THE WAIMAKARIRI

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17856, 31 August 1923, Page 8

THE WAIMAKARIRI

NEW MOUTH INSPECTED.

The uneasiness with which Christehurch regards the Waimakann, river is to some extent accounted for by the river's unstable habits as far as its bed is concerned. Many and varied are the courses along which the Waimakariri has been reported to flow, and its latest departure is the finding or a fresh outlet to the sea. about a quarter of a mile from Kairaki beach. Just after the recent heavy floods, and exceptional period of high tides and heavy seas was experienced right along tho coast, and in this particular spot, where onlv a few yards of sand separated the sea from the river, the waves bSL through, and the river to-JJ" transformed tue spot where tho waters met into a now outlet The depth of tho water at the north spit to-day. js in the viciiuty of nine feet on the river side but on the bar which is rapidly rotming across the new mouh **» deptU is onlv a foot or so. lhe old mouth is about two and a half miles from the present break in the direction of bumner and New Brighton, and the out et to this branch is reported to be rapidly closino- up. Should the old mouth actually" become closed, a lagoon, some two and a half miles in length, will be formed between tho old and the new outlets, this, in time becoming filled up as tho river deposits its freight of silt and sand, thus being transformed into an additional stretch of old riverbed. L . The contention at present is, aowever, that the new outlet of the. Waimakarin is already beginning to work us way towards the south. Since the break it is already reported to have worked its way a. couple of hundred yards towards the old mouth, and if the fine weather continues it is held that it will continue to do bo. Yesterday, the following members of tho Waimakariri River 'trust paid a visit of inspection to. the new mouth: Messrs J. Wood (chairman), C. H. Opio, W. P. Spencer J. Leslie, R. O. Dixon, F. G. Horreli, A. Manhice, J. H. Blackwell, and the Trust's overseer. Mr T. Jeal. Members of the Trust were met at Kaiapoi by the Mayor, Mr H.. Mcintosh, who accompanied the party, which proceeded to the new river mouth by launch. An excellent view of th«» breach was obtained. The tide, at the time the party reached the mouth, was almost at its lowest ebb, and a very strong flow could be seen making its way via the now; course, out to sea. There was ample opportunity to turn the large launch almost within the new mouth itself, and the depth appeared sufficient to float a vessel of considerably greater dimensions. Members of the Trust emphasised the importance of the river having a clear run out to sea. They stated that, with a good fresh, the new mouth would be sufficiently 6coured out to ensure its permanency, and, when tho water was able to take a straight course it wojilrl to a great extent eliminate the possibilities of banking up, which proved So disastrous to land in the vicinity of the upper reacnon of the fiver. On the conclusion of the inspection of tho river mouth the members of the Trust went up the river to inspect several reported washouts in the vicinity of Kaiapoi.