COBRESPOfJDENCE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11645, 24 August 1905, Page 7

COBRESPOfJDENCE.

The Bridge.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — I suppose Mr Watson clearly understands what it is that he propot.es to do to remove the bank outside the upper end of the reclamation, though he docs not seem to have the faculty of making his ideas intelligible to other people. So far as I can gather, he proposes to dredge a channel at the upper end of the bank, and construct a, wall outside that channel and parallel to the face of the reclamation. Such a wall would doubtless have to some extent the effect which lie desires; biit it would have to be very strongly constructed, so as to enable it to withstand the force of the mid-current, and resist the impact of drift logs. Moreover, it would be a serious impediment to the navigation, and though it might have some effect in romoving the present bank, it would cause a similar one to form behind itself. Mr Watson seems to think that Uatrick's steamers arc the cause of the bank, but very litlc of it is due to tliem, for it was there long before the steamers plied in the river. It arises naturally from the bend of the river at that point and the reclamation is constructed on it, as aiiy of the old settlers would tell him. Wherever there is a bend in' a river or stream, a bank always forms just below the conves side, and that is simply what has occurred there. But, as I have said before, the removal of the bank woiild not protect the bridge from the action of the higher floods which ' will certainly occur in tin not distant future, and for which preparation should' be made — Yours, etc., H. C. FIELD.