WESTPORT PROGRESS COMMITTEE.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 404, 16 November 1868, Page 2

WESTPORT PROGRESS COMMITTEE.

THE RIVER PROTECTION,

The members of Committee present at the meeting on Friday evening were Messrs' O'Cortor (in the chair), Field, Milne, Hughes, Powell, Humphrey, Leslie, and Alcorn, with Mr Bullen, honorary secretary. Mr Blackett, the Provincial Engineer, was pr. s nt at the meeting, at the request of the members of the Committee. He was accompanied by Mr Lowe, District Engineer. Th s Chairman explained that His Honor the Superintendent had exI his wish to receive suggestions from the people of Westport on the subject of the river protection. Many had been made, with the object of obtaiiiirig or supplementing the funds n 'cessary —among others, the sale of the Coal Reserve ; but the Committee thought that they would be better able to make some suggestion, if they were informed by Mr Blackett of the probable cha'.'act3r and cost of the works which would be required. Mr Blackett said that he had come to the meeting, lather with the hope of ascertaining the views of the Committee. The object of his visit was rather to mike observations, and to report what he saw. He was hardly prepared to report anything to the Committee. He was not unwilling to do so, but he was not yet prepared with any complete or comprehensive plan. The river was in a very dangerous state, a id it would require some very carefully considered plans to protect its banks in the way the Committee would like to see it done. He would hardly like to say, off-hand, either to the Committee or to the Grovernmenf, what should be done. The 'Chairman said that it had been stated that his (Mr Blackett's) estimate was that nothing under £20,000 would be of much use in constructing protective works. Had Mr Blackett seen any reason to alter his views on that point ?

Mr Blackett believed he had said to the Superintendent that, from what he knew of the Buller, he did not think less than from£l2,ooo to £20,000 would be a sufficient amount; and he had certainly no reason to change that opinion since he had visited Westport. That was, for protective works. The Buller was different from any ordinary stream. There were questions of great magnitude which, generally, people did not recognise. It was not a small stream of water, Which they could confine to certain limits. There was a very great depth, and there was a very treacherous bottom, to be dealt with. He had had a great deal of trouble with rivers, but the Buller seemed disposed to give him more

trouble than any other. He could not see his way to recommending anything temporary or partial. They might adopt palliative measures, but they would only be warding off an evil, with no permanent or practical result. He could see that, even if works were to be gone on with immediately, there would still be considerable destruction of the banks. The Chairman said there was no doubt that the river and the sea were making encroachments every day.

Mr Blackett felt, however, that they could not measure the probable rate of destruction at the same rate as that at which it had been going on. He thought it would decrease, rather than increase. After the river attained a certain curve, the destruction -would become less. It was important to know how far it would go. He thought there was certainly no fear of one danger—the danger of the North Spit being washed away. He thought it would deepen the present curve, and then stop. The Chairman" said that, while that scientific problem remained to be solved, there was the fact of people having much valuable property at stake, and they were very naturally alarmed as to the result. They looked to the Government as their refuge, and it had to be remembered that the Government was drawing a large amount of revenue in rents from the very ground which was in danger. As to protective works, there was, of course, nobody on the Committee competent of giving an opinion. They did not know where the fault might lie, but they knew that there was very great risk of further destruction. It had, however, been suggested by some people that the sinking of a vessel, laden with stones, at the point where the encroachment begins, would prove an effective measure in the way of protection. Mr Blackett thought it was quite possible, if it were done properly. It was not at all a bad idea. It would have this advantage—it could be done in a tolerably speedy way. The Chairman supposed they might take it for granted that Mr Blackett would not like to state the issue of his observations until he had communicated with the Government. Mr Blackett said he would rather consider the matter more before he would like to recommend anything definite. He did not see, even if he were able to make a report, that anything could be done until it were in the hands of the Government. It could not forward the matter in any way. The Chairman said the only object would be to assure those whose anxiety as to their property was very great. Mr Blackett wished his assurance could be of any consequence. He could not but express his feeling that there must be more damage done before even any work could be undertaken. "Whatever might be done must be done on a tolerably large scale. It would take time, and time was an element of considerable importance in the matter. He should not apprehend any damage, say, from this time till January, when heavy floods usually came, but they could hardly anticipate that they would be so large as the last one.

The Chairman remarked that one great source of injury was the tide.

Mr Blackett : Yes; but it only washes down the edge of the bank. It really puts the river-bottom iu better form. Although it should be doing no harm, the flood will inevitably do the damage.

The Chairman asked if it would not be desirable to protect even the uppercrust from the influence of the wash of the tide, considering that it would require to be all re-made. There was a road, which had been made at considerable expense, and not only would it be washed away, but all the property along it was in equal danger. Mr Blackett : Ii will be a question with the Government—isthe value of the property worth what it will cost to protect it ? If it is, in proportion, anything like spending a sovereign to save a shilling, it would not be for the interest of any Government to expend the money. That is a fair question for the Government. The circumstance of the cost of the protection overbalancing the value of the property will certainly influence their decision. Mr Humphrey thought there could be no question that the property tvas of very great importance.

