THE FLOOD MENACE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20013, 2 December 1927, Page 6

THE FLOOD MENACE

WANGANUI EAST TROUBLES. SOON SHOULD BE BANISHED The residential area of Wanganui East, which of late years has been subject to continual flooding, is shortly to lose its Venetian atmosphere, the city authorities having already taken in hand a definite scheme which will overcome the trouble. Air N. Annabell, in conversation with a “Chronicle” man yesterday, mentioned that originally he pointed out that improvements could be effected by clearing, straightening and deepening the course of the Matarawa Stream through Wanganui East, but he had been most emphatic on the point that it would be disastrous to clear the creek above the city boundary, as this would only allow more water to come down into the lower reaches, which would not be able to cope with the increased supply. At the present time the blocked stream was acting as a dam above the flooded area, and was holding the water back to a certain extent. He said that he had advocated all along a scheme to open up the original course of the Matarawa Stream, through Gordon Park to the Mateongaonga Stream. This, he considered, was the most practicable way of preventing future flooding. Two other schemes had been advocated: (1) to dig an overflow channel; (2) to dig a new channel.