RANGIORA SWAMP.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 108, 5 October 1874, Page 3

RANGIORA SWAMP.

A public meeting of the inhabitants of the upper or west part of the Rangiora Swamp, was held in the schoolroom, Fernside, on Thursday, at 7 p.m., for the purpose of considering what steps should be taken to try and prevent the re-occurrence of the damage done to the district by the flood water of the River Oust during the last successive floods There was a large attendance of those interested.

Mr John Chapman was voted to occupy the chair.

The chairman, after briefly stating the object of the meeting, said that the experience of the past few days abundantly proved that however much good the present drainage works may have done, and he was happy to say that they have done good, still it was plain that much more required doing. No 1 drain was not large enough by a good deal to accommodate the water of the Gust on those extraordinary occasions. On the present occasion the water swept over the road running alongside No 1 drain, and covering it to an average depth of over feet, carrying away about fifteen chains of the embankment recently made, doing considerable damage to fences, crops, sheep, and iambs, and sweeping recklessly onward to assist in damaging the railway line. They were indebted to the Government for what has been done, and he believed it to be the intention of the Government to endeavor to make the drainage efficient It was unnecessary for him to say more than that he deemed it their business to use their endeavors to respectfuTy draw the attention of the Government to their wants. He, therefore hoped that resolutions of a suitable character would be submitted to that meeting and carried. Mr Kearney said he was an interested party, in fact they all were. In his opinion, No 1 drain was so to speak, the key to the swamp. Were this ®ne drain sufficiently large to carry off the flood water, all would be safe; but, if not, however much might be expended in improving the drainage in other parts, the swamp would still be subject to floods, and the railway line to damage. He held that, if No 1 drain were deepened and widened, and the main drain further enlarged, then, and not till then, would they have confidence in the drainage system. He begged to move —“ That the thanks of this meeting be accorded to the Government for the assistance already given to improve the drainage of the swamp, and respectfully solicits further assistance to increase the capacity of No 1 drain.”

Mr O’Rourke briefly seconded the resolution, which was unanimously agreed to. Mr Doak thought that perhaps those outside the district might think that the people in the swamp were a lot of grumblers ; but if people could only have seen with their own eyes the slate the district was in a few days since, they, would perhaps complain that they did not grumble enough. He was pleased to see Messrs Blackett and Duncan, members of the Board of Conservators, while the water was pretty high, come to see the working of the drains, for what those gentlemen saw on that occasion would serve to greater purpose to convince them of what required doing than perhaps auy arguments that they might use. Mr Doak begged to move—“ That Messrs Kearney, Roebuck, and the chairman be appointed a committee to wait at once on the Board of Conservators, and to ask the Board to use their endeavours with the Government to procure further assistance towards draining the swamp.” Mr Kearney seconded the resolution, which was agreed to unanimously. Mr O’Rourke thought that Messrs Blackett and Duncan deserved the thanks of that meeting for the interest taken by them in the drainage of the swamp, and proposed—- “ That the thanks of this meeting bo conveyed to Messrs Blackett and Duncan for the interest they have taken in the swamp drainage.” Seconded and agreed to. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the business of the evening.