THE MAKINO STREAM.

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 139, 23 June 1888, Page 2

THE MAKINO STREAM.

TO THE EDITOR OF THB STAR. Sir, — As the keeping of the Makino stream within certain limits is a public question, and one of the most importance to property owners, please to insert the following, lines. With the gradually increasing volume of water making its way through the Borough in times of flood, through the facility for the water finding: its way quickly into the Makino from the land in the interior, caused by bushfalling, draining, etc., and now that the roots of the native bush along the banks of that stream are decaying, there is no doubt that by the mc: ease I rush of water,, room will, be forced between the banks, both in width and depth. In depth because by cutting off corners for straightening the channel the fall of water is increased, thereby causing all the more danger in its widening propensity if impediments are in the way. Now the chief cause, I believe, of a stream, when, left to its own course, cutting out a channel in a zig-zag direction, is .that m times of .flood, at corners especially^ it leaves banks or heaps of heavy metal or sand; on the one side of ; thecurrent, . effectively preventing the main current from,. .cutting its way through, and in cases of this, sort with a friable bank on one side, composed very often of deposit leftj by former floods, caught by tree roots, and easily swept away again when these/ roots decay, and with an obstruction in the shape of large,, boulders or heavy metal on the opposite side, the rusk of water in flood time may carry away land by sections or may even alter, its. course altogether. This is a case I hold that according to clause .304 of the Municipal Corporationc Act, 1886, the Borough Council are bound toremove the impediment. Such a caseas this, I believe, will be found abreast of Denbigh street, where the bridge was s w ept away last flood season. On one side there is a heap of .heavy metal in. the stream bed which will, no doubt, go on increasing in bulk if left, on the other side a friable bank, such as described, and .where the flood water carried away a portion of the* metalled street, and which part is about three yards from what appears to be an old bed or bend of the stream in private property. Of course substantial protective works are required also, but I am aware that public funds are short and, as a. rule, I don't believe in protection works on a small scale, either by private individuals or public bodies, because, in most cases,, not sufficient room is given to the current, which sweeps round at the back of such protection, thereby causing an obstruction and often doing more harm than good. But I hold that it is the duty of the Borough Council to have the-heap of metal alluded too removed* 60 as to all^w the main current to run in the centre of the channel, the stream bed or channel being none too wide in that spot without protection. The main current of che stream ftt present makes for the bank opposite the corner of Dr Johnston's paddock, the current continuing dose to the bank on the upper side of Denbigh street, where the bank is overhanging in • places, and where it will go ; on undermining when the next flood takes place if something is not done. Removing the metal is only a small job and I should think not a very costly affair. — I am, &0., A Batefayeb.