THE WAIRAU OVERFLOW.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 130, 15 August 1868, Page 3

THE WAIRAU OVERFLOW.

The determination of the Wairau settlers to set about some means for preventing the continual overflowings of the Wairau, and the consequent damage to the whole district, has been, from the beginning of the movement, most vexatiously and pertinaciously opposed by a small section of the inhabitants. We need not recount in what manner, as our columns have shown the progress of the business as it has occurred, and we need only refer to the latest instance. As our readers are well aware, a public meeting decided that a project of relieving the Overflow at a site known as Murphy’s Creek, should be attempted; a committee representing the districts chiefly affected, was formed, and they were instructed to commence proceedings ; ways and means being advanced by the Bank, on the joint responsibility of Messrs. H. Dodson, Bomford, and Ball, who relied upon the subscriptions of the public. Last week the committee inspected the site, taking the requisite levels, &c., after which Mr. Wallas chairman solicited the attendance of all desirous of competing, to view the work. On Saturday last however, an advertisement appeared in the News, couched in language which might at least have been improved, and made less offensive, and abounding in pseudolegal phraseology—purporting to be signed by 17 persons whose lands are more or less adjacent to the original bed of the Wairau, in which they professed to hold the committee and guarantors personally responsible for any damage or injury done by thus relieving the Opawa. The position of the question may be thus fairly stated. The water of the original river Wairau, overflowing its banks at the Breach and elsewhere, makes a channel of the Opawa, trespasses upon a vast number of properties, inflicting severe injury over a wide district, and endangering the very existence of both town and country. Bather htan lose all the* results of their long and patient industry, these swamped-out settlers seek to lessen the evil by turning the water, (or rather by

easing one of its numerous channels,) into its original bed, through worthless land belonging to the Provincial Government Thereupon a very small section, to the number stated, determine that they will use any and every means to prevent the water being restored to its own bed, regardless of the injuries sustained by others, alleging that if such be done, their lands will be swamped. How, by deepening a channel the surface of the water can bo raised laterally, we cannot tell; the river cannot be raised by deepening it, and surely the old bed of the Wairan will contain below as much as it does a mile or two higher up. These paradoxes however, we leave to be solved by actual practice. Those who have seen the site, all assure us that these fears are groundless. Fearful lest the notice referred to should not he seen by the committee, a letter was addressed to each, calling their attention thereto, which were duly received, since we saw them all posted outside Mr. Bomford’s shop, where they excited the amusement of all the passers by. Heedless of these, or the consequences, the committee proceeded to show the work on Monday last. The work was divided into eleven portions, a chain square, extending from a little distance off the Opawa to the Wairan, for which tenders were invited. On Wednesday morning the tenders were examined, and found to be as follows : No. I—Leary, £BO ; G. Watson, £65 ; Fitzgerald, £80; Spencer, £49. No. 2—Carved, £42 7s ; G. Withey, Is Cdper yard ; D. Horrigan, £42 Ss 3d ; O’Brien, £O7 ; G. Watson, £55; Jellyman, £-‘42 7s. ; Spencer, £44 10s.

No. 3—Jellyraan, £4O 6s 8d; G. Withey, Is Gd per yard ; D. Horrigau, <£42 8s 3d ; O’Brien, £97; Parish, .£‘ss 10s. ; G. Watson, £SO; Spencer, £32 iSs. No. 4—G. Barry, £3B ;D. Scott, £3B 10s Gd ; Spencer, £29 14s. No. 5—A. Cameron, £35 15s Gd ;G. Barry, £3B; G. Brown, £3G Gs. ; Spencer, £2O 12s. No. 6—G. Brown, £3O Gs. ; Spencer, £23 10s. No. 7—H. Leary, £36 Gs ;W. Dick, £35 ss. ; Spencer, £25 Ss. No. B—Leary, £3G Gs ; W. Dick, £35 ss. ; Spencer, £23 2s. No. 9—Moran, £49 9s. ; Spencer, £l7. No. 10 —Powiek, £44 9s. ; Spencer, £3O 15s. No. 11 —Reeves, £24 ; M. Aisey, £39. ; Spencer, £29. Messrs. Thompson and Tiernay tendered for the whole work, and with extra work not specified; for a lump sum of £350, to be completed in six weeks.

Mr. Spencer, for the same work, gave in a tender for £315, to be completed in four weeks. Consequently the committee decided upon accepting air. Spencer’s tender, which includes the deepening of 13 chains a chain wide, reaching from the Opawa, averaging from one to six feet in depth, also the removal of a bank between the outlet of the creek and the Wairau river, about three chains, for two feet in depth ; the total fall from one river to the other being about 14 feet. We congratulate the committee on their spirited determination to lot no minor considerations stand in the way of doing the work, at least attempting to ease the country of the evils which would otherwise speedily ruin it. To prove that ihey have the sympathy and co-operation of the public, we need only state that promissory notes have been given as subscriptions during the last few days amounting to upwards of £360, nearly the whole of which is given by residents in, or immediately contiguous to Blenheim. The absurd charge of selfishness may now surely be withdrawn.

Since the above was in type, we have been informed that Mr. Geox-ge Dodson, on behalf of some others, wrote this week to the Provincial Government, requesting it to prevent the cutting of Murphy’s creek, as such would do a deal of damage to the settlers of the province. In reply, the Government intimated that the committee had been authorised to cut the creek, and a gentle rebuke accompanied the information. The oddest thing, however, is that Al r. George Dodson has always been considered one of those who persistently objected to tixe Government having anything to do with works at the Breach ; and now, when they cannot get all their own way, they go to the Government for protection.