THE WAIMAKARIRI.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16855, 8 June 1920, Page 6

THE WAIMAKARIRI.

$ RIVER BOARD DEPENDS ITSELF. Statements that hare recently beer made concerning the safety of the Waiinakariri river were referred to at yesterday's meeting of the South Waimakariri River Board by Mr W. P. Spencer, who said that the remarks made by a certain member of "Parliament in ' a, local newspaper ",verq, lie thought, liable to cause an uncalled-for scare. To say that the local bodies concerned did not realise tho seriousness of the situation was, he considered, a slur on the Board. There was no danger whatever of the Waimakariri coming down into Christchurch at the present time. The Board knew its work, and through its supervisor was doing that work well. Mr F. E. Jones said that in his opinion the present agitation was some propaganda work, though he did not know what was behind it. So far as the Board's side of the river was concerned, it was in proper order, and there was no danger, while the Board had taken aU measures to cope with the trouble in the event of any abnormal flood. The chairman (Mr H. E. Pervman), referring to the suggestion that the Board should control both sides of the river, emphasised the unfairness that would arise if the ratepayers on the south side of the river were called on to pay for benefits accruing to the other side. Mr J. Leslie agreed that whatever was done on the north side should be paid for by the residents of that side. Ho ako pointed out that the Board's works had not really turning the water to tho other side of the river. Mr C. H. Opie said that the present, position was a result of the too-success-ful work of the Board, which had succeeded in safeguarding Christcluu'ch, •whereas, £0 or 30 years ago, residents of Christchurch were frightened of tho water coming into the city every time th;Te was a "fresh" in the river. As a result of the Board's work, some people said that the front of ths river had been diverted to tho north bnnk. There might b-> something in that, while the level of the river-bed had also alI tored considerably. He thought that the people on th- north side should have wakened v.p several years aero. If they had had a beard, and had erected protective works~ tli -v would not be in their present precarious position. Mr Leslie took exception to Mr Opie'-s remark that the Board's works might linve thrown the wnt>r to the north side. In support of his statement, he snid that about twenty years ago the\ Government hnd hid over 1500 acres on j the south side of the river, which area hnd now dwindled to about 300. That being so, it could not be said, he contended, that the water had been diverted to the oth >r side altogether. Mr Spencer snid that he had only brought the matter up in defence of the Board, which was a capable and successful body. He did not consider any motion cn th-> matter was necessary.