THE BLENHEIM RIVERS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 25, 25 October 1920, Page 4

THE BLENHEIM RIVERS

PROPOSED AMALGAMATION OF '. CONTROL . (From a Special Correspondent.) Blenheim, October 23. Further action in-rlio direction of clearing the rivers of the Wairau plain of their accumulated silt and' shingle, was taken last night, when a conference of representatives of the Marlborough. Progress Committee, Wairau Harbour Board, and various river and drainage boards was held at Blenheim., 'The, purpose was b.i' secure iho amalgamation of all the boards, except the Harbour Board, in one large river board with a greatly increased rating area. It was agreed that the Harbour Board should have representation on the new board, but in view of the fact that its duties were confined to navigation matters it could not lie included in the amalgamation The use of dredges to lift the spoil and set the shingle moving was advocated, though one delegate declared that the Wairau would put into the channel in one night more shingle than a dredge could move in a year. This view was regarded by the majority as extreme. It was urged, however, that if a dredge was not secured at once, it would soon need six dredges to clear tho rivers.

The meeting carried the following motion unanimously:—

"That this combined meeting of the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce, Wairau Harbour Board, and river drainngo boards of tho Wairau Valley, request the Minister of Internal Affairs to bring down as soon ns possible legislation amalgamating all tho river anddrainage uonrds df the Wairau, and forming one river and drainage'board to control the rivers of the Wairau Valley watershed."

A further motion, that the amalgamated board for the district should be allowed to work under the River Boards Act of 1903 and its amendments was lost. An effort is being made to revive and re-pwsent an old Bill dealing with this matter, which Bill was turned down some years ago, owing, it is said, to the opposition of the member for the district to certain of its clauses. Whether this will be accomplished is considered to be doubtful, us the river boards' elections are held in January During the coming few months tho Marlborough rivers are likely to como in for more public attention'than they have had for some years, except when they threatened to flood.