WAIPAOA RIVER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3994, 26 July 1913, Page 9

WAIPAOA RIVER.

THE SAND BAR AT ITS MOUTH

REPORT BY THE COUNTY ENGINEER. •

Reports that a big sand bank had blocked up the mouth of .the Big River has been causing settlers on the flats some uneasiness during tlie past few months. A month ago, at the request of Mr G:. Witters, a member of the River Board, and member for the Gisborne Riding, the Cook County Council decided to allow Mr deG. Fraser, the Engineer, to inspect the mouth of the river and furnish a report as to its condition. Mr Fraser submitted his report to the Ooolc County Council yesterday, and it read as follows:

“I have to report that I visited the site on the lOtli inst. Mr Hill (a resident of the locality for many years) kindly furnished me with valuable information, which, together with personal observations, enabled me to form an opinion: as to cause and effects regarding the silting up and encroachments at the mouth of the Waipaoa river.

“Between Pakirilciri and the fisheiman’s whare the river has encroached about five chains, and is now running within two chains of the surveyed road opposite Mr Wall’s house. ... deep channel is silting up lor nuii.y chains above the point where the river formerly joined the sea, its course now running by Wall’s house nearly southeast, then suddenly turning northeast to the ocean, where a 'oar is formed across the mouth. A huge sandspit has run out from Oelow the old ferry site on the left bank a distance of perhaps 30 chains in a southeasterly direction, and another spit has been formed running up ’io meet it from the south side of the river’s outlet.

The cause of the diversion of the river’s course is due to the small volume of water in the Waipaoa duiing the past six months, toeing lor cod westward's (or towards the right oank) by easterly and north-easterly seas, the spits forming as the. river receded. It is, in my opinion, pretty .certain that if fine weather continues, the road near Wall’s must be washed away, and a possibility of portion at least of the river waters finding their way into the Pakowhai lagoons. On the day of mv visit the weather was fine, with a light breeze from the north-west (the most favorable), but the bank next to the road was at high tide rapidly falling in, being pure sand and about 3ft high. Should a north-east or easterly gale oceu; without rain the erosion will ho infinitely greater, and possibly one tide would be sufficient to obliterate portion of the coast road. As regards the effects of the sandspits to fiood waters and the possibility of increased damage over flooded areas, I do not think that settlers need be under any apprehension, as it is practically certain that should a flood occur the spits would be washed away entirely during the first 8 hours of heavy rain, and the mouth of the river be in its normal condition long before the flood waters could top the banks, as on no occasion that I am aware of have serious floods occurred within 24 hours of the river rising, even when snow has fallen inland.

“As regards any means to be adopted to stop the erosion taking place, it will }»ve to be left to Nature; the first heavy flood will probably alter the entire aspect, and much of the area now washed away will without doubt silt up again. “The road portion likely to be effected is little used, and if necessary, could be deviated, provided the rivci keeps along the coast line. “The Council has been well advised n i in diverting the main road to Pakowhai. I append herewith a sketch showing portion of the river encroachments and sandpits formed.” Cr Witters stated that he was well pleased with the report. Clpuncdllors expresed the opinion that they were averse to anv money being spent at the mouth of the river, and pointed out that the Council had now an inland road, which rendered it unnecessary to go to the expense of protecting the beach road.