Catchment Board Reviews Recent Flood

Chronicle (Levin), 19 August 1949, Page 3

Catchment Board Reviews Recent Flood

; According. to several settlers, the flood on August 10 was the highest for over 30 years.* The peak was exceptionally high. At a recent meeting of the Manawatu Catchment Board, Mr. P. G. Evans, chief engineer, said that the, level reached by the rising water iri the lower Manawatu area had been dangerously high. Luckily, however, the hanks had been constructed of excellent material, but were unfortunately not up tp the required stfenguh for safety. With such a high water level a sudden dangerous collapse was always liable to occur. ■ Commenting on ' the Makerua area, Mr. s. W. Barber stressed' the necessity fqr' overhauling ,'the stdpbanks. "If • a lot of waten gojb inthere it would take a good deal -of; getting oiit," h'e said. ♦ ' "The people wou d also have' 'a. hard job' getting their stock out." Mr. William McKay, chairman, said the board. had. been. agitatirig for a subsidy for this work for some time. ' The near escape it had had during the last flood would strengthen the case. • Continuing his report, Mr.' Evans said that due to the works carried out in recent years iri the lower Manawatu area, and in particular ao the Whirokino Cut, the " flood gradient had been altered and the master grade previously fixed was no longer applicable. Mr. Evans recommended that the original grade be revived and the spillways adjusted to the existing gradient so that two feet of water were flowing over the spiTwa'yis when the river rose to 2'6 feet at the Sl/'.nnon Bridge. Mr. Evans said it was not yet possible to assess fully the extent of the erosion done by the flood and the previous wet conditions. On the Mangahao and Mangatainoka Rivers there had been other floods during the winter, which had been greater than the one on August 9 and 10 so that damage to protective works had been cumulative over 'several months.