THE TUTAEKURI

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 250, 5 October 1932, Page 7

THE TUTAEKURI

YESTERDAY’S INSPECTION.

BIVERS BOARD SECURES USEFUL DATA. Yesterday afternoon members of the Hawke’s Bay Rivers Board inspected the overflow of the Tutaekuri river from the Waitangi up to Brookfields bridge. It was noticed that the channel in several places was showing a tendency to scour and, as the.result of the recent fresh, had widened considerably at different places. A considerable area along the channel at the

.uegums has been covered with silt to a varying depth up to 12 inches. The low-lying area to the south of the channel received no deposit whatever. Immediately off the end of the south bank considerable silting had taken place with good results and some members were of the opinion that instead of continuing the south bank to Waitangi immediately it would be an advantage to extend it by short sections following two or three floods. By this means the flood waters would be confined until areas requiring siltation were reached.

The inspection showed that the only siltation of any value occurred where the flood water had a direct flow over the land. It was also the opinion of some of the members • that side channels should be cut direct from the main overflow channel, leading across to the low-lying areas some distance south of the main channel. Such cuts, it was thought, would have the effect of considerably raising much of this area, which at present is somewhat difficult to farm largely owing to its liability to flooding. Should the south bank be extended by short sections as suggested the board would be faced with a certain amount of compensation payments to owners who suffer flood damages. Despite this, it would appear that the principle of extending the bank by sections contains merit and concerns a policy which the board will be obliged in the near future to determine. The current in the channel was flowing at a surprising velocity, which discounts suggestions that the fall is insufficient for silt-bearing purposes. At the Brookfields bridge a considerable amount of scour in the sides of the channel was noticed, while large banks of spoil recently thrown out of the channel during the work of excavation had been carried away. Several members expressed the opinion that the bridge should be raised by at least 3ft. and extended in length by two additional spans so that the structure should not in any way restrict the flow of the water.

As a result of the inspection members are now better conversant with the position and it should assist the board in coming to a decision concerning banking below the Brookficlds bridge.