The Chairman thought there could be no doubt that, if this town were washed away, they could not estimate it at such a low price as even ,£20,000. Mr Blackett said that it, of course, depended upon what quantity would be washed away. Of course," he did not refer to the whole property. The Chairman believed that the Committee had it in their returns that the Government were now receiving £IBOO annually from the Coal Quay Eeßerve. Moreover, the Government

must not look at the matter in a purely selfish point of view. They must not look upon their properly, but upon the property of the inhabitants. Mr Blakcett said that, of course, he only spoke of the Government as acting for the people. The Chairman: The proper way would be for them to consider that

they will either have to give compensation or protective works. The great question about which people are most anxious is to have protective works. In view of that they are willing to forego, for a time, wharf accommodation. Wharf accommodation will be within the reach of private speculators; the protective wall is not. Mr Blackett (in reference to some remark by one ot the members) said the destruction arose from no peculiarity of the Buller. It was the regular action of such rivers. If they referred to scientific authorities, they would find that the dictum laid down with regard to all shingle-bed rivers was "Let them alone." Thatwastheeud of all recommendations. They were so difficult to deal with that, if they endeavoured to put them into straight channels, they would incur endless expense. That consideration

made him so very careful not to make any decided recommendation. It was well known that any river carrying shingle could not he dealt with. If they once began they might rest assured that they would be involved in continual and endless expense.

The Chairman remarked that the protective works at Hokitika seemed to answer.

Mr Blackett had yet to learn that they did so. They had spent some £40,000 qr £50,000 at Hokitika, and

he did not think that they were anything like worth the money. Mr Milne referred to the system of wingdams on such rivers as the Shotover. Winadams of considerable dimensions, but necessarily of a temporary character, in the form of crates tilled with stones, had been put down by digging parties in such streams ; and, although the stream rose occasionally thirty feet in a few hours, they stood out against the flood. They sunk, but fresh crates were then placed upon the top of them, in pyramidal form.

Mr Blackett had seen such crates

but, in his experience, they had generally been useless. Such a work might be effective, but it would require to be something on a very extensive and, necessarily, expensive scale.

la the course of further conversa-

tion, Mr Blackett said he did not apprehnnd any fear of the river breaking through the town in the direction of the school-house. He thought a larger curve would bo made, and he was understood to say that the curve would be enlarged principally about ten or fifteen chains above Morey's National Hotel. Some people had the idea of turning the water down the south channel. He did not agree with that idea. The natural tendency of the river was to shut that channe up. There had been thousands of tons of shingle deposited in that channel since be had previously seen it. That was one of the reasons of such a

body of water coming down the chan

nel upon which the town was situated. He stated he purposed first paying a short visit to G-reyniouth, and would immediately afterwards return to Nelson to report. The Chairman hoped that theycould count upon Mr Blackett using all his influeace to persuade the Grovernment to do something. Mr Blackett said he would certainly do so. Of course they were aware of the state of the Provincial funds. It was unfortunate, in that respect, that there was not much more

available. However, by the matter being represented to the Superintendent, he might be induced to take some steps; and he (Mr Blackett) would do his best to represent the urgency of the ease. The, Chairman, in the name of the Committee, thanked Mr Blackett for the interview, and hoped that his visit would be productive of some early and effective measures being taken.

THE COAIi QUAY RESERYE. Mr Alcorn, as one of a committee appointed at last meeting, stated that he had made inquiries among the residents on tho Coal Quay Reserve, and that it was generally the opinion of the inhabitants that the price of the ground should be from 5s to 30s per foot ; and ne,arly all were willing to purchase at any reasonable upset price, provided the property were protected. Mr Powell thought that any part of the town should be worth more than 5s per foot. The Chairman also thought that the proposed upset price was too low. Mr Alcorn thought the Reserve would not realise over £SOOO, but he

did not think that all the money requisite for protective works should be taken from that single source. Mr Leslie thought it was especially the Coal Quay Reserve that required protection.

It was minuted that inquiries had been made, and that occupants of allotments on the Coal Quay Reserve appeared willing to buy them. POSTAL FACILITIES. Mr Field reported that the matter of increased postal facilities, and of intercolonial steamers calling off Westport, had been considered. It was understood that the Postmaster-Gene-ral was without power in the matter, and it was felt that the only course left was to communicate with the | steamer agents at Wellington and Melbourne.

On the proposition of Mr Hughes, seconded by Mr Humphrey, it was agreed that letters should be addressed to Captain Benson, Wellington, and M'Meckan and Blackwood, Melbourne.