ROAD EROSION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 63, 12 February 1936, Page 4

ROAD EROSION

DANGER FROM OROUA RIVER

Stating that in the event of another flood in the Orona River they would be unable to get out of their property on Bonexs’s Road, Awahuri, Messrs J. Avery and J. Giles waited on the Ma.na.watii County Council yesterday asking that the council do something to prevent further damage. Mr Avery explained to the council that there was already a bad washout on Boness’s Road, and erosion was still taking place in the Orona River. Up to the present the settlers had not done anything in the way of iirotectiou work, but if something was not done in the near future the whole of the Orona River . would change its course and come down through, private property along Awahuri Road. The chairman (Cr. IV. E. Barlier) said that the settlers would have to start by helping themselves. If they came along to the council with some money to spend on protection work the council would do it, but they could not expect the council to find the money for them. It was their properties that were affected, and .they would have to work on the same lines as the settlers in the lower reaches of the Manawatu River at Moutoa did. Mr Avery replied that the council was directly concerned in the fact that if the river came through the present Awahuri Road would be the bed of the Orona River. “In that case,” replied the chairman, “we would have to' take the road along the ridges.” For some time past, Cr. Barber continued, the council had been working on this matter and had had maps of tho locality prepared. This was all in tlie direction of helping the settlers, and the council was prepared to go further and instruct the engineer to take out levels, etc., on the banks of the river.

Mr Avery sn.id it would he very helpful to have the council do this, hut he would like the council to go further. The chairman : Do you want us to form a river board ?

Mr Avery: It looks as if that step mav he necessary.

Cr. I). W. Reid explained that the source of the damage was not only at the spot indicated by Mr Giles and Mr Avery, hut higher up the river. It would only need a small hank to stop tlie river from coming over now if it was taken in hand at once. Cr. R. A. Wilson : Tlie case does not appear to warrant forming a river hoard.

Cr. J. H. Perrett considered the council could take action in the way of calling a meeting of settlers and drawing their attention to tlie danger existing if they did not take action. Mr Avery: That is wlia.t we would like von to do.

Tlie chairman asked Mr Avery whether the landowners concerned had not aggravated the trouble by allowing the willows to grow in the Mangaono Stream and blocking it. Mr Avery replied that this was not the case in the present instance. The Orona. River had come right across •ountry from Kawakawa Rond and emptied into the Mangaone. and. it would do it again in the next flood and perhaps stay there. It was finally decided that the engineer should take out estimates of tlie cost of the work required, Mr Averv in the meantime to call a meeting of settlers concerned to discuss protective measures.