Correspondence

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 142, 17 June 1941, Page 4

Correspondence

The Menace of the River (To tbo Editor.) Sir, —I was very interested in your recent leader regarding the recent flooding of our province and I was surprised that more attention has not been given to the topic you raise of the damage done by a flood which was only & half of that occurring in 1902. I think that the alarming feature is due to the changing bed of the river just above the city boundary where the river describes a wide curve, almost completing a circle which it extends considerably every flood. The inner bank is a gravel bed 'which is being built up at a rapid rate and with lupins growing on top it now prevents the flood water crossing over and compels it to back up and come overland in the Te Matai area and down the Napier Road. It seems to me that the City Council must do something to reduce this gravel bed or take steps to move the city gasworks to a safer locality. The gravel bed I mention was raised six feet at one point during the last flood, and I belie'.« that quite a small flood will now bring the river out of its bed again.—l am, | etc., RIVER RAMBLER.