"TO THE BREACH!!"

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 109, 28 March 1868, Page 3

"TO THE BREACH!!"

In company with some fifteen others, more or less interested in the matter, on Tuesday last we started for the Breach where the Opawa breaks out of the Wairau river. We have long been familiar, from public report, with the mischief, past, present, and prospective, occasioned by the outbreak, and therefore accompanied the expedition to see it and judge for ourselves, as well as the possibility of applying a remedy. Leaving Renwicktown on our left hand, we speedily came to the river, and keeping alongside the banks for a considerable distance, probably three or four miles, wp were shown the site of the famous dam. We must confess to a feeling of disappointment, having expected to see an opening between high banks on either hand, but such was not the case, the banks being but little above the shingle bed, and our horses stepped down without difficulty. The practised eyes of our companions discovered some timbers sticking out, which was all that remained of that great undertaking, but on either side for a vast distance, was nothing but a wide expanse of arid stones, with here and there a shallow rivulet percolating through, or little more than covering them. Here we crossed, and on the opposite, or northern side, found the ancient .channel of the Waii-au with a high bank of shingle raised in front of it. Following up the bank of the river through manuka scrub, flax, and tui grass, we reached the singular formation well known as the Rock, and here we tethered the horses, and the party assembled on its summit, from whence an extensive view of the surrounding country was obtained. Then ensued a long interchange of opinions as to the ''best mode of diverting the water, as to the necessity for which there could be no doubt. Looking westward, we could see the same vast beds of shingle spreading far and wide, but at this point narrower than at any adjacent part of the river. Immediately in front of the rock, and nearer to the hills, was a deep pool of water, evidently the result of an eddy against a substx-a-tuxxx of hard material, probably a connection between the x-ock axxd a similar formation which was ixx view, cropping out of the adjacent hill. Behind the pool was a high shingle bar, formed doubtless by the same cause, but open on the river side and admitting its flow. On the xxorth-east ot the Rock was a homestead belonging to Mr. Smax’t. A very general idea obtained that the only remedy against the periodical ravages of the waters would be to cut a channel between the Rock and the hills, for a distance of about 20 chains, ixxto the bed of a small rivulet, which thereabouts issues from the hills. When we had rested sufficiently, it was determined to follow the course of this x-iver, which we did for a considerable distance, finding it all the way deep, and our right, between us and the shingle bed, high groxxnd, covered with scrub. At length, having resolved that providing the Wlxirau could be tux-ned at the Rock, this smaller creek would carxy it far below the Breach, we crossed to the shingle, and beat up to it, and again examined closely the old channel where the x-iver ran while the works were in progress, and here it was qxxite evident that xxot a drop of water was runxxing down the bed of the Waix-au at this place, but that the whole was going down the Opawa. Mr. Hanwright, who accompanied us, said that this channel could be opened for say £SO, but it would be only a temporary expedient, and the first fresh might again divert the stx-eam into the Opawa. We found many remains here projecting from the shingle, and in this place we suppose the bed of the river, to be nearly a mile wide. The water ■evidently has a southernly dix-ection, each fresh widening the river bed, and consequently becoming more and more menacing to Blenheim.

Returning to Renwicktown, we compared notes, and found there was no diffei’ence of opinion among the party, namely that the project of cutting behind the rock was the only way of removing the evil. It was suggested that the site should be visited by a practical surveyor, who should take levels to see if the bed of the creek was low enough to carry the river, and to examine the soil as to whether any rocks lay in the course the canal or cutting should take. It would also be necessary to obtain the right, by pui chase or otherwise, to cross the homestead before-named. This scheme completed, we believe no further difficulty would arise, and it is extremely probable that it would save Blenheim from the fate that inevitably awaits it sooner or later, unless something be done to prevent it. The parties present considered that as the town was quite as much affected as the

country settlers, it would be advisable to call a public meeting to consider the matter, at an early date.

We may notice hei'e that having often heard that we were threatened with an outbreak of the Opawa near Mr. Adam Jackson’s, we went the other day to inspect the place. Here we found the liver setting direct into the bank, close to the road, and a wide tract of shingle was pointed out to us as occupying what had been fair laud prior to the late fresh. We ai’e not desirous of being considered alarmists, but there can be but little doubt in the minds of those who have seen the place, that ere t long, the liver will at this point, eat across the road, and finding its way into the Omaka, we shall discover Blenheim to be badly situated in its line of route. Immediate steps should be taken to prevent such a catastrophe while there is yet time, and as the question is one affecting the interests of every owner of property in the town and district, we have no doubt that if a meeting be called, many will attend it, notwithstanding the nugatory effects of all former efforts.

In the meantime, we would recommend all who have not yetvisited the site to do so. We hear that another party is being formed for Thursday next, the x-endezvous to be at the Post-office, at 9 a.m. sharp.