OVERFLOW OF THE RANGITATA RIVER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1516, 23 November 1886, Page 3

OVERFLOW OF THE RANGITATA RIVER.

Owing to the north-west winds prevailing about a fortnight ago this river was flooded to a greater extent than h.is been the case for many years past. There •re three ''-riches in the river, and of late the 1 « body of water has be?n running uo..u what is known as the middle branch. During the flood, however, tbe greater body of the water has broken loose and come down what is known as the south branch, overflowing its banks, and causing an immense amount of damnge to the lands of settlers living on that side. It was feared that the flood had damaged the groins placed |

by Government above the railway bridge, but an examination made by Mr Lowe, Ili9 Government Engineer, shows them to be intact. No damage whatever hns been done above the bridge. Abont half a mile below the bridge, however, tl>c river has made a direct aet into the south bank, and washed away a goad strip of gran land occupied by Mr Stengar, and also a strip in oats belonging to Messrs HcLelland Bros. Besides actually taking away the land at this place the waW

inindated many acres of their oat crop ;

in some places scouring out »nd in others sifting np and destroying some three or four acres. This land has also been sown down with graes this season, and tho young grass has also in many places been completely destroyed. The river here has formed a deep bight, into which the full body of the water is still running, and as tile banks are low something will have to be done or the water will make a new course for itself through this spot and run right down the flufc. About four miles below the bridge the river baa made an opening through land belonging to Mr Minniss. Here the water has cut a deep Channel, and a considerable body of water is now running through Mr Minoisa' pad* dock of wheat, after which it runs through a paddock belonging to Mr McLeod, and joining a creek about half a mile down, finds ita way back to the main strenm. Mr Minniss has had two or three Aore« of his wheat crop hopelessly destroyed, be-

sides the land being covered with shingle. Something will have to be done here, >uo, as the gap cut appears to be level with the bed of tho river, and unless the river changes a permanent stream will continue to run at this place. Oo the Rangitata Island Mr J. G. Ra4denklau has suffered severely, he having had several acres of find carried away. A meeting of those persons interested in preventing damage by the overflow of the river was held at Clayton's Star of the South Hotel; South Rangitata, on Saturday evening. There.was a good attendance of settlers, about 45 persons. The Hon. W. Rolleston was voted to the chair. He explained what had been done so far with regard to the outbreak. He explained when ths outbreak took place he telegraphed to Government to ask them to send down their engineer to inspect the damage. He (Mr Rolleston) had been told that the river had broken through the groins, but this had turned oat not to be correct. He believed no damage bad been done above the bridge, He bad nrged the Government to send the engineer down to consider the whole qaestion, not only in relation to the work above the bridge, bnt also, as it affected the settlers, below. Mr Richardson bad telegraphed to say that Mr Lowe had been instructed to come down. Since

then Mr Lowe bad been down, and be had heard from him sioca upon the subject. Mr Lowe was of opinion that nothing lest than the deviation of the water into tbe north channel would be of any permanent good. The outbreaks below the railway were very serious, and would no doubt enlarge unless some stepß were taken to prevent thein. The idea that the, river had broken through the groins was a mistake. There was no outbreak above tbe railway .bridge. Mr Low was also of opinion "that the turning of the river into the nor f h branch could be effected without much difficulty, bat to maintain such deviation permanently would be costly, and appeared to him that it would relieve tbe settlers at the south side to the injury of those on the north side. Although these ■ettlers weie in a minority, they had as much right to be considered as those on the south, and if the river were turned artificially the persons turning it would be responsible for any damage that might accrue from its being so turned. He considered the only plan was to proteot the banks where the river breaks out, and as these' were entirely below the railway at present he Lad not td vised tbe Government to undertake ibe work." Mr Kolleston said he gathered from that that the Government would act upon Mr Lowe's advice, and did not consider; themselves responsible for the condition of things below the bridge. He {Mr Kolleaton) had asked Mr fticlardson if Government would undertake this work, and he had thought that under the Public Worka Aot they might do it, but he gathered from Mr Lowe ■ letter that they did not intend to do so. He thought the best thing would be, if possible, to divide tbe river evenly, so that part ran down the north and part down tba south branch. The legal way to proceed would be to constitute a Board of Conservators, and set them to work to deal with the question. He was aware that would cause a considerable amount of delay, and no doubt cause a deal of expense. He had there a report from the Public Works Department in relation to the works above the bridge. This did not affect the present question, except that it contained sketches showing the best plans for diverting the streams. It was there for the benefit of the settlers. He would be glad if the gentlemen present would express their opinions on the sub. ject before the meeting, and if any person had recently gona over the (damaged

places that they would favor the meeting with their opinions. Mr Robertson wished to know if the Chairman had seen the engineer when he made his examination. He (Mr Robertson) had not, although he was on the spot. Several present'said they had seen,the engineer while there. The Chairman said that the result of the engineer s visit was tkat he held that the work below the bridge was for the settlers to deal with, and not (for the Government.

i Mr Buddenklau said it appeared to him ' that Government would not do anything below the bridge, and that self-help wai '. their only remedy. For his part, he had : had men and horses constantly employed for ysais past to protect himself. He applied! o Government and to the Geraldine County Council for assistance, and all the reply he got was that they should form a River Board. It was evident they could expect r>n help from those bodies. He thought the only permanent good they could do was to turn the river into the north channel again. If they did this, however, there was the question of responsibility for damage if the river were turned artificially. If they could divide the river, sending half north and half south, it would suit all purposes. As far as he could see, however, the river intended to come south.

Mr H. Wright said the engineer had told him the river oould be divided, but would need constant supervision to keep it in two streams. It wu bound to do damage whatever way it might be sent. It had washed away scores of acres of land on the north side, and he (Mr Wright) supposed Borne day it would come there again. t Mr Robertson thought the more they tried to do with the river the worse they would make it.

In reply to a question by the Chairman Mr Robertson said he could not say what would be the cost of protecting the river where it was breaking through. Mr R. Buck said the river had washed five or six families away from the north aide, Ae had only 20 acres left dry now out of 159. He did not believe the river could be kept divided ; it would cost far more than it was worth.

Mr Barney asked if the Chairman thought the Government would object to anything being done above the bridge. The Chairman could not say. Mr Barney said that at a point just above the bridge a small cutting would send the water down the north channel.

The Chairman said the same difficulty arose with regard to the damage to settlers. The question seemed to him to be as to whether they could take active steps to divert tbe Btream, or whether they must take steps individually and collectively to defend the south bank. There could be no doubt about the right of th» south settlers to divert the stream, so long as they did not damage their neighbors. Mr Snell hoped the stream if tapped at all would be sent down the north and south branches, as if it came down the middle branch it would uffsct him more than anyboby.

Mr Buxton said he had been on the Rangitata eleven years, and knew a little about the river. His experiarce was that it was constantly shifting; never remaining long on either side. As to the damage that had been done, he bad been right through on both sides, and he was satisfied that the damage done had been a great deal more to the settlers on the north side than to those on the south. There had been thousands of poundß worth of damage done on the north side, and there were persons in the room that evening whom ha had had to take out-of iheir houses with a horse and dray to prevent their being tlrowned. The landlords had to suffer ; not the tenants. He was a tenant, but had nuff*red considerably. Those on the south aide were now suffering, but be believed tbe north side would soon have its turn. They had had to grin und boar it on the noith side, and he thought they should do so on the south. If they formed a Board of Conservators the taxes would be far heavier than they could hear. He was glad to hear the north side could get compensation for any damage done through the river being turned. He did not want to see the river running altogether on either Bide, but would like to see it divided. He thought, however, it would be impossible to keep it divided, It would cost more than the damage it was deing. He believed the settlers could better put up with the river running first on one side and then on the other than they could bear the expense of 30 or 40 men working at it, and imposing heavy expenses upon them. When they B9ttled in that distriot they knew that the possibility existed of the river encroaching upon them, and now it had done so he would advise them to bear it as well as they conld, and when they could bear it no longer they could fly. His experience was that there was far more damage done on the north side than on the south. He believed if they did turn the river to the north side it would soon come back to its present position. Another thing was that if they turned all the water under the north bridge it could not take it. The stream had been contracted when the bridge iras built, and there would not be room in time of flood for the full body of water to get away. His opinion was that the river would go where it liked, do what they would. Mr H. Ruddenklau thought the only way was to try and divert the stream from the south aide. He thought it could be very easily done. Mr Coulter thought so too.

Mr Buxtoa said he bad had hundreds of acres under water on the north side. It had coat him over £SO one year for repairing fences and now the land was ruined with stones, etc, and he was not able to use it. He would propose that they allow tbe Bangitata to take its own course and that each overflow should be dealt with by the settlers whose land is affected by that overflow oy works upon their own property.

Mr J. G. Ruddenklau thought they should show that tbe meeting considered it impracticable to divert the main stream into the north branch. Mr H. Watt seconded Mr Buxton's proposition. He thought it was a fair proposition. He had suffered considerably from the river himself and he considered the river had not done nearly so much damage to people on the south side as it had to those on the north. Bethought it would be very hard if the whole of the burden were placed upon the baoke of the northern settlers.

TV* Cirrraan said he should like to ask Mr riobertson or anyone who lived in tliK district who were the settlers mofu interested in the outbreak. He thought it would be a pity to pass the resolution without their having a voice in the intiiter. Mr .Robertson said he had done a little wo k *i the present outbreak, and in his opinion it. woud never do to confine the river there. It must be allowed to come out a little, and eovei one or oae and a-half acres of Mr Minnits's land. He could not state the probable oost of protecting it, but he would like some of the other settlers to go and inspect the damage done for themselves. He believed Mr EuJdenklau to be the greatsst sufferer at the present time. ' Mr D. Taylor was in favor of turning the river into the north brarob. He maintained that the north br.nch was the original course.

Opinions differed as to this. Mr J. Gr. Kuddenklau thought that the proposition before the meeting should be altered a little. He would suggest that it should read : '* That this meeting, as at present advised, considers that the turning of part of the river into the north branch is bwt with such difficulties as to render it, impracticable, and that each overflow should be dealt with by the settlers whose land is affeoted by that overflow by works upon their own property." He said they were" only proposing this because they had been told that tbe river had at one time ran in the north ohannel, and it might run there again. Mr Buck suid if the river was turned into the north channel, and did him damage, be should expect to be paid* for the same by someone. He had suffered a good deal of damage already. The Chairman said that this proposition did not commit the meeting $ they only refused to take the responsibility of this step. Mr Baxton and Mr Watt hating agreed to the altering of the preposition, it was put to tbe meeting and, upon a show of hands, lost by 14 to 11. The Chairman said it was still open to the meeting to deal practioally with the existing overflow. Mr Buddenklau moved—" That the Minister of Public Works be respeotf ully requested to oanse an investigation of the river to be made, with a view of affording relief to the settlers affeoted by its overflow." The Chairman pointed out chat one gentleman had already been sent down. He would advise Mr Buddenklau to so frame his proposition that the Minister for Publio Works be asked to supply report by the officer who had already investigated the matter. Mr Ruddenkhu acted upon this suggestion, and proposed —" That before further aotion is taken the Minister of Fublio Works be requested to for tbe information of settlers interested a copy of tbe report made by Mr Lowe, and to state whether any action would be taken for the relief of settlers." Mr Buxton did not think the settlers would be in the least degree any more forward then than they were now. Tliey would only official report of what they bad now got an unofficial report. The opinion would probably only be that the river was all right above the bridge, and the settlers below must protect themselves. Mr J. G-. Buddenklau thought the meeting should express an opinion. The first proposition had been lost, and tbe meeting must do something in the matter. Mr Buxton said he had no objections to the proposition. Mr Buddenklau's proposition was then put and carried unanimously. The Chairman said that the Minister for Fublio Works bad shown great courtesy in sending Mr Lowe down at once. He thought they should pass a vote of thanks to that gentleman. Upon the motion of Mr Buxton, seeonded by Mr Robertson, a hearty vote at thanks was passed to the Minister of Public Works for his kindness in sending Mr Lewe down so promptly to report upon the overflow that had taken place. A unanimous and hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr Kolleston for the interest be had taken in getting up the meeting, aad for occupying the chair that evening. Mr Rolleston in reply said that he was glad to be there that evening. He wished the meeting had seen its way ciear to do something to stop what seemed to hi* to be more serious than they appeared to think. He would be very glad to co-operate with any group of settlers interested in the matter. It wus decided that a number of those interested should meet Mr Rolleaton at Mr Minnies' farm at 10 o'clock on Monday morning for the purpose of inspecting the damage done. This being all the business the meeting terminated.