MEETING AT SOUTH RAKAIA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 950, 23 May 1883, Page 2

MEETING AT SOUTH RAKAIA.

On Tuesday evening a public meeting was held in the Town Hall to consider the desirability of proposing a scheme for carrying off the storm wa' -r in the South Rakaia and Mount Hunt Road Board districts. Mr O. N. Mackie took the chair, and at considerable lengthy told those present what had been done in the matter. An engineer, with Mr Baxter, the County Engineer, had reported on one proposed scheme, and it was found that the cost would be too great for the district to bear. Another scheme was proposed to carry the water into the Rakaia river at Highbank, and Mr Baxter had reported on this scheme, and was not in favor of carrying it out. The object that evening was to adopt a scheme and to discuss the manner in which the amount required should be raised. Mr Julian Jackson, Chairman of the Mount Hutt Road Board, said that this evening he represented the Mount Hutt residents, and he was fully aware of the importance of the matter before the meeting. He did not consider the last flood so large as others, but he felt sure that in future much keavier floods would be experienced, on account of the. numerous fences and other improvements. All that has been done in the district hitherto has been to turn some of the storm water into the Ashburton river, and the late flood in that river spoke for itself that the river had enough to do in flood time. He would move the following resolution — “That this meeting is of opinion that some scheme for disposing of the storm water that from time to time passes down the Rakaia-Ashburton Plains is desirable.” -

The motion was carried by a large majority. Mr Jackson then produced plana and estimates of a scheme by Mr Flockton to shoot the water into the Rakaia at Highbank, carrying the water along the road from Methven to the river, and thus cutting off the water. The place where the water was proposed to be discharged was 225 ft above the river-bed. The cost of carrying out this scheme would be about LI,OOO, including embankment and the large concrete shoot. The' Mount Hutt Road Board considered that if this scheme had been carried out the money would have been wasted. The plans and estimates were sent to Mr Baxter to 'report upon. Mr Caleb Tucker said he would like to ask Mr Jackson to consider whether he could not add to his resolution to cake some of the storm water from the South Rakaia township. Mr Jackson stated that his idea was for a general scheme between the two rivers.

Mr Baxter read his report on Mr Flockton’s scheme, which had been laid before the Council, and explained the why he considered the scheme would not answer. He considered that not one-half of the water would be diverted. He thought a scheme would cost L 6.700. After seeing the effects of the last flood, he was sure that the scheme proposed by the Mount Hutt Board would be of very little service to the district. In his opinion, it was a very defective scheme, and the expenses of repairs, etc., would be very great. Mr Lyttelton asked if Mr Baxter would explain how he proposed to confine the water to the old dry creeks. Mr Baxter said he felt sure that if these creeks were kept sown down in grass and fenced in, there would ba no difficulty in holding the water in its natural course. A discussion followed, in which it was stated that large areas of land_ were covered by flood water, and occupied by residents, and several gentlemen spoke in favor of a scheme. Mr Coster said when the Road Boards consulted on the matter the coat was to be L 3,000, and now it would be L 7,000, and he thought that a committee consisting of members of both districts should be appointed at this meeting to consider how the money should be raised, the best scheme, and what proportion the Road Boards and County Council should pay, and also what private individuals, through whose property the water ran, should contribute, and to report at a future meeting. Mr Allan proposed, and Mr Holmes seconded, that the following be appointed, with power to add to their number— Messrs 0. N. Mackie, J. Jackson, J. C. Wason, and White. The motion was carried unanimously.

Mr Tucker asked the Chairman if it would not be advisable for the meeting to request the County Council to send their Engineer to report on the beat method of draining the township of South Rikaia. He thought the township was entitled to something, as water races and other works had been made all over the district, and the township had nothing done. Mr Shellock seconded the resolution, and it was carried.

It was decided that Mr Mackie should forward a copy of the resolution to the Cmnty Council. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the meeting.