The Waiohine Channel Reserve.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1814, 31 March 1886, Page 3

The Waiohine Channel Reserve.

To the Editor of the Standard,

Pm,-I agree with yonr correspondent “ Greytown North,'’ that it is an unwise step to sell the W&iohine Channel Course. With your permission I will explain its history, and the object for which it was obtained. At one lime this township was almo-t at the mercy of the Waiobiue River as flood succeeded flood, making its w.y dangerously through the town, and to cbeck its refractory nature, if possible, tbs Waiohine River Board of Conservators was formed. They applied to Government for aid, and the most skilful Engineer in the country was sent up, namely Mr Blackett, assisted by Messrs J. 1). Baird and Hansen, who at once advised tbe purchase of this strip of land, as tbe only safeguard for tbe township and favourable course for tbe unstable river itself. This strip of Und is sufficiently large to take tbe water oat of harm’s way, being 101 chains long from tbe town belt to a place known as Kempto >’b Creek. On this strip there was expended some £IOOO Government and ratepayers’ money in clearing and catting open tbe Channel. Now, Sir, it is manifest that inch an Engineer as Mr Blackett saw that this waa tbe only means by which tbe township might be saved from tbe ravages of tbe Waiohine River which was then making such bavoo without hindrance. This Channel Coarse, which was purchased with tbe ratepayers’ money at twenty shillings per acre, is made of the greatest possible utility and benefit to Greytown, inasmuch as it takes the whole of tbe over floods of tbe river, which waa seen by the mighty body of water running through there last September twelve months’ and subsequent floods, which would have almost swept tbe township in the absence of ■neb a Channel. I bold, Sir, that the Board have no right (I do not question their intention) to sell tbis strip of land—this Channel bed -without taking the voice of the ratepayers on it. Ratepayers, property holders, residents, who are here (or a number of yean, and ate likely to be here, awaken to year interests—call upon your Mayor to call a meeting and have this question discussed. Doubtless Mr Caselberg will be glad to att* d and give hie opinion and experience as first Chairman of tbe Board and prime mover m ll* tons ati on.

Then ia a disposition on the part of those living along tha liter to keep it off from themseltee. Now, suppose tha adjoining properly bolden to tha Channel purchased it; eoold they not attempt to block the water beck, say on to the platform. The latter place would naturally say, " No, no,’ 1 yon here been fanning through my centre for years aa my :hingly nature can testify. Try some of your old courses through Dr Bpratt'i paddock. Ac., iic., or there is an outlet for you through Maxton’a Creek. Poor Greylown may well exclaim, •' Save me from my enemies 1 ’ If the ratepayers do not jnmd they will find the river playing its pranks as of yore. Some aethers averted that a good many of their live stock rode down triumphantly in the Channel during one i f the recent floods, and were no doubt lost in itgc utiuence with the main river. The importance of this matter is my exetue for trespassing on your space. I am, Ac., Gkeyiown.

To the f.'htor of riic Sf in l I I. Pi*.—l am thoroughly in accord with the view* expressed by “ North (jrevtown ” io your last ii-suc, and as a property owner I protett against the action of the Beard (who are supposed to represent those who pay fixer rates! in offering the Channel Reserve for tjte I verv much question their right to do so without first consulting the ratepayers of the district, (irevtowu people are woefully •pathetic if they do not see into this matter at once What will be the consequence if this outlet for tlood waters falls into private hands * The purchaser will probably start erecting a blockade at the lower eod, knowing that by so doing the silt will collect and fill np the present course, making good land for hinr, bat thereby throwiug the water (which would otherwise go there) down through Wystt'i and all over lands from Hammerich's op ■ repetition of the old game in fact. Not alone that; it would tend very materially to taro the iwollea waters off through Cotter’s (Blade's) Creek, and over South I point this out to the ratepayers •re it ia too late, and I should urge them to oall a meeting to protest against the action of the Board of Conservators in offering the Reserve for mle. 1 am not opposed to baling of the Reserve, providing a clause is inserted in the lease to tbe effect “That no obstruction to the flow of the water shall be Ptaeed in the natural channel during the *n»ocy of the lease.’ I am, £c., _ BaTEPATKR. t F - “• Where would Oreytown North have “*• if* September floods bat lor the ihiBNU