FLOOD DAMAGE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 18 July 1929, Page 2

FLOOD DAMAGE

BY MOTUEKA RIVER PUBLIC MEETING HELD A public meeting, convened by f.he Mayor of jVfotueka (Mr S. I'. Clay) for the purpose of discussing flood dumu'gi) hv the Motueka river, was lielcl in tiic High School on Tuesday evening and was attended by a large number of residents. In his opening remarks the. Mayor stated that many complaints regarding the amount of water flooding streets had come to hand during the last threo weeks. An abnormal rainfall had taken place, something like 14 inches in liino days. Olio inch of water, he believed, represented one ton per acre; The meeting had been called for the express purpose, of discussing damage caused by water from the Motueka river, and he did not intend to permit, discussion on matters affecting the Borough Council, such as damage by surface water. In view of the, seriousness of the position Councillors E. S. Wrati and C. .1. Hoyt's had gone, with him to Nelson and interviewed the Hon. Mr Atmore, with the object of obtaining an engineer’s report. Mr Atmore telegraphed the Minister of Public Works asking that a competent engineer he sent to Motueka to report on the river. .Several present expressed their views on the flood damage, the general trend being that something should he done immediately to protect properties adjacent to the river and the town from further invasion, i Finally, it was proposed (Messrs .]. A. Wallace and J. King) that it lie a, recommendation from this meeting that a river hoard hi* formed and that all contiguous bodies be represented at a public meeting to he called by the Mayor at an early date. At lliis juncture a telegram which had just arrived from the Hon. Mr Atmore, was road. It contained The information that Mr Baker, Public Works Engineer, Christchurch, would proceed to Motueka to report on the river. An amendment was tabled bv Councillors York and Boyes that the formation of a river board be held over pending the engineer’s report. This was carried by a large majority. It was resolved (Messrs L. Manny and E. S. Wralt) that a committee of six, consisting of the Mavor, Messrs J. \. McC! lashen, E. S. Wratt, C. J. Boyes, F. W. Thorp and Horatio Everett he set up to meet the engineer, etc., and Unit the committee call a. public meeting as soon as the engineer’s report has been received. On the motion of Councillor Wratt it was resolved that this meeting of ratepayers thank the Government for its prompt action in promising to send a competent engineer to report on protection works at the Motueka, river. A vote of thanks to the Mayor for presiding terminated the meeting. J lio lollowing telegram was received bv tlie Mayor on Wednesday from the Hon. Mr Atmore: “Further to my telegram of yesterday it i s now found that Mr Baker has gone to Central Otago and in the circumstances Mr McKenzie, assistant- engineer in the chief Public Works Department, is leaving Wellington for Motueka to-night.”