RIVER PROTECTION

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1091, 22 July 1873, Page 3

RIVER PROTECTION

{To<the Editor of the Westport Times.)

Sib,—Tho proposal to prevent the encroachment of the river at the Township is engaging the attention of Westport people, but they must not overlook the danger of the river also breaking through and joining the Orawaiti stream, in which case thMr trouble Would be doubled. At a meeting some time since Charles Croawell proposed that a dam should be put across at the head of the Orawaiti. I should like some of the members of the Committee and the new Municipal Councillors to come up and judge for themselves and see the ■danger their town is in of the river flowing into the Orawaiti, and leaving Westport on an island. Within the last seven years a hundred feet of land has been washed away just at tho overflow between the two rivers, and the fall is now so great that every little fresh washing over carries away at least two inches off the surface, and there is not at present more than six or seven feet of hard loam covered with drift, and one heavy flood may carry it all away. I don't think a dam there would be of any service. The better plan would bo to make a new channel for the river higher Up, and take tho pressure of tho stream off this very weak place. I would propose that tho bush should bo cleared sufficiently wide to cut a channel say 20 feet wide, and 7 feet deep, and about half-a-mile long from tho Six Mile Creek to the foot of the Big Sluico-box, and through this the river would rush with sufficient force to keep a clear channel at all times, and turn the water clear away from the weak place at the Orawaiti. The cutting could be easily made as it would be all through dead loam and gravel, and the expense would not be great. I shall bo glad at any timo to spend a few hours to show any ono frcm Westport tho exact place where I think this work Bhould bo dono. Yours, &c, Chatit,eß Christie. Bullcr River, July 19th, 1873.