CITY COUNCIL PICNIC.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1248, 7 March 1878, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL PICNIC.

At the invitation of his Worship the Mayor, the members of the City Council, the members of the Board of Conservators, and a number of other gentlemen, including Mr Clark and Mr Bell, visited the Waimakiriri protective works yesterday. The company, numbering about thirty, started from the City Council office shortly after nine o’clock, and after a pleasant drive arrived at the bank of the river near the residence of Mr Potts, the superintendent of the works. Here a large marquee had been pitched, and after a slight refreshment, the company proceeded to the river bank to inspect the protective works. As some of our readers are aware, these works extend over a distance of some fourteen miles along the bank, andofemrse it was only possible to visit one locality yesterday. But what was seen was enough to convince all the visitors of the magnitude, as well as the efficacy of the works. Although many of our readers are already acquainted with the nature of the Waimakariri protective works, it may be well to state shortly their nature. The groat flood of 1868 disagreeably called public attention to the necessity of creating a Board of Con* servators, and on their appointment these gentlemen immediately set to work. They had a great task before them, the protection of the bank of the river from encroachment over a distance of fourteen miles. They s<t about constructing shingle embankments at the various points of danger. These are placed at right angles to the river bank, and are intended to turn the stream towards the centre of its bed. To prevent these outer ends from being washed away, that part is faced with heavy blocks of concrete, weighing some thirty tons each. Wherever the river makes a set towards the southern bank a work of this nature is constructed, the result king that the river is gradually drawn away from the southern bank at all the danger*, us points. On up stream side of these embankments concrete groins are run out at such an angle as to turn the stream away from the shingle banks. In the bend thus formed, as well as along the banks, a large number of willows have been planted, with the most satisfactory results. Experience has shown that in order to take root these willow-stakes must be driven five or six feet into the shingle. When this is done they grow luxuriantly. The deposit made by the river in those plantations gradually raises the level of the bed on the up-stream side of these embankments, and in course of time .they place an effectual barrier against flie attacks of the river. A large number of such embankments have been erected at various points along the fourteen miles of protective bank, and they are gradually driving the river away from t he southern side. The efforts of the Board during the past year have been chit fly confined to the improvement of No. 1, or the highest embankment up stream. This work has been extended into the r vor some six chains, and the end faced with heavy concrete blocks. It is, we believe, splendidly constructed, as it has been erected alter the Boaid had gained considerable experience in de:d ng with the river. The Board feel confi lent that they are now masters of the situation, and that the principal expenditure in the future will be confined to making those works permanent which they originally constructed before they had acquired the present experience. The visitors yesterday had an opportunity of observing the satisfactory nature of the work done. No. 5 embankment, which was the one visited, is now well protected on the upstream side by a plantation of willows, and the level of the bed at this point is gradually rising and driving the stream away. The last great flood in November, although ft rose to the level of the bank, did no harm to the work. Yet the force of the stream on that occasion was so great that it was actually thrown towards the centre of the bed of the river in the form of a large wave. When the works had been sufficiently examined, an adjournment was made to the marquee where a very excellent luncheon was laid, to which of course ample justice was done. His Worship the Mayor occupied the chair, supported on the right by Mr Clark, C £., ai d on the left by Mr Harman, chairman of the Waimakiriri Board of Conservators. Luncheon over, his Worship the Mayor proposed the usual loyal toasts, which were duly honoured. Mr Thomson then rose and proposed the health of Mr Clark, C.E. fie said he was exceedingly glad to meet Mr Clark on this occasion, and was pleased to know’ that tips city would have the advantage of his very valuable services in reporting upon its water supply. Mr Clark, in reply, said that he very cordially thanked the for his kindness in

proposing his health, and in according to him his generous hospitality. He was very pleased to hare had the opportunity of visiting New Zealand. He had always heard the colony highly spoken of, in other parts of the world which he had visited, as well as in England, and he had intended to return this way home, after finishing the business which had called him to Australia. He was, therefore, much gratified to receive the invitation to come and report upon the drainage works, and he should be very pleased if the experience had. gained during a long life in the exercise of his profession, proved of use to Christchurch. Mr Jameson then proposed the health of the Mayor, to which that gentleman responded. Mr Alport proposed the health or Mr Harman, Chairman of the Board of Conservators. [Mr Jones —What about reducing rates ?] Mr Harman, in reply, said he regretted that Mr Jones had introduced the bitter part of the subject. The Board of Conservators had a very onerous duty to perform —that of protecting some thirteen or fourteen miles of the river bank, which necessitated their adopting a plan to cover as much ground and as many points as possible. They had concentrated their efforts in fighting the river to six different points, which caused a considerable expenditure of money. But this expenditure had greatly enhanced the value of property in the districts affected. Ho trusted the Board’s effort would be crowned with as great success in the future as it was in the present. He had the honor to be a member of the same profession as Mr Clark, and nothing gave him greater pleasure than to make use of his professional education for the benefit of his fellow colonists. Mr Clark desired to remark that, from the little he had seen and from what he had heard, he had formed a very high opinion of the principles upon which the protective works had been constructed. It must be very gratifying to the Board to know that they had established public confidence, and he trusted they might long continue to deserve it. Mr Hnrman then proposed “ The Health of Mr Potts, Manager of the. Works,” in eulogistic terms, stating that their success was in a great measure due to Mr Potts’s vigilance in watching the river. Mr Potts replied in suitable terms. Mr Hawkes proposed “The City Council,” which was responded to by the senior councillor, Mr Ick. Shortly afterwards a start for town was made, and Christchurch reached after a pleasant drive, the party before separating expressing their obligations to the Mayor for his liberal hospitality.