WAIPOUA RIVER OVERFLOW.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2028, 29 June 1885, Page 2

WAIPOUA RIVER OVERFLOW.

" MEETING OF SETTLERS. . . In response to an advertisement, about forty sottlers affected by the inundation caused ,b'y the the Waipoua river last year across the Opaki, met at the office of the Wairarapa East County on Saturday last, to consider a letter that was received from Mr G. Beetham, M.H.R., upon the matter. Mr J. Herbert was elected Chairman, and produced a letter from Mr Beetham, which read as follows: • ■ -•■ Fitzherbert Terrace, June 19.—Dear MrHerbert.—l am afraid that I have been rather remiss for not writing to you before. 1 have already communicated the result of Mr Blackett's visit to the local bodies, and I expect that you would be sure to hear from them of the result. I am the more disgusted, because 1 knew from Mr Blackettthat hewasthoroughlyin favor of Bremner's scheme, and that he would recommend substantial assistance. This assistance lie did not recommend, but the mistake he made was in stating that whatever was done in the higher parts of the river it would be necessary in the interests of the railway line to expend £I4OO or £ISOO in raising the permanent way and building another bridge near Cameroni I can hardly wonder that the Minister refused to undertake any responsibility after that report.. Mr Richardson, however, said that if tho settlers would form themselves into a River Board,\ that he would subsidise any money collected by them in that capacityI am deeply disappointed, because I feel that if Mr Bremner's workswerecarried out satisfactorily,'the arrangement would be permanent. I believe I could do the thing myself for two or three hundred pounds. Mr Blackett's estimates, based on information given him by Mrßremnerare as follows :-23 chains of embankment, faced with fascines, £900; sundry cubic groins, filled with stones, £300; clearing snags, and opening old channel, £260; contingencies, £150; raising bridtre and permanent way at Waipipi,, £I4OO to £ISOO. 1 have a3 yet received no answer from the Cbiinty Council as to what it will propose, I shall be very glad to hear from tho settlers, if you will kindly communicate tho above facts to them. What will you do re a River Board ?-Yours sincerely, George Beetham. The County Clerk laid on the table the correspondence on the subject received from Mi- Beetham, and letters to iiim from the Minister of Public Works, and Mr Blackett, the Engineor-in-chief :- Public Works Department Wellington, 9th June 1885. Sir—Roforring to your letter of tho 22nd March last, addressed to the Engineer-in-chief, relative to the Waipoua overflow I kvo now the honor to inform you, that Mr Blackett has visited the locality as you suggested, and has reported very fully upon the whole matter in question.

After due consideration of this report, I have come to the conclusion, that to deal properly with this matter there should be a Board of Conservators constituted for tl)o district, as, from the various local interests involved, and' the peculiar nature pf the case, J ani; of opinion, that itip nqt one in winch, the Government thould he galled upon either directly or indirectly to assume anyresponsibihty. I am ik, ' Edward richardson, Minister of Public Works. George Beetham Esq., M.H.R, Wellington. ... Wellington',; June 11th, 1885. Dear Sir,—l regret very much that the correspondence I have to forward you is so extremely unsatisfactory. On receipt of the letter No. 61/7GI, I considered it my- duty to wait on the Minister and press for an explanation. The determination of the Minister seemed to me to be inexplicable, because 1 was aware that Mr Blackett was disposed to recommend.' liberal assistance being granted to tho local bodies for the Hpo?,? of training the river into its originalchannel, i'he'Minister readme tjie report;'wlijch't must admit, to a certain extent, explains liis action. Feeling assured that the'local'bodies wmld naturally ask for Rome explanation, I applied for as much of Mr Blackett's report as the Minister would r feel justified in giving me. The accompanying letter from Mr Blackett is the result. It will be readily understood by tho memo frpm'Mi' Blackett |i)|af fte does 'not think the works proposed at the Pairaq could be considered/ permanent, therefore he recommends a further sum of LI4OO or LISOO to raise the bridge over the Waipipi. This, of course, explains the Minister's refusal to contribute, unless to a body properly constituted as a Board of cqiiseryators,'- The Minister informs me tliat if such a. body were created he ( probably would contribute, lam aware that Mr Blackett had recommended liberal assistance to the Pairau proposed works, I should be glad if you will kindly show the enclosed correspondence to the Highway Board, In conblusion I have _to oxpress my regret that the negotiations have for tho present proved so unsatisfactory. I should be glad to hear what further; proposals the local bodies interested feel disposed to make, Yours very truly, George Beetham. F. G. Moore, Esq. P.S.—I regret that I did not rcceivo Mr Blackett's letter in 'time to forward for consideration, at the last meeting of the Council.

