THE WAIPOUA RIVER ENCROACHMENT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 472, 25 April 1894, Page 2

THE WAIPOUA RIVER ENCROACHMENT.

• I Ratepayers' Petition, At the meeting cf the Mastertor. Borough Council last evening, the following petition signed by 6ixly*i'our ratepayers was presented " Totue Matok AXBBonocon Councillors of tub Bor.ouan of MjsKtiax." The petition ot the undersigned sheweth (1) That the Bofrujh'of Masterton 19 (it the present time, and has lor eomeairo past, been in great danger of boin» very seriously damages by the Waipoua River, which has from time to time past been gradually encroaohing on the land within the Borough. (2) That floods during last winter and spnng washed away Lid and caused great damage to ownors ot property on the banta c*! the river, and unless steps are taken at once to permanently pnteot the bants ot tho river on the Borough sido, it will b>ea'; through such banks and cause lMch damage to valuable property. (3) That property in the Borough in clese proximity 11 tho Waipoua liiver, is being muoli depreciated in valuo tor the veasonj aforesaid, The petitioners therefore' pray that the Council will take steps at once to obtain the report of a competent engineer upon the matter, and to completely proteot theßorou(,hand the probity of the ratepayers therein."

Mr C. E, Daniell who appeared I with Mr J. L. Murray to support the petition hoped tjiat in the interests of iho town, the Council would tike steps to protect the property on the river side of the Borough. The river at ] >rreent was encrcicbing and there whs a great possibility of a flood carryim; away a portion of tho Park and Cemetery and greatly damaging other portions of the town, The Mayor said the matter hud been before tho Council before, and they hid decided to contribute towards a report on protective works Hu could not, however, hold out much hope that tho woik required would he - done, as apart from other ieason§, it was 'in Ins opinion n matter for a Eiver Board to deal with. Regarding a report on protection works he believed Mr King had been asked to attend to the matter some time ago.

Cr Dixon exptossed the opinion that the livvr w«s a m- nace to the town, and a flood might at any time bring it through Alnsteiton, • He thought that at a small cost it might be tinned back into the further channel from JUsterlon. Tlie Mnvor did not think there waa much danger of die rim' coming into tilt) town, It (lit; water wero turned into .another channel the Council might lay itself opcu to actions for damages. Or Hnrnblow moved that the Council endeavor to obtain the strvices of Mr C. E Ijn-mner to ascertain. 'hi- bt-.-t ni"iins of protecting the tiver bdiik at Vtila stiert. There was not the len«i! duubt but timt the river wis making lowaids Victoria street, and there was great danger of damage by flood, It was a hardship to property holders and a disgrace to the Council tlut they should have sat quietly so long, and allowed property to he swept away. If members of the Council had been personally inter?sted they would soon get something done to remedy the encroachment. They were not doing their duty in letting the matter slide, Or Feist said he should second the motion. They were not legallyresponsible but should certainly attend to the protection of the ratepayers' property, With regard to Cr Hornbiows' remarks, he d;d not think they would sit and see any persou's property destroyed, but it was a question of funds and also wbetl tr they could act in the matter, lie was ccrtaiuly in favor of obtaining a report on what was best to ho douc,the carrying out of the wutk would be an alter consideration.

The Mayor said Or Homblow's remarks need not be taken notice of, A few stiangers were present, and be wished to let fliem hear him. Or Hornblow ; « With nil due respect to Your Worship '' The Mfy' ol ' •' " You always say that Ct Horiiblow, und at the same tirae show no respect I" Or Homblow: " Well, Your Worship, respect begets respect, and when Your Worship makes nasty sarcastic remarks—"

The Mayor: "Ov Hornblow, you are out of order, you will have an opportunity of leplying to the remarks on your motion at a'later stage." Or Horniilow : " Very good Your Worshij), I'll sit down."

Or Perry thought the propertyholders should do a little towards protecting their property. The Mayor agreed with this. The Council was not liable, and could not be expected to undertake tlie protection of private property. Or H' ssey said that while in favor of the resolution he did not know that iliey would do right in spending money oil the work of protection, He might remmk that the liver was not vested in then:, and they could not kgally inferlWe with it,

Cr Florniilow, in reply, said it was the Council's duty to take action in 'lie interests of the whole, If pro-pery-owjiers on the river bank had not the money to carry out the necewy protection of tho bank, or were ton indifferent to look after their own interests, tfi.* Council could not allow the evil to spread to other more remote piopenie?,

Mr W. G. Beard (who lmd been unavoidably absent at the opening of this question) at tho invitation oi the Mayor, said it wob no doubt an important mutter aa not only the property owners on the river bank, but ilie whole of Masterton might suffer. It seemed to him to boa matter which' affected liie whole of the town because 1 i if the river made inroads ibe value of , property would depreciate. To illustrate the matter he might mention the case of Greytown, where several ; paddocks were converted into shingle beds through the want of a little proper attention at the right time. He | did not speak as a professional engineer, hut simply as taking a common sensn view of.the question. All they asked was that the petition be taken into consideration, and a report by a competent engineer bo obtained. The Mayor said be felt sure that the Council were unanimous in the opinion that a proper report should he obtained, Cr flornblow's motion was then put and carried. Mr Beard, on bohaif of the deputation, thanked the Council and withdrew. .