The Damage at Morven.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 192, 19 April 1902, Page 3

The Damage at Morven.

(FKOSI, OUU OWN COKBESTOXUEX'T.)

On Monday Major Stewa d’ M.H.R., and Mr Bui si houw. Engineer of Roads I and lin'd"* s. mmc out to shj the damage j * one by the, late flood in the Waihao river. The first plane visited was the 1 damage on Mr Faulkner’s farm, Willowbridge. The river here has begun to run across its bed, and strikes right into Mr Faulkner’s land, the cause apparently being some gorse growing on privately owned land in the riverbed. Here I may remark that if the river comes m a few more chains it will cut a new bed for itself, and, so far as one can see, will make straight through those beautiful Willowbridge farms, doing damage that could not be estimated. Next, the river runs to the opposite bank, washing away about five acres of laud belonging to Mr Dale, on whose property the river is now running. It then takes to the opposite bank, washing away land b -longing to Mr Allan. Messrs D. Smith, A. Forsyth, and G. Sp igrs had land washed away, while the uisidences * f Messrs Smith and Forsyth were in imminent danger for a time, and may he as bad with the next flood u dess immediate action is taken to straighten the river.

The visiters were then driven round to inspect sonic scenes of the flood. The settlers hope that some benefit may come out o’ the visit, but the necessity for itnm-duue action with the river was appuent. to all who saw it. One thing that struck me was the danger of cut ing up the ie-crves on the river bank into ten to fifteen-acre blocks and compelling settlers to live on them until the river has been brought under belter control. The public will see from the above the necessity for colnbiiied and immediate action.