THE RIVER AVON.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2124, 14 December 1880, Page 2

THE RIVER AVON.

Foe some time past very general complaint has been made of the unsatisfactory manner in which tho contract for clearing the River Avon of weeds has been carried out. Up to the present time, however, though the evil complained of is increasing daily, instead of decreasing, nothing has been done. Only on Saturday last the boats of the rowing clubs had great difficulty in passing down the river, owing to the weeds nearly entirely blocking the way. It is, we think, scarcely creditable to the Drainage Board, in whose hands this matter rests, that such a state of things should exist. No one will deny that boating for the development of our young men, and as a manly sport, should receive every assistance and encouragement possible. But the Drainage Board —who are primarily responsible for the state of the river—allow tho only place upon which it is possible either for boating men to hold their matches or private pleasure parties to enjoy an afternoon’s outing, to become choked up with weeds. It is the duty of the officers of the Board to see that tho contractor, who is receiving public money for his services (?), does his duty. If ho does not, then tho contract should be at once terminated, and a fresh one entered into. Apart from tho question of boating this is really a most important question from a sanitary point of view. The masses of vegetable matter collected will, under tho rays of the summer sun, evolve miasma, which is sure to be deleterious to health. Taking these facts into consideration, wo trust that steps will be taken immediately to have the river put into a decent state, so that the cause for the complaints now made may be removed.