CORRESPONDENCE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1175, 14 October 1882, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinionexpressed by our correspondents]. :o: TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —Your sleepy reporter, I imagine, sees as far through a brick wall as most people. On Thursday evening last he exposed the utter absurdity of the Borough Council being the Harbor Board, certainly in a most absurd article, but assuredly in one in which he showed that he was clearly alive to the idiotcy of the arrangement. A game of chess played with one’s right hand against one’s left is altogether uninteresting. This is clearly shown in the skit. The members of the Borough Council ask for a concession from the Harbor Board, and it is granted; how then can the same individuals transform themselves from Borough Councillors to members of the Harbor Board ? and how can the latter revoke that which has been done in the Council ? lam only a countryman, but I must certainly assert that I see the absurdity of the affair.—l am, &c., Bucolic.

From a correspondent we receive the following suggestions, regarding flood protection and water supply. Our correspondent urges that while not seeking to force such a scheme npon the public he would like to invite discussion upon the matter from all sides, more especially from those having a knowledge of engineering:—• Sir, —Enclosed I beg to hand you a few suggestions regarding — Ist. A proposed scheme for utilising the Waipaoa. Let a canal be cut from the Big River, at the base of the Kaiteratahi hill to the source of the Taruheru, in whatever way or direction practical engineers may think best. The waters of the Waipaoa to be thus diverted from their present course and conveyed in a comparatively straight line to Gisborne. The advantages to be derived from this scheme are :—Perfect safety to the lands now suffering from the flooding or encroachments of the river in its present sinuous course.

2nd. By the straight outlet proposed the danger of future floodings of the flat would be obviated. The water from up country having a clean and straight outlet to the sea. 3rd. The continual run of water would clear the course of the Taruheru and the mouth of the Waimata, washing the bar away out to sea, thus making the river available for vessels of considerable tonnage. This would obviate the necessity of constructing a breakwater.

sth. By making a dam up the Taruheru so as to prevent the tidal salt water from mixing with the fresh water of the Waipaoa, an ample water supply would be secured for the town. The weans of flushing the river below at low tide would be also thus obtained.

The advantages of this scheme are many many—direct and cheap transit from the country to town by water —securing safety from future floods ; making a useful harbor at the mouth of the river; and securing an ample and certain water supply for the town. ibelieve the cost would be comparatively small, and the advantages many and great. —I am, &c., Viator.