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Time after time, until enumeration has become difficult, attention has been called to the necessity for precautionary measures against the possible and probable breaking through of the Buller river into the Orawaiti channel. An event which would be fraught with consequences most disastrous to the port. With justifiable pride, Westportians may now boast that the Buller port is the best on the West Coast, the only one accessible in all weather.*, the only one where at all times of the year the water on the bar maintains an equable depth. Quite rece'ntly, while the Hokuika and Grey rivers were closed against the entry of any craft of greater tonnage than a decent sized coal barge, a telegram from West-port, conveyed the satisfactory intelligence that the St. Kilda, three-masted schooner from Melbourne, sailed in over the bar and found 21 feet of water. That fact has become known at every port in the colony, and the Australasian quotes it as an interesting item of New Zealand news. And yet who shall say how long so satisfactory a state of things may continue. Resting as it does on so slight a contingency. A sudden fresh in the river caused by the summer melting of the mountain snow, and at one swoop the frail sand barrier between the Buller river and the Orawaiti may be swept away, the chief river current diverted, and astonished Westportians find it possible at low tide to walk dry-shod across the bar they now loudly vaunt as no obstacle to shipping traffic. Where then would be the coal trade of the port for which in patient expectancy Westportians have waited so long, and for which the Colonial Government are makingelaborate preparations ? This is no new thing, no mere cry of alarmists hard up for topics just sufficiently sensational to attract attention, h is a plain sober fact that there is a constantly increasing danger of the main current of the Buller beingsuddenly diverted. It is a fact most palpable and it has been already clearly demonstrated that the remedy is easy of attainment and the expense light. The reports of the Provincial Engineer, as also of the special authority sent to inspect and report on the river and needed protective works, have given in elaborate detail the causes of the impending danger and the counteractive measures that should be taken. In proof of this brief quotation is only needed. Under date (3rd July, 1873, Mr H. P. fligginson, in his report to the Engineer-in-Cuief, on the river Buller at Westport as regards protection to the town and improvement to the navigation writes thus : first attention is undoubtedly the overflow - chauuel near the Snag Falls which conveys the flood water from the Buller into the Orawaiti. The recent flood left undoubted proof that a large body of water, some 10 chains in width, in places running 12 feet deep, had overflowed at this point. The dense bush growing there had formed the only barrier to the water. Large quantities of driftwood were piled up against the trees, forming a tolerably efficient dam. This held back the water to a great extent, retaining it in its proper channel. It will be seen from this, and a glance at the plan attached, that the river threatens to break through here ; in fact, should the bush be destroyed by accident, nothing could prevent the river dividing. The town of Westport would then be placed on a delta —a very dangerous position. ###**# At the overflow channel near the Snag Fall, I recommend that a substantial bank be constructed, extending completely across the low ground through which the flood-waters find their way. This can be built of soil taken from behind its position, and should be raised well above the highest flood-marks; the river slope should be flat, and protected by large river shingle over the whole surface. The best position for it would be behind the existing piles of driftwood, which, if left, would of themselves form a shield from the force of flood. It should be four or five chains back from the bank of the river, which should also at this point be sloped and covered with stone. This bank would not be under the influence of a strong current during floods, as being placed some distance back in the bush, the force of the stream is broken. When completed, this bank should be

planted with willows, as also the open ground between it and the river, on which the original bush has been destroyed. The main channel of the Buller appears to have loft this bank, and runs nearly in the centre. To encourage this, and if possible induce it to take the other side completely, I recommend that all snags on that (south) side, should be cross sawn, but those near the north bank left in their present position. I estimate the cost of these works as follows:—Constructing earth stop bank, £600; shingling the face, £530; planting willows, £3O ; sawing snags, £2O. Total, £llBO. This would be sufficient to check the threatened change in the course of 'the river, aud cannot be too quickly carried out." Nearly eighteen months have sped away since that report was written, and yet nothing has been done. It cannot be that the cost of the proposed work is an obstacle. Why then the delay, the reckless disregard of words of warning ? Recent reliable reports tell that even the slightest fresh now makes very evident encroachment.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WEST18741110.2.8

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1227, 10 November 1874, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
912

Untitled Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1227, 10 November 1874, Page 2

Untitled Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1227, 10 November 1874, Page 2

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