SOUTH WAIMAKARIRI CONSERVATORS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1680, 9 July 1879, Page 3

SOUTH WAIMAKARIRI CONSERVATORS.

A meeting of the South Waimakariri Board of Conservators took place yesterday morning, in their office, Hereford street, Mr R. J. S. Harman in the chair.

Before entering on the ordinary basinets, the Board received Messrs Flesher, Hadfield, and Phillpott, members of the Avon Road Board, who waited on them as a deputation. Mr Flesher, on behalf of the other members of the deputatioo, said that the cbject of their visit was to bring under the notice of the Board the encroachments made by the River Waimakariri on the Great North road. Tho residents had contributed largely to the rates, and not received in r;-tnrn a proportionate expenditure in the shape of, protective works, which they considered they were entitled to. The river was making large encroachmcuts on the road, and it was the third or fourth time it had been removed, and there were no means of keeping the water off tho private land. In answer to Mr Harman, Mr Flesher Baid he did not think much difficulty would be experienced in purchasing land for the purpose of makinjr a new road.

Mr Harman agreed with the deputation that there was urgent need of steps being tak-m to check the encroachments complained of, and he promised that tho Board would take the matter into early consideration with a view to providing a remedy. The deputation thanked the Board and withdrew.

Mr Potts, the overseer of works, waited on the Board and tubmitted his report as follows :

■Waimakariri "Works, July 7th, 1879. E. J. S. Harman, Esq., Chairman of the Board of Conservators,

Christchurch. Sir, —I have the honor to report, forthe information of the Board, as follows :

Ist—The day work men have "been chiefly omployed in putting in the small concrete blocks at the lower works. 2nd—l have only been able to cut about two or three cords of willows from onr plantations at the Sandy Knolls work, which I am planting in the neighborhood. lam sorry to inform you that the past season hashecn a most unfortunate one for onr plantations in all parts of tho river, in consequence in the first instance, of the extra high floods we had incessantly from October to Jannary, which brought snch a large deposit of drift wood and rubbish that it buried the willows completely in many places. We also had an unusually dry summer, with the wind blowing almost incessantly from the northwest, which has in some instances drifted up sand among tho willows to a depth of ten or twelve feet, completely burying them. In addition to this, there are an immense number of trees (old-established ones), completely burned up by the cutting sand passing them and the long drought. Third—The river being only slightly affected by the late heavy rains, there are no changes of importance to report. Fourth —I have, as desired by the Board, fixed the position of the several works on the Board's map, and numbered them in the order they were erected.

I have the honor to be, sir, Tour obedient servant, James Potts, Overseer to the Board. After reading tho report Mr Harman instructed Mr Potts to examine the Great North road, where the encroachments had taken place, with a view of ascertaining tho best steps to the taken for their further prevention, and to chock the overflow of the river, which had greatly injured tha Boiif.b hanle. Mr Duncan suggested that the banks of the river should be traced upon either side, as far as the cutting. After passing an account for payment, the Board then adjourned.