The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1884. THE LATE FLOOD.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1779, 4 September 1884, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1884. THE LATE FLOOD.

It is evident, that this town is somewhat at the mercy of the Public Works Department of the general Government and of the country. The late flood would in all probability have Bhot through thejpwn without doing any material damage had it not been checked by the Railway and County bridge embankments. These two obstacles turned the stream into the town and though fortunately no very great amount of damage was done to any structure in the Borough the aggregate of loss and inconvenience to the public was very great. The grave consideration also faces us that floods, such as the one to which we refer, are liable h recur about the months of September and March in every year. Four years ago when -the March flood of 1880 frightened the people, the Borough Council induced' the Government to erect protective works where the river then broke through and it was thought that the danger was thus arrested. No doubt the Counoil will again take such steps aB may be necessary to keep under the notice of the Government and the County the fact that their embankmentß are a menace to the town. It is perhaps only fair to the County Engineer to state that in his plans for the Waipoua Bridge he provided for a channel of greater capacity than the one which now exists, Unfortunately before the contractor for the work completed the excavation tho weather suitable for suchjanoperation;changed, and the Council allowed a passage for the water to be retained, which according to their own Engineer's opinion was insufficient. It appears to us that it is advisable for the Borough Council at this juncture t'o obtain, if necessary, a competent professional opinion, on both, the Government and County embankments, We are aware that many settlers including some members of the Council have a practical, knowledge of floods, and we are also aware that there is some reason to believe that there are highly-paid Government,. engineers whose professionable knowledge appears to be more theoretical . than practical. If any: conflict of opinion arose : between the Borough and the Government, the former would be in a weak position for protecting the interests of the town unless it wero fortified by a responsible professional opinion.' It is clearly the duty of the Borough Council to protect the town from floods as far as they may bo caused by obstructions in the river, and we have no doubt that this j duty will' be discharged willingly and zealously. •' We fear, that after all the. real sufferers by the late.flood ave'oUr i country friends, The town already is! beginning to recover from the havoeto which it has been subjected, but the up-country road, slips and blocks will not be so readily'dealt with, and many a, settler will haye a difficulty for many, days to come, in obtaining necessary supplies.. ..,,..', !