INCH CLUTHA.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 178, 7 December 1877, Page 6

INCH CLUTHA.

PUBLIC , MEETING. A public meeting of the inhabitants of Inch Clutha, was held in the schoolroom there on Monday evening 1 . There were about fifty settlers present, and Mr W. A. Mosley was called to the chair. The Chairman explained that the meeting had been originated at last meeting- ot the Road Board, when the matter of the flooding 1 of the island had been talked over by the members present. The Road Board had no power to undertake such works ' as would be necessary to prevent flooding', and the members determined to call a meeting- of the inhabitants to consider what steps should be taken. As an old settler, he had seen a good many floods on the island, and a great amount of damage occasioned, especially of late years since the floods had become more frequent, and the cultivation of the ground had extended. Formerly the floods occurred about once in ten years, and he remembered one twelve years ago which almost covered the whole island. The more frequent occurrence of floods now he attributed to two causes : 1, the burning of herbage and clearing of ground up-country, which enabled the water to get more quickly to the river after a rain ; 2, the silting up caused by the various diggings. Before the diggings the water of the river was quite pure and clear, now it was mnddv, and portions of the channel were silt* d up. This season they had experienced strong easterly winds, which caused the water to press against the eastern bank of the Koau branch. Portions of the bank had been washed away, and as the ground became lower as it receded from the river, it was easily to be seen that until protective works were undertaken the floods would become more frequent and cause greater damage. Where his land adjoined the river, the whole of the road reserve had been washed away, and also a portion of his ground. He called upon any ' gentleman to express his opinion upon the subject of the floods. Mr j. 0. Anderson said that as the banks were being washed away the I grounds became the lower, and this was j the cause of the more frpqnent floods. I Large portions of the island were now being brought under cultivation, and the damage to settlers by the floods would, therpfore, be the greater. In his opinion the best step to adopt would be to proclaim the island a district under the Hawkes Bay and Mai borough Rivers Act, and let protective woi-ks be erected by the Board, the expense to be provided for by taxation. Subscriptions would not d.o it. He explained the provisions -of the Act, and said the taxing power would be similar to that of Road Boards. Some might no doubt consider they had already enough to pay in taxfs, but it would be better to pay taxes than lose their all by floods. He moved that a petition be prepared and forwarded to the Governor, asking him to proclaim the island a district under the Hawkes Bay and Mai borough Rivers Act. Mr Harvey seconded the motion. The Chairman explained that the Board would receive a subsidy from the Government of £, for £, so that the settlers of the island would only have to pay half the expense ot the protective works. The motion <vas carried unanimously. Mr P. Lawson pointed out "that some time must necessarily elapse before they could get the district proclaimed, a board elected, and works constructed, and in the meantime great damage might be done by floods, which usually were most severe at that season. He, therefore, moved that settlers should erect temporary embankments, and when geneial works were undertaken if these were found, to be of any benefit for the settlers generally, that those at whose expense they were constructed, should receive valuation for them. Seconded by Mr John Smith. jThe Chairman said he intended at once to erect substantial and permanent embankments opposite his property, and he thought any orie doing so should be recouped their expenditure. ■ \ The motion was carried. ISdine conversation ensued as to the nature of. the works that would be necessary for the prevention of floods. The Chairman thought 'that the embankment should be raised from; 40 to 60 feet back from the river, and planted with willows to interrupt the. current

and ;p' event washing away. . Mr Gilrqy wished to know whether the, Board would have to pay for land taken upon which to -erect .the embankment where the; road line was washed, away. He thpught if the proprietors would at once agree to give all such'land for nothingit would, much facilitate matters. It was; explained- that the Act provided for compensation being given for land taken vvhere necessary, but; that these were details which should be left to the Board. ; . ■ . . The following gentlemen were appointed a Committee to prepare the petition, procure the necssary number ' of signatures and forward the same to the Governor: — Messrs Mosley, Smaill, Blair, Bell, Wright, Harvey, Q\ M'Donald, Hardy, and Dr Hocken, with power to add to .their number, and three to form a quorm. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings. The draft of the petition to the Governor was then drawn out by the Committee, and was signed in the I'oom by the owners, and occupiers of about half the acreage of the Island. The Committee will at once send it round for signature by those who had not then an opportunity of signing, after which it will be forwarded to liis Excellency.