The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JULY 18, 1933. FLOODING.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 July 1933, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JULY 18, 1933. FLOODING.

The flooding of many parts of the town last week-end was one of the severest visitations experienc’d. For upwards of seventy years these inconvenient visitations for many recur, and there seems no escape for the reason that so much of tile town is low lying. Drainage to be effective is an expensive problem because some parts of the town are about sea level, and to secure ordinary drainage the outlets have to be as low as possible in the river channel. When extraordinary flooding takes place, and the river rises in sympathy the outlets are blocked by a stronger flow <>f water and the consequence ia the drainage in held back and flooding results, Water will seek it.fj level, iind that was the case last week, when a flooded river backed up the water, and the town drainage reinforced by the copious rainfall, spread far and wide, and even in unusual places. This natural state of affairs it is most difficult to cope with. The authorities have grappled with the problem by constructing more outlets to the river, and these are no doubt helpful, but no one has yet devised a complete cure. The position is worthy of consideration, however, with the object of giving quicker relief, so that the waters may subside more quickly. An extension is being made of Tailored Street drain to tap some of the back water but Tancred Street ig the lowest street in town, and its outfall most susceptible to the rising river. It can help only when the river falls rapidly. The new drains put in in the upper part of the town must be helpful, but at the same time the Sewell Street and Fitzherbert Street drains are now more confined than they were formerly. Some great relief oculd be afforded by auxiliary drains on as high a level as possible to escape blocking at the outlet. These would assist to relieve the flood waters more quickly and the danger and damage to property would be less proportionately. Probably the authorities will prefer to wait the effect of the extended Tancred Street drain, but should that not meet the position, and the natural levels available appear to be against it, then the ratepayers will expect some move to increase the drainage capacity (in flood time) of the 'Sewell Street drain, either with a much larger pipe, or with an auxiliary at the side. In the early days this particular drain was a very large one, yet flooding occurred then -—hut the low outlet was again the primary cause. If any higher outlet discharge can he gained, and that is a matter of levels, a measure of relief will be gained, and this proposal should be explored to ascertain what can he done. It is necessary to nrovidc for the extremes in flooding •and that should be the policy of the council in considering drainage works. Tt is not a question of how small a. drain or a pipe may be, but bow large a wafer course c-n he provide ! to deal with the abnormal rainfall tvu’Val of him ’-’sitations the Coast is '■•'l'Wq to. Over and over again drains and bridges prove inadequate for flood pressure and replacement ionics a lipovv charge. A liberal estimate requires to be made in respect to the capacity of all drains.