Major River Floods Come In Cycles

Chronicle (Levin), 9 July 1949, Page 3

Major River Floods Come In Cycles

Floods do not just obcur willynilly. There is a definite rhyme and reason behind them. The- most extensive' river flood recorded in the ManawatU occurred in T902 and, from figures drawn up by the Manawatu Catchment Board ih calculating the flow of the Manawatu River for its major flood protection scheme, the board's engineers have estimated that major floods in the district occur on an average of once in about every 75 years. Accordingly, the next major flood in the Manawatu will be due somewhere about 1977. At the meeting of the Shannon branch of Federated Farmers on Wednesday night, Mr. P. G. Evans, chief engineer to the Manawatu Catchment Board, stated that it had been estimated through an analysis of recorded river flow figures throughout the world that there was some rhyme and reason about floods? It could now be predicted tp.within a reasbnable degree of, accuracy how often theManawatu River would carry a flow equal to the . 1902 flood. This was not more than once in 75 years and by the time the next major flood occurred it was hoped that the catchment b6afd£ flood control

scheme would be completed. The 'board's engineering staff had now calculated the figure on which to design the scheme and the designs would be prepared. Mr. Evans added that although the most extensive flood occurred in 1902,- the highest flood- peak in the Manawatu' occurred ' in 1880} •when the district wSs still -well cbvered in virgiri bush. This tended to indicate -that flooding was ri^ot always due to the cutting dowri "of the bush. • ' 1 •- Works Wonders for Coughs, Colds — Woods' Great Peppermint Cure W. E. WO(XDS, Ltd„ Lambton Quay., Wgtn.