A VISIT TO THE OPAWA BREACH.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 132, 22 August 1868, Page 4

A VISIT TO THE OPAWA BREACH.

(By our Special Reporter.) I hope that in writing the following notes, I shall escape any more reproach of selfishness than that of accepting the professional guinea and- travelling expenses. There was a book published in England, about 20 years ago, written, I think, in blank verse, upon Selfishness, and attributing almost all the evils of the world to it. This work was mercilessly cut up at the time by the ■late glorious Professor Wilson, in BlackvWood ; but no doubt the author was right after all ! Ha, ha ! Selecting one of the fine days that are fashionable just now, I mounted my steed at the “ Royal,” and started for the Breach. Passing Shepherd’s Hotel, I came upon one part of the road, which since the last flood has been almost impassable. If the Provincial Government cannot attend to their duties, and keep the main road of the Province in repair, why should not they give place to some other Government, Municipal, County, or General 1 On turning the corner leading to Spring Creek, Redwood’s Mill and many broad acres opened pleasantly to view, and for a good way up the district, the land looked rich, and well under the plough, thus shewing that was no “ sleepy hollow” at any rate. The hills to the North of the Wairau river, looking clear in our Southern atmosphere, made a picturesque background to these rustic scenes. There was one thing that struck me, the absence of any number of cattle or other stock ; the growing of grain or cereal crops appeared to be the great feature of the farms. How, without doubting that the settlers have very good reasons for the course they at present pursue, and that they find it to their advantage, I cannot but think, ignoramus as I may be in rural pursuits, that this course will bring future evils. With each crop reaped, the soil must become poorer and poorer, and if this was allowed to go a certain length, it might be exceedingly difficult to repair the mischief Without replacing the richness of the soil methodically by animal or artificial manures, it must get sterile. There may be some amount of manuring resorted to, but the absence of any quantity of fat stock strikes a city-bred as something to be remarked upon. Here and there along the road there appears signs of flooding, but whether from the creeks about, or the rivers, I could not say. As I neared Mr. Robert Robinson’s, there was a great change apparent in the quality of the soil, which now looked stony and less cultivated; further on about Mr. Jellyman’s, the land bore evident signs of being plentifully flooded at times. A previous occupier had to leave this place, after the destruction of his crops, and witnessing the fall of his house—having to put his goods and chattels upon drays or anything else he could elevate them on ! Half-a-mile or so beyond this, I came upon the veritable Creek which has been so much talked about. I passed down along its course to see what kind of an outlet it had, but the further I went, the less I thought it fit to carry any amount of water, as its course became circuitous, with low banks, and terminating amongst accumulations of shingle, soil, and brushwood, with an equally varying bed, in some parts deep, and others shallow. I then retraced my steps to the upper part of the creek, where there was a good straight channel, which if continued for a few chains in a direct line would lead into courses of the Wairau river, out of the way of doing harm. There is a quantity of water running through the creek now, but it takes the circuitous route downwards, which is far more calculated to flpod Fox’s Island than the intended stream would do. The top of the creek opens from a bend or comer of the Opawa river, which has evidently made a strong set into it lately, from the action of a bar on the South side, a little higher up. If this bar was strengthened by driving stakes in, less water would go down the direct channekof the Opawa,

which has a considerable fall here, and the current would be shot over more towards the creek, which is now about to be opened and widened. The cutting when finished, may carry without further assistance, onethird ( more or less,) of the water of the Opawa back into the Wairau bed. If the creek was left to itself, the land of Fox’s Island would be far more likely to be flooded, as the water would go right down it where there are lower banks, and all sorts of obstacles, preventing its passing away by any channel; whilst the cutting will carry the water into the Wairau. The bank on its Eastern, or Fox’s Island side is good, and much higher than that on the other, so that the water will have every tendency to fall into the Wairau. Looking at the whole locality, I had no doubt in my mind but that the creek was the natural boundary of the Wairau river bed on the South, and anything North of the creek, within my range of vision, was only sand, shingle, and a few bushes such as grow on river beds. Whilst I believe the creek will beneficially relieve the Opawa of the extraordinary quantity of water that has come down it for the last few years, and widened its bed in proportion, I still consider the cutting of a channel through this creek can only serve as a temporary expedient. Such roundabout ways for water will never do unless a perpetuation and aggravation of floods are wanted. Holding- this view, I rode up to the scene of the original Breach. Here two i-unning channels are open, one above, and the other below, where the Fitzgibbons’ and Marlborough Council’s child’s cribs were. The channel of the Wairau was dry, and filled with shingle up and down. The shingle slopes from the bank on the upper side down to the mouth of the Opawa, so that it would be sheer absurdity to attempt anything at this place as the water would come down, like the ocean at Sidmouth, which poor Mrs. Partington vainly essayed to sweep back with her broom ! Again, the channel of the Wairau is so filled with shingle, both up and down, that at present with the funds at disposal, I believe it would be useless attempting anything there. When a Board shall be incorporated, a thorough survey of the whole river ought to be made, as straight a channel as possible fixed upon, and dug as yearly funds may permit. Whole beds of shingle will have to be removed from the middle of the river - , for it is these accumulations in the riverbed that prevent the water having a sufficient channel to flow in, and that cause the water to tear away the solid ground, and flow over the country in all directions. This will have to be done, as sure as I’m a prophet, for it would be throwing away money doing anything else, at least till that is done. Had it not been for the beautiful day—the sun shining bright on the shingle, the water running blue and sparkling, the hills to the North, with their varied forms and ridges of light and shade, the plain stretching away upwards to distant mountains peaked with whitest snows, and the lightsome sky above all—this Breach would have been rather a dreary site to visit. It will be a cold place nights and mornings for the diggers at the Creek, for the locality is so open and exposed. Feeling an appetite sharpened by the breezy ride, I was not disinclined to leave this inhospitable looking region, and take the road to Renwicktown—a road in fine condition for a canter, for it has not been murdered by large shingle as all the roads have been in which the Provincial Government have had a finishing finger. The low lands between the Breach and Renwick will be very much benefited by a clear channel for the Wairau, and the owners of such lands ought to be the very last to object to taxation for river purposes. Reaching Macaulay’s, I did full justice (selfish mortal) to the good cheer provided at this Hostelry, which affords excellent accommodation to travellers, gave the horse his feed, according to the old instructions about being merciful to one’s beast, and started with some good company for town, which we reached ere nightfall.