6. B. j At this stage of the proceedings severa To Ore Ore natives attended and the whole of the correspondence, was read over interpretedtothembyMrW. lorns, i A letter of apology on, account of iris liability to attend % me #g'tyas" read from Mr G," Be'etham' qn account of pressure of Parliamentary business, and stating, should the meetingdeterminethat it was not expedient to 'form a River Board, then ho would suggest that a resolution be proposed that the local bodies should be asked what sum they would contribute towards the expense of confining the river within bounds. If the local bodies could be induced to make or contribution ho would be glad to again interview the Minister to endeavor to induce him to contribute on behalf of the railway interest. He also expressed his regret that the negotiations conducted by him had not been productive of'if|q're satisfactory Results. ' heard the wljoje of the (jprpegpnhc}ence qn tlie subject, and, $ was for tliem tq consider the test steps tp he taken in their own interests,

■ Mr R, Welch moved and Mr T, Brown seconded, That a deputation be formed to wait upon the County Council' and Road. Board to ascertain what steps they Intend taking, % W. H. Boetham said he did not consider he was interested, whichever way the river went, but in his opinion the settlers were not in a position to expend money on expensive works, and he did ■ not think, if a River Board were formed, that a poll would be carried authorizing a rate to bo struck.' They might let. the ri/er alone : for twelve months and see what course it would take. Their rivers take great freaks, and it might return to its owii channel without any expense being incurred, and whichever way it was turned there, were some who would strongly oppose the work,for their own' protection. • The Government would not take'a large interest in it beyond protecting the' railway, line, and

would form a channel for the wator as they saw it at the present time, and build a bridge He believed that in twelve months time they would be better able to' judge 6f the best method of dealing with the river. In the meantime no ono was suffering much. The County Council would keep the road in repair without any great expenditure. ■ He might not have sufficient information to express any decided opinion, but these were his views, based upon his' present knowledge if facts. Of course he was open to have his opinions changed by anything that might be stated at the meeting that he .was ; not cognizant of. '.'.""■' Mr Herbert considered a great deal of harm was being done to a number of' settlers, who were suffering considerably by the present state of affairs. It .was evident they saw danger ahead, or they would not consider it necessary to build a n6w railway bridge. If the County did the work, the settlers would have to be rated for: the money. Would it riot be better for the four bodies—the settlers, County Council, Road Board, and Government, to consider what would ■' be the best means to devise for the County at large ? 'He thought it the best plan as suggested to form a deputation to the local bodies, and go into the question of what it would cost-to buy property, and decide which way the stream should run. He wanted to know as soon as possible, not to.have to wait twelve months with his property under water. Simply, he could not afford to wait, and he did not know anyone' present who would do so were they in his place. When Mr Ulaeketfc was in Masterton there was nothing said about the £I4OO required for railway protection. Mr Holmes, of Matahiwi, said the Waipoua had six channels .in. the last ten years, and they could not confine it to any particular one,' Tho channel it had last left was nothing like a sufficient one to carry the river in flood time. He did not see why the people below had not cause to call for assistance to have it turned bacV from their property to its old channel; the only thing was they would not get it. (laughter)

Mr Buick would ask Mr Campbell where the river ran 20 years ago. Mr R. Campbell said it was 'at the back as near as possible on the boundary between Messrs Holmes and Buick, Mr J. Welch, said it was running down Mr Buick's flat 15,18 and 22 years years ago. Mr R. Dagg said the deputation would require ' a programme, ' There were evidently two parties with opposite interests, and the meeting should devise some tangible plan for them' to work upon. Messrs Horbert, R.' Campbell, and R, Welch were then appointed a deputation; Mr Holmes thought both sides should be represented an the Committee, Hunter (a Maori) stated'that he suffered greatly during the late flood. He had to swim from Ms wharefp.l'lo chains with' his children o.n hia back to. save their lives. That' was wjiy he wanted the river turned back to its old course in the bush, Martin also spoke in corroboration of Hunter's statement as to tjie injury and •danger to the lives and property of the Natives during the last flood, After same, further disoussion-r-during which it was stated that if the Waipoua was allowed to come through the Waipipi it would injure the properties of. all settlers below on the Ruamahunga—the meeting closed,