RIVER CONTROL.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19159, 16 November 1927, Page 7

RIVER CONTROL.

WAIMAKARIRI TRUST. DAMAGE BY RECENT FLOODS. Among the matters discussed by the Waimakariri Eiver Trust at yesterday's neeting was the damage caused to the »oad on Coutts Island by the recent flood. Those present were: Messrs J. H. Blackwell (in the chair), R. 0. Dixon, J. A. Flesher, F. W. Freeman, H. B. Evans, A. Manhire, and H. W. Harris (Besident Engineer), and T. Jeal (overseer). Apologies were received from Messrs J. Wood (chairman), J. I*slie, and the Hon. Mr Witty, M.L.C. Mr C. W. Hervey (secretary) reported that Clause 3 had been deleted from the Waimakariri River Improvement Bill, and the City Council had withdrawn its objection. Works Committee's Report. The Works Committee reported as follows: Floods—The engineer ' reports that thore were two floods in the river on the 21st and 23rd ultimo, the first showing 12ft 9in at the gauge -at , kite's bridge, and tho second 15ft. The road and flat land at Coutts Island were covered with water, a very small amount of damage resulting to the works. _ Htdkett Groyne—Following the floods in the Waimakariri on the 21st and -ord ultimo, one of the large blocks at We end of the groyne had sunk, and p, woi ? e o£ replacing it is now in hand. Clearing Reserves— There are six reined soldiers clearing on Lots 8 and a » and as soon as this work is comt^ 3 ' f ot 10 b e commenced. Dragline—Arrangements have been ">ade with the Rangiora County Council to hire their convevor, this being a eneaper method of shifting shingle in we mam drain where the dragline is Working. The engineer said the convevor had Proved unsatisfactory, and was not used.

JT fi The ,,Y ork of P uttin g in the drain at "assail s had been carried out at a tost of £9 10s. . T £°Committee recommends that a j*~ b ° erected on Coutts Island, leading to Busby's, to assist in holding the '«er back in ordinary floods. It is >„a ed that the work wiU cost £25, a7«U' r ?J rided the own e« are willing to fhT*' he comn *ittee recommends that Aw pa y half Co9t o* the work. a letter received from Mr J. Smal■fci.rf 8 the Petition recently forS,* reference to the raising of £ngnt s bank to the same height as ST ? ank ' had been referred to UrL ♦\■ En fi i neer and the secreT[ to forward a suitable reply, lei ♦ " mmitte e recommends that the ftp «*nA« d re P ai "> °e a'charge upon i»L °,° reserve set aside for emerg•ney work. »ti«H rt . her^ Work at Hassall's drain was •uinorueo' at a cost not exceeding £5. } The report was adopted.

General Labourers' Award. The Eesident Engineer advised regarding the general labourers' a ard that its application to the Trust would cost £SOO per annum, provision for whiclr had been made in the estimates. The increase in labourers' wages was from £4 3s to £4 12s per week, and he recommended that drivers' wages be raised to £4 10s per week, wet and dry. The chairman said the award had been in operation for two months or more. Mr Flesher: We shall have to treat our men as other contractors treat theirs. The latter put their men off at an hour's notice when it started to rain. We shall have to observe the award strictly. Mr Blackwell said that such adjustments as were reasonable would have to be made. The letter was referred to the Finance Committee with power to act. General. A Jotter was received from Mr Harris asking for ten days' leave of absence. His letter stated that if the request was granted he intended inspecting some plant in use on the Clutha river for removal of shingle. Probably a similar one, with modifications, could be utilised on the Waimakariri. The leave asked for was granted. A report was received from Mr J. Wood (chairman) regarding T. Kainey's representations with reference to a water supply from the Cust main drain. It. stated that there was no liability on the Trust. It was decided to adviso that the Trust recognised no liability, but if Mr Rainey was, prepared to accept the legal position, the Trust was willing to discuss the matter without prejudice. Coutts Island Road.

A letter received from the Eyre County Council was as follows:—"The last flood in the Waimakariri again washed- out a large hole in tho road on Coutts Island, near the monument. The filling in of the hole on the previous occasion cost the Council £45, and as both this wash-out and the last one were due solely to the rush of water caused at that spot by the stop-bank erected there by the Trust, # the Council considers the Trust should bear a large proportion, if not all, of the cost of repairing- same." The Council asked, therefore, that the Trust refund half the cost of the previous repairs, and agree to pay half the cost of the present ones, which should be about £25. A second letter from the Council reminded the Trust that no repairs had yet been made to the floodgates at the outlet' of Greig's road drain into the Waimakariri, which were completely destroyed by previous floods. The letter stated that each large flood coming down the river now, in consequence, backed up the drain, and flooded the adjoining land, as well as Greig's and the North roads. Several ratepayers had made very emphatic protests to the Council about the periodic flooding of their land, and as the Council considered the repairing of floodgates as being outside its functions, it- waß handing on the protests with the request that the matter be attended to. Members discussed the question of liability. Mr Flesher said the Trust could not accept liability for all flood damage. Both letters were referred to the engineer and Works Committee for report.

Mr Harris said the Coutts Maud road was in a dangerous condition, and should be repaired at once. Perhaps the work could be done by the Trust imniediately without prejudice. Kairaki Leases. Mr C. W. Oborn, secretary of the Kairaki Lessees' Association, advised that it had been decided that Messrs R. S. McKenzie, G. Banks, and the writer represent the Association at the proposed conference to be held between representatives of the Kaiapoi Borough Council, Waimakariri River Trust, and the lessees, to consider the proposal that the Kaiapoi Borough Council relinquish control of that portion of the river-bank between the creek and the sea at Kairaki to the River Trust. It was' hoped that the Trust would be able to arrange for jthis conference to be held at an early date. Mr Blackwell said the settlement might be a source of revenue to the Trust. Mr Flesher: Or of expenditure. It was decided that, if the conference was arranged, the Trust be represented bv Messrs Blackwell and Freeman.