SERIOUS EROSION

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 119, 16 April 1930, Page 11

SERIOUS EROSION

COMMUNICATIONS' THREATENED. ROAD WASHED AWAY. INSPECTION OF FLOOD AREA. The serious flood menace created through the erosion by the Manawatu river at Hamilton’s Line, south of Tiakitahuria, has caused widespread concern, as an accentuation of the position will result in all communications between Foxton and Palmerston North. being severed, as well as considerable damage to the rich farmlands in the vicinity. To-day, the Minister of Public Works (Hon. E. A. Ransom) arranged to tour the board’s area and go into the dangerous position that has arieen. An official inspection of the threatened area was also made on Monday by Mr A. R. Acheson, assistant engineer. Public Works Department, stationed at Palmerston North, and Mr F. C. Hay, the Manawatu-Oroua River Board engineer. The most serious aspect is the considerable erosion that nas taken place at this particular point, where the river has, since the last flood, perceptibly altered its course. During the last few years over 60 acres of firstclass dairying land have been washed away, and adjacent settlers are viewing the position with the greatest concern. The damage is by no means confined to properties adjoining the banks. In fact, were it not for the erosion these lands would actually benefit through the deposit of silt, provided adequate auxiliary fodder and a piece of high land were available for stock during the period of flooding. Those most seriously affected by the flood menace are situated within a wide, natural basin, where drainage in flood time is impossible. The recent floods in the 'lower areas furnished evidence of this, when hundreds of acres were inundated for a considerable period. Beef and dairy cattle had to be removed to places of safety, .and in the process farmers lost heavily by an interruption in the fattening and in the reduced supply of milk. Further, the effect of the hot sun that followed the flood was to “stew” the grass, so thot the inundated paddocks will have to ho resown.

Before the January flood, the river ran alongside Hamilton’s Line, but when inspected on Monday >at least four chains of the road had been eaten away and the erosion had extended a chain into the country on the other , side. At a lower point a similar inroad injo the adjoining country has . also been made, there being a point between the two bays which, the engineers considered, would shortly erode under the pressure of flood waters. At least half of one farm at this point ! has disappeared, and the trend of ■'lie river is suggestive of further land be- , ing w.ashed away. Oil the inside sweep of the river a shingle bank is , forming. The effect of this, it is considered, will be to accentuate the erosion, and it is possible that in the course of the next ten years the line of the river will be completely altered. The Manawatu-Oroua River Board’s comprehensive scheme of flood control, which has been reviewed at length in these columns during the past three or , four years, is considered by many to he the real solution of the difficulty. It is pointed out that the erosion at Hamilton’s Line is only one point of many where the river is attacking and . threatening farmlands on its banks. The curing of one of these points, though it might effect relief in the immediate vicinity, might quite possibly increase the danger at some point lower down the river. The only remedy seems to be to tackle the whole problem on the comprehensive lines adopted by the board, is the view tx- , pressed. Besides the interests of the actual i owners of property, there aro other . issues arising from the flooding, notably the affecting of road and ‘ rail i transport. With the river in flood ■ the highways from Wellington to Wanganui, Wellington to Jt*almerston North, Palmerston North to . Foxton, and Foxton to Shannon are ,at times rendered impassable, and the Main Trunk Line to Palmerston North, and the Palmerston NorthFoxton line are affected in big floods for at least two weeks a year. Though the principal loss is inconvenience through the Iflockage, material damage is also caused to the formation of the roads and railways. Power and telegraph lines are, in a lesser degree, subject to interruption, and the prospect of these services being cut off always arises in time of heavy floods. It was pointed out to a “Standard” representative that the advantages of carrying out the scheme were manifold. They included not only the protection of the lands from flooding, with a consequent increase in production, but also enabled lines of communication to be stabilised, and permit other better and shorter routes being adopted. The control of the river would permit the improvement of 70,000 acres of some of the richest land in the district, a great deal of which is now producing very little but blackberry and rubbish. When protected, this land will, it ’s stated, be subdivided into 50-acre farms each supporting a family, and adding thereby to the prosperity of Palmerston North and the Manawatu. It is estimated that the increase in population due to closer settlement should the scheme be carried into effect would be 3600. , As an Instance of what will be done when the project is accomplished atrip through the Makerua district, portion of which is in the ManawatuOroua Board’s district, and which has beep protected from floods, will, the pressman was informed, show that settlement is proceeding apace, and that what was a few years ago rough swamp land is now rapidly becoming improved and dotted with well-stocked dairy farms. However, the cost of the big scheme is such that it is beyond the capacity of the lands benefited to bear, and it is the hope of the board that the Government will come to the assistance of the district and make a £1 for £1 subsidy toward the cost. A commission appointed by the Reform Government in 1926, after a careful investigation of the economic and engineering features, recommended that, because of the national. interest and the indirect benefit to the Government, it would be good busiiless' for the Government to subsidise up to practically £1 for £1 the cost of the undertaking. As yet no promise of a contribution has been given by either Government, but the board lias not yet given up hope, as is instanced by the tenor of recent discussions at board meetings. It is considered that sooner or later the scheme will so impress the Government of the necessity for immediate action that the subsidy will be forthcoming. '