THE WAIMAKARIRI

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20104, 6 December 1930, Page 16

THE WAIMAKARIRI

STRAIGHTENING THE RIVER. WORK OK THE TRUST. L.he sti aigh toning of the course of the Waimaknriri river and the erection of banks to prevent the stream from flooding surrounding country \a proceeding rapidly. It is expected tbaf the work will bo completed within two years and that the river will be let into the new cut, at Englebrecht's within a month. The latter part of the work is expected to provide an unusual spectacle, as, at present, only a. small stop-bank holds the water back from a wide stretch of channel that is being hollowed out by men, horses and tractors.

Yesterday members of the Jlivcr 'lrufit made an inspection of the work. They were Mr J. Wood (chairman), Sir Francis 13oys, Messrs George Gould, It. O. Dixon, V". P. Spencer, Professor R. Speight, Messrs H. W. Harris (engineer), T. Jeal (overseer), and C. W. Ilervey (secretary). Professor J. E. 11. Cull, of Canterbury College, was also with tho party. Coutts' Island. At Coutts' Island the south channel is l>eing gradually silted up. The water flowing here will eventually be diverted into the main stream, removing farmers' anxiety. In the last six years the silting tins amounted to eight feet. Osier willows are growing phenomenally and the Trust sells tho cutting rights for tho manufacture of basketware, etc. Two operations are being conducted at "Engicbrecht's." Spoil is being carried from tho "borrow pit" to build up tho banks of the new bed of the river. The most dangerous part of tho work i 9 beine done first—at the portion where the stream is most likely to break through when in flood. Between banks the distance is 2400 ft. A drag-line excavator loads tho dump-trucks and drays, the former accommodating four cubic yards and the latter one yard. Caterpillar tractors are being used for haulage. Four tractors and seven horse teams are engaged in carting the spoil to the bank and 34 men are working double uhift—from 4 a.m. until 8 p.m.—and a camp is on the 6ite. Nearing Completion. Tho diversion scheme has been plannod so at this point the river will do most of the required work for itself. It will scour away the remaining ground, and, when the stop-bank is removed, in about a month's time, it will sweep through a wide expanse of land, diverting from Coutts' Island and taking a much straighter course. The "berns" are being planted with willows to prevent tho water from washing away tho banks, and protecting groynes will also play their part. Tho action of the willows is to retard the water in its progress so that it will drop its silt and give extra strength to the banks. Thus the river is of material assistance in its' own confinement to a limited area. Both banks will eventually link up at Halkett and extend to the sea. At Wright's cut tho partv inspected the spillway, which will also have a considerable part to play in straightening the river. Over 300 ft of the old bank have been cut out, and a mattress of scrub has been laid to prevent bottom scouring and to take the overflow temporarily. The river will not bo let through at this point until the banks are thoroughly consolidated. Remains of Gar dan. Willows and poplars will be grown on the borns UO(J feet from each bank to assist in tho firming of the protection works. The width of the stretch of water at this point will be IDOO feet. A small quantity of flood water passed, through the cut on November 9th and nearby is a fairly large pond, said to be 30 feet deep, the remains of that flood, added to by rain water. Part of the cut—the land heing purchased by the Trust from Mr James Wright—still contains the remains of a garden. This, in time, will be under many feet of rushing water. Driving on to the old road to Kaiapoi the party was confronted with a deep channel near Gregg's drain, bisecting the road. Here there are three distinct layers of shingle, showing three stages of road building. It is remarkable that on each occasion the road has been widened. During excavation work shells have been found at a depth of about 12 feet, showing that tho beach was situated tl#re at one time.

Many Goats. At Kaikanui creek leakage from the stroam has caused trouble, and to remedy this a clay core is being put in to save annoyance to the northern country. Passing on to Goat Island the party was taken across a swiftlyrunning stream in a dray. At the present timo a suspension bridge is being built to allow sheep and goats to be driven off the island in flood times. Ledges, built on trees and reached by "goat-walks," have already been elected as an extra emergency. There are at present 62 goats on the island, and their duty has been to eat off the willows and other growth, so as to allow the water to come down unobstructed when the diversion is actually made Ths whole of the island will be b.otted out by the water, and here again the river will do a considerable amount of.its own work. The Eyre Diversion. On the north bank, between Clarkville and the Lyre diversion works, the party was interested in the operation at a huge drag-line excavator engaged in building up the bank. The shovel removes 110 . yards of soil per hour, and is worked in two shifts. On the Last Eyreton section, where a fortnight ago the water was racing »lrmo» at. 20,000 cusecs, a small groyZ g being built of scrub, anchored with cables and shingle and cement Th a purpose of this is to prevent the water from scouring out the protecting willows. The Eyre, a rain river was originally responsible for the flooding of Tvaiapoi, and a three-mile diverfvture ovcreonie an 7 danger in On January 16th this river carried the higeest flood experienced in it so far, Without damage of any kind At the present time the bed is dry as fnr up as Horrelville. '