THE WAIMAK.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18895, 10 January 1927, Page 11

THE WAIMAK.

+ WORKS INSPECTED. BY CHRISTCHURCH BUILDERS, i Nina motor-car-, conveyed membets °f the Canterbury Builders' Association and tho representatives of the River Trust 0 n an inspection of the works yesterday. Mr A. E. Loach directed the inspection, this party of 18 bringing the number ho has shown over the protection works np to -'OO. Messrs ]•', (_', Hay (eoiisuliing engineer! and \V. 11. Harris (.assistant engineer) were also present. 'I he toriner explained the Trust's scheme to tho party at the works camp near White's JJridgu by means of miip=, plans, and aerial photographs, after which the cars proceeded to the Eyreton groynes. Mr Hay explained their purpose, and the builders were then taken to the Clarkvillc stopbaiik at Uassall's. The recent flood.* have depositoil about four feet of ailt between the spur groynes, and growth is appearing on the. hank, the willows which were planted ',■> extend the spurs having done particularly well. At, tho place inspected, some dead water was lying outside llio bank, this being the only placo where there was a.ny sign of '•weeping.'' There are "iS.OOO yards of material in the bank, and its total cost at Is 3d per \ard was approximately £IOOO.

Mr Loach said that property-owners in the City could also cast votes for other subdivisions if they had property there. • ■ Mr W. TI. Winsor said he admired the way the Trust had done its work, but. it was wrong!? constituted. Vshould be composed of four engineers of standing, with -i shrewd business man, who had bad experience of local body work, n.s chairman. | Candidates Hold Meeting. ! Very little new ground was covered by two ot the, candidates for the Trust, who addressed a. public meeting on Saturday eveniiijr i(i the Public Library lecture room. Mr 1!. "• Dallcy and Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P., spoke at some length. Mr H. Holland. M.P., presided over an attendance of about 30. He asked the candidates to givo an explanation of the No. - i scheme, which had proved very attractive to him. Mr Dallcy said an attempt was be in:.; made to sidetrack people into a discussion of the constitution of the Trust. "You don't need to worry about the Trust/' he added. It was impossible to carrv out, the Trust's scheme out of rates. The City's rates were now about £14,000 per 'annum for Waimakariri river control, but the interest and charges on the loan proposed would be onlv about £9OOO per annum. Mr Sullivan apologised for the absence of Mr W. IT. "Winsor, who, he said, was unable to be present, because of indisposition. "I allowed myselt to be nominated." said Mr Sullivan. "because 1 have been convinced, in spite of the scoffing of the newspapers, that the Waimakariri is the most important and gravest problem that the neople of Christchurch have to face." Throughout the river's history, it had been filling up its bed, and constantly making new courses. With the aggradation of the river-bed, it only wanted a particularly heavy flood to make the river take a fresh' course. Even though Christen urch had not quite the representation it was entitled to, the south bank had in its power the settling of the question. Government assistance had been obtained by the Trust, but it should be possible to obtain more. 'Tlie chairman said he could not see why the Government should not grant a £ for £ subsidy on' money spent Ocriver control. ~ In reply to Mr J. Stewart, the Trust's engineer, Mr F. C. Hay, said that groynes in the lower reaches of the Waimakariri would not ho the best method of control. The Trust had made a mistake by building groynes at Stewart's Gully. A co'ntinusus belt of trees would be tho most suitable method of protection. Tt was not proposed to make the Waimakariri Ine port for Kaiapoi. On a motion by Messrs E. A. M. Leaver and H. H. Holland, it was decided to form a' committee from those present for the purpose of securing the return of Messrs Dalle?.' A\ insnr. and Sullivan, and to support Mr Manhire as fourth memlier of *ie ticket: in which a vote of confidence was passed.