EROSION PROBLEM

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 38, 14 February 1945, Page 6

EROSION PROBLEM

DAMAGE AT HOKITIKA SUBSIDENCE ON WATERFRONT 0.C.. ;■ GREYMOUTH,.; Tuesday. In -view of the serious- erosion possibilities at Hokitika because of the erratic course now followed by the Hokitika River," it is hoped that early steps will be taken by the Government to arrest the river's course and reconstruct the watera main portion of. which has subsided into the river. :Ah .inspection .has been made of the damage by the district engineer of the Works Department, Mr... E. F. Evans, who has submitted a: report to Wellington-. Borough Council workmen have been engaged in attempting to prevent further erosion and deterioration of the wharf, but in spite of supporting wires a section in the vicinity of the box factory has collapsed. The river is now edging into Gibson Quay and should further inroads take place may surge straight across Wharf Street to the sea, isolating the southern portion of the town, which contains numerous business premises. . It will be a major problem to satisfactorily solve the erosion problem, and without restoring the wharf to its former state the cost will run into several thousand pounds. . • There have been unusual changes in the foreshore along the West Coast during the. past few months . which are difficult to explain, but it is apparent that the varying weather, with two recent floods, has left its mark.