WAIMAKARIRI.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18217, 30 October 1924, Page 5

WAIMAKARIRI.

MEETING OF TRUST. The Waimakariri River Trust met yesterday. Present—Messrs J. Wood (chairman), 0. H. Opie, J. iAslie, W. P. Spencer, A. Manhire, P. G-. Horrell, J. H. Blackwell, and K. O. Dixon. The foreman (Mr T. Jeal) reported that there had keen four floods in the river since last meeting, the liver being still high and dirty. No damage was done to the upper south bank works, but erosion Jiad set in on the unprotected bank adjoining Lot '25, which had. been protected by willow lacing. The lower groyne at Stewart's Gully suffered on the down stream side caused by the lapping with the heavy easterly wind. Repair work was now being carried out with facings of scrub. "The blocks at the end of the first groyne be- | low Ko. 10 road were sunk. More blocks are now being' placed on top," continued the report. "All the willows which were planted below this groyne arc doing well and none of them have been washed out. The willows which were planted further up the river and which were inspected by the .members of the Trust and seen to be doing well, are nearly all washed out, so no more planting will bo done until well protected by groynes. I propose starting the groyne work at the gums, as much, of the high bank is being washed away. I have inspected the banks at Mr Bobbie's place at Coutt's Island, and consider it is not necessary to carry out work here at present. "Regarding laying on the water at Kianga Settlement, to supply each section with water -will take about 2300 ft of 1-inch piping and with taps, tank, ram, etc., the material will cost about £SS. I would suggest a ram to put the water into a 400-gallon tank so as to give a good head to run the pipes on the back boundary of each section, which will be a saving in the length of piping:. I would also suggest calling tenders for the material, and laying them by day labour." In reference to an application to rent that area known as Rabbit Island in the vicinity of Brown's Rock, from Mr Kennedy, the foreman stated that he was of the opinion that this waste land should bo let as one run independent of the occupation licenses, which cover only a five chain strip. He would recommend calling tenders for same, the boundaries io be the mam stream on the south, occupation licenses and Waimakariri-Ashlcy Water Supply Board on the north, main stream opposito Brown s Rock for the west, and the east boundary to be opposite the east boundary of reserve. 179 where the Tiver is now running, lhis run ehoiiia bring in a. rental of £2O a vear, including the poisoning of rabbits Reserve 179, of 200 acres, was let for ±i<> a year, which was a very low price, and ho would suggest when this reserve ?s vested in the Trust, that it be put up for tender as it would work in with the outside riverbed. " ~ „,,,! The Eyre River wafl in flood on the 20th inst, the water reaching down to iv.ist tyreton- verv little damage was done to the -rovnes. "The lower groyne at Pester s had sunk at the end and required a few blocks at tho end. The lower groyne at, Wotlicr«T>'jon's College Reserve, Oxford Had also sunk a little, and owin? to the stream coming in further up than the groyne, it would be necessary cither to put »a another grovne or lengthen this one. The foreman was of the op.nion that by puttixw in another small groyne H would be more effective. This would cost, about . " 55 \t a place below the Traffic Bridge, Ox- 1 <ord where tl,e road was washed Out m the b£-May flood, the flood had scoyrod out ,rc,th« half chain strip, washing down the boi or crate work put in pome tune ago v , " Oxford Council. As this place wm n the river-bed, lie did not know whether he Trust would prrtoct it, but if a small boulder erovne were put in n would help [Tired the "stream in the centre of the bed. The "proposed, work for the coming month would IxPrepair work to groynes clearing willows out of south channel and putting in'"rovnes on tho north bank. 'The'report was adopted 1< was agreed to give the Harewood Golf flrb a s»vcn rears' lease of a reserve with ri«iit o? renewal for 49 years. It was decided to s*ek further power under tnc \ct for the extension of leases. The Evr© County Council wrote regarding a -cense granted bv the Trust to a firm to 'wash sand on a road controlled by the The foreman expalinod that a mistake bad bern made in the survey man. The matter was left to the chairman lor rculy. ~ . . The Eyre County Council wrote stating that it was considering the matter of erectir„ t bridge across the Eyr? river in tho West Evreton Riding. The Public Worki Department had reported that the cost of a bridge erected at Boyd's roo.d would be £'2500, while if it were erected at Eyre road, Cuat road. Pesters road or Downs road, the coat would be £3500. In each case the bridge would be 250 feet in length, but a* '.be three latter crossings the approaches •rculd be some eleven chains long and would rwjuire training banks and protecting Bp-0.-groynes. The Council asked for the Trust's consent to tho erection oi the bridge and {or an expression of opinion as to which crossing wbuid be most suitable from tho Trust's point of view. The matter was left to the chairman lor reply after iMuection. Mr G. Jones "(West Oxford) wrote askin- the Board to consider the protection of his property. During the last flo?d be had had ten acres of oats urder water, and hr. suffered a. particular hardship on account oi his property being an the bend of tho ,

river, and being inundated, from two sides. Tito matter was left to the chairman and Mr Horrell for inspection and report. The estimates for the. year ending March Mist, 1925, placed receipts at £23,237, piuda up as follows:—Rent3 for reserves, £1100; rates estimated to produce £19,000, interest and other receipts. £137. Tho expenditure was estimated as follows:—Payment of bank overdraft £4556; classification of lands, £900; repayment of debentures, £500; interest (debentures and. bank), £100; river surveys, £1500; maintenance, ■protective -work j-.uid irc/asrvea, £6231; ndministirativo expenses, £1500; protective KorJc on north banlc, jESIOO; rates and water charges, £250; total, £23,237. '