RIVER CONSERVATION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1786, 12 September 1884, Page 2

RIVER CONSERVATION.

A UUMBER.'of farmers, County and Road Board representatives and others interested, met at the Olub Hotel commercial room last nierht, to discuss what action Bhould bo taken by them to turn the Waipona river back into its ohannel, and to prevent a reourrence of its overflow onto the Qpaki farms tothe destruction of farms, roads, and railway properties. Mr Jesse Herbert occupied the and said the Wajpoua river at tiflp last flood broke through its banks near "■ the Miki-Miki into the swamp \A go on through Meßsro Herberts.OamlSn's, and other farms, aoross the .railway line, taking a mile, of the. main road, destroying the. recently made loop lino of- road cutting right through the Welsh's properties, destroying tfao race course, and.ultimately:fiuding its way into the Ruamnhanga dyer, They had met that evening w discuss, what steps j&tjuldbp takjra 'to pv£(nt this g'etfbuß irteaitin of pttpity, atf ft, n%

that a public meeting should be called for that purpose. ' Mr Wm. Beethara asked whether any engineers report was before them. The. Chairman said this was only a preliminary meeting, and there had been no time to prepare a report, but one would be ready in time for the ■ proposed meeting. 'Mr Bremner, the Road Board engineer, had made an examination .of thß cause and result, Mr Beethain said it appeared to him f that the Public Works Department of the Government, the County, and the Road Board were all interested in this ■ question, as, if the course of the river ■ were permanently turned into this new channel not only would the present railway be destroyed but expensive bridges would require to be erected for road traffic, Mr A; Stewart said the water was now running above the stringers of the railway bridge. Mr John Cameron said three distinct jjiannels were already cut through his -npnd and across the main line of road, and unless the river was checked thousands ot pounds would be incurred in bridging the road, as there was no saying where its ultimato outlet would be, The surface of the lower Opaki would appear like a map of Europe. The Chairman said that Mr Bremncr's opinion was that it would find its outlet on the Landsdowne estate by the Masterton Hospital, as the railway line levels simply packed it to run that way. Mr Cameron said a few hundreds now would put the Waipoua back to its old channel, which was all they could do in the meantime, and then they would be able to see if a channel could be cut above the railway line to run into the Ruamahunga. Mr Welch said it was necessary to notify publicly that a meeting would be held, and also to write to Mr George Beetham, who, he felt sure, would take the matter up and present it in the proper quarter.

Mr Thomas Mackay suggested that Government should bo at once eommunicated with and be asked to send their Engineer to examine the destruction, and he would be able to, report to the public meeting next week, Time in a matter of this sort was everything, labor and expense would be considerably increased should another flood occur before they had taken steps to divert the stream, Mr Stewart thought the County most interested, as the stream took a mile of road.

Mr Cameron said it was more serious to the Government railway department, as it would be necessary for them to build another railway and traffic bridge within five or six chains, and of equal capacity with the one over the Ruamahunga, The chairman snid the water was within a few chains of the Opaki railway station site, and the bridge over the creek built to carry the railway

across was now two feet or more under

•water. It would be necessary to devise .ffionie means to avert the common danM were interested—from Wellington to Woodville, Mr Beetlmm moved—That a public, meeting be held in the Institute, Masterton, on Tuesday next, September 16th at 2.30 p.m., to consider the ways and mennsof diverting the Waipoua, and • preventing a recurrence of the present .. inundation ; that the County and Road Board authorities bo asked to attend, and if possible in the meantime to allow their Engineers to visit the scene and report thereon to that meeting, and the Public Works Department be written to and asked to send their Engineer to examine and roport upon upon the matter; that the member for Wairarapa North be informed of the stepß about to be taken and respectfully asked to attend the meeting on behalf of the district. Mr Cameron seconded the resolution •bich was carried unanimously, and structions given to advertise the . meeting. Arrangements were made to visit the scene before the meeting takes place on Tuesday, by Mr McGregor, the County Chairman, and others,