The Fielding Star. Published Daily. SATURDAY, APRIL 7, 1894. A NOTE OF WARNING.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 282, 7 April 1894, Page 2

The Fielding Star. Published Daily. SATURDAY, APRIL 7, 1894. A NOTE OF WARNING.

We do not at all wish to pose as alarmists, but we would like to point out to the powers that be the Kiwitea and Rangitikei Councils, the Kiwitea and Manchester Road Boards, and, we believe, the Halcombe Town Board has something to do with the matter — the necessity of something being done to stop the encroachments of the Kangitikei viver on the Manchester side of the Onepuhi Bridge. The flood in the liver previous to that which occurred on Monday last, washed a very considerable portion of the embankment and the protective works. The water is now within a few feet of a dip in the ground which, apparently, was at one time the principal course of the river. Once the river breads through this embankment its course will be through what is now used as a road between the two bridges. Therefore the said bridges will be there as ornaments instead of for use. We have been informed that such is the case with a certain river and bridge in the Hawke's Bay district. Now, as we previously stated, we do not wish to be alarmists in this matter, but seeing that the local bodies in our own immediate district are concerned, we consider