WHIROKINO CUT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 228, 25 August 1945, Page 8

WHIROKINO CUT

GOOD EFFECTS SEEN. Improvements which are taking place in the Whirokiuo cut, at Foxton, were referred to in a report by the engineer (Mr H. I\. Farquhar) to the monthly meeting of the Manawatu-Oroua River Board yesterday. The report stated that the deepening and widening of the out, working from the downstream end, had reached the inlet, which had enlar; d at an accelerated rate during the last three months. The deepening of the river channel below the Whirokiuo bridge was proceeding. The engineer recommended that cross-sections of this length of the river up to Parekawau be taken so that records of the rate of deepening and widening, which would result from the action of the cut, would be available. The report also recommended that cross-sections of the old river channel above the Moutoa floodgates be taken so as to determine th erate of silting and also the advisability of closing the old river channel just below the entrance to the cut. Such action would result in no further silting taking place at the Moutoa floodgates. Furthermore, all tidal water in the river loop past Foxton would flow in and otlt by way of the old channel outlet which would keep open more readily. More water would he concentrated through the cut and would thus assist its development. ''The Lower Manawatu for six months has enjoyed, and will in the future increasingly enjoy, a drainage benefit due to the reduced low-water levels between Whirokiuo and the Shannon bridge as a result of the Whirokiuo cut." stated the report. "The first material benefit in flood-time was received during the 13ft flood of 62 hours on August 16-17. Tho flood levels were then generally 2ft below the lips of the spillways into Iho Moutoa. which area was, for the first time, not inundated by a 13ft flood. A longitudinal section of the present river channel by the route of the cuts has been prepared and the influence of the Whirokmo cut is very apparent."