Trouble May Recur: Views Of Harbourmaster

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 September 1947, Page 7

Trouble May Recur: Views Of Harbourmaster

“With a big flood last night Hokitika would have experienced a major disaster,” said the Hokitika harbourmaster, Mr G. Howe, in an interview with an Evening Star reporter this morning. “As it was, there was practically no flood water in the river and the result was bad enough.”

The whole trouble, added Mr Howe, was the drift of sand from the south, creating the bank at the mouth of the river and thus preventing the water from getting away. Since the south training wall had been washed away, there had been nothing to stop the sea from washing right into the mouth of the river, swinging the entrance away to the north and blocking the direct outlet. Southerly Drift

The trouble would recur, in spite of temporary .expedients, unless something was done to stop the southerly drift into the mouth of the river, stated Mr Howe.

“The Hokitika river, when it floods, is a big river,” he said. “If a big spring flood should occur under similar conditions, there is no knowing what would happen. There is more than a chance that the river would break through the. weak part of the northern wall (already undermined) and take a big portion of, the town with it. There is also the additional risk that with the river continually edging north, the town area will be more and more exposed to sea erosion.” A moderate flood within the next few days would probably correct the position, as it would breach the sandbank but if it does not eventuate, there is every chance that there will be a new threat to the town, according to Mr Howe. This morning the river outlet was well to the north of the direct line of outlet and most of the sandbank was still in existence, the breach at 3 o’clock this morning merely being a breaking away of the northern end or the bank. High seas were running today, but the sand bank, over a chain wide and up to 15 feet in height was still very much in evidence. Proposed Remedy “The south wall has to go out to make the position secure,” said Mr Howe. “Nothing else will stop the continual swing of the river to the north, with the attendant risks.” Mr Howe pointed out that when the river reached its record level of 16 feet 6 inches above normal, early this morning, it was almost level with Revell street, one of the higher protions of the business area and if there had not been a sudden release of the pent-up waters the flooding in the town must have become very much more serious.