WILLOWS IN RIVER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 112, 8 April 1930, Page 9

WILLOWS IN RIVER.

OBSTRUCTING SHIPPING. REMOVAL OF TROUBLE. With a view to obviating any further menace to the river fairway, through willows along the bank just below Robinson’s Bend slipping into the stream, the Foxtou Harbour Board has had Mr J. Joseph engaged in anchoring the trees to the bank during the week. In a report to the board this morning the secretary stated that the willows which slipped into the river some time ago had also been anchored to the shore to prevent them from moving down stream and possibly blocking the channel.' It was anticipated that this obstruction would swing into the bank with the first fresh in the river. An attempt was made to shift it with the s.s. Maidi recently, but it was found impossible to move any portion of the clump. There was deep water all around it and in its present position it did not present a menace to shipping. The only dahger lay in the fact that the willows might break away and become stranded on the bad bank below Robinson’s No. 1 beacon. Mr Joseph, who had had considerable experience in salvage work, expressed the opinion that although it was found impossible to haul the willows out of the river by the steamboat, punts would probably raise the obstruction sufficiently to allow it to be towed to a place of safety. The lift of a punt was estimated at about forty tons, and two punts tied to the willows at low tid£ should be able to lift them quite easily with the rising of the tide. After examining the river bank in the locality of the slip Mr Joseph had said it appeared quite feasible that the slip had been caused by the recent earthquake. The report was adopted.