THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 1878.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2785, 17 January 1878, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 1878.

The Waiotahi Creek lias for years, in time of flood, been a source of annoyance to people residing near where that generally iusignificant stream empties itself into the harbor. At these times the little brawling brook becomes a roaring torrent, and, as was the case last night, it bursts through all restraining bounds and spreads itself over a wide area, doing damage in some places and causing discomfort in many. ITow to pnt a check on the Waiotnhi Creek during its abnormal outbursts seems to be a problem not yet solved, although the Borough authorities have spent considerable sums of money in that direction. From what took place during last night's rain, however, it may be safely asserted that the cause of these overflowings of the Creek is not to be found within the Borough boundary. The Creek has now been confined in a wide channel or fiutning of wood from the Waiotahi Battery down to the beach. This fluming is more than sufficient to carry off the water that accumulates in the Creek during the greatest floods. But last night Borne hundreds of tons of gravel and shingle were brought down by the current, and this was deposited in the fltttning until it would hold no more, when, of course, the water had ti) find another channel. The damage done by last night's flood has not probably been ascertained, but extra expenditure has devolved upon the Borough—probably £25 to clean out the culvert and put things to rights again. This is not an isolated case; it has occurred before, and will occur again, unless preventiye measures be taken. The Borough, it appears, have done all that they can do within their own boundary, and it remains to be seen what else can be done. It is said that the debris brought down last night is the wash from the Creek, and which has recently been thrown into it hy road-making parties and miners. If such bo the case a stoppage ought to be put to such practices, for it cannot be expected the Borough will submit to these periodical visitations of flood if they can be prevented by ordinary precautioni. An enquiry would set this question at rest, and it should be instituted at once, because it is not likely that burgesses will always submit quietly to the annoyance and damage of floods invading their promises, and the Borough may have to defend an action or actions for damages, as well as bear the expense of repairing damages to public property. We have been assured that a great deal of the damage done last night could have been averted had there been an active Mining Inspector in office, and doing his duty, and that from the same cause there is imminent danger of a much worse state of things in the Moanatairi Creek. It is bad enough when there is a divided responsibility in public affairs ; it is much worse when there is no one who can bo made responsible. If some night during a flood a collapse of fluming" should take place in Moanatairi, and the creek get dammed up until the weight of water becomes too strong for the dam, the consequences will be serious. The burial of a few houses and batteries at the*mouth of the Creek, and the flooding of the United Pumping Association shaft, are, we have been assured, not only possibilities bat within the bounds of probability. Surely it is not necessary to say any moro on a matter of such importance, involving a sacrifice of property, perhaps of valuable lives.