the engineer •aid that the rirer would certainly go over the Hat if not ptevented. and pin.lit Undencieb continued. Mr Klwortby was quite right in faying that 'n course of time the rirer would reach the .»top-bank and destroy it if no protective work «' done on •the river terrace; but he had presumed that Mr A. S". Klworthy would do that to protect hi- own land. If he did, before long the rvil would direct itself, the liver returning tu its old channel. The chairman suggested Uut the fainter* might lie more w iiitig to to ojwiate by forming a river board, if the Council offered to join in. to the value »t their property 'that »a» threatened, including both bridge-,. t<» say £20.000. The agricuhual laud-. lie tciuiated at 8 lulled Oy half a mile, at *<<&) all acu—ilealiv £50,000. The north ride of the uvet should come in too. to ;« irruiii extent, and the river hoard >houhl take in the whole river from lop lo ikV-imu. The- clerk pointed ou» that ine tatuig baa la in the county was, the uutiupt jvc. . Talue, and the site of the bimge.-. .iu> not worth much. Mr Hart *aid there were several river boards in Canteibury. aud none of them got any help from the County Councils, even though they were protecting County road*. At all eveuts the Uernldine County did not help the Orarj Kiver Board. He agreed that the Council oughV to help, so far as their property wu endangered, but the lower bridge was not in danger from the overflows. Tbcy could not undertake to protect private property, or there would be no end to the demand' for protection. Mr Smillie agreed with the latter remark. Mr Klwortby said the river was tnly two chain* from the road now, and it would soon cut through it. and cut once it would b»; cut several times. Mr Walker argued that the probability «»f the river being diverted and the upper bridge- left high and dry was very remote. He did not approve of the Klworthy's suggestion of £ for £ subsidy, as the Settlers lower down would have an equal right to assistance iu protecting their property. He thoaght that Mr M;mh,n<t had greatly exaggerated the danger -it the upper point, while in his 'Mr Walker**' opinion there »«• more danger to the county road through overflow at MeKn>»n'i They might d» :> at d< >I of harm by throwing tin- riv.-r to the other sule, if they put up tho srnin that Mr Merchant recommended. The projier thing to d» wa* to form » riv.r board. Mr Lyall a.Tced with Mr Walker, but said the people ou the. r>ver d d not, and :h»y would not form a river b"«rd. 'I hit being so the only thing the- Council couid do wan to leave ttuf nutter alone until th» river aetoaltr threatened the nm!. Mr Walker added to !..» former r-iiMtk« that the ehoking of ttv. il>-<i» hv gfir-c wai tfv» chief •.•.iirrr ~f oreitl""-. Mr .Smd!:e -ui.l the Council •ool.i i.,t alfonl to ei»e tli.- pto|«.-e.I «ul>>t.iv. ■ f they did. th.y nr.uid I- rt—l-d' «<'.'„ appluration- for be!|> in pi-ite. erty "Ih« «.li.»irniaii >nsg.--i-d .v f-•in'.i-ii

which after some amendment of it* tciuis was put and carried as follows: —"That Council having discussed the engineer's reports cannot agree to accept- Mr Klworthy's proposal, and recommend that a river board be formed." ■ The matter then dropped..