Tutaekuri River

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 143, 2 June 1936, Page 7

Tutaekuri River

CLOSING THE GAP Working to Finalise Diversion Scheme ONE JOB TO COMPLETE Providing the line weather holds, there is every prwpect of the water* of the Tntaekuri River being diverted through the now channel at Waitangi to-morrow afternoon, or on Thursday morning. When this is done the final stage of a job that has been in progress for over two years will be completed, and the Tutaekurt River will find its way to the sea through an entirely new course. At lunch time to-day the gap in tn* bank of the existing river course vias CO feet Hide and the water in parts was 10 feet deep. It is upon this point that the gang of men are concentrating, for tho work has now developed into a race against time and bad weather. The filling-in of this 60-foot gap represent* no light problem, for as the gap is made smaller the current of the river beecmes stronger until that stage is reached when tho rush of water through the gap will wash away the spoil as it is dumped. Then the gangs ef men will tip back the spoil into the gap, working with all speed so that the final elosing of the old channel will be effected before the river water undoes th* good work put in during the past week. The new channel is all ready to reeeiv* th* water, th* banks on either •id* having been completed. The diverting of the water will bo a gradual process, for as the existing gap become* smaller the water will trickle through the new course, gradually increasing in volume as the gap Is made smaller. When it is completely closed, the new eoune will be scoured deeper and Nature will complete what man has begun. Members of the Government commit appointed to inquire to certain matters assessing the Hawke’s Bay Rivers district made a tour of inspee tion of the work this morning, and were given an insight into the Tutaehuri diversion scheme, which I* considered to be one of the solutions to the flood problem whieh has beset this district for so many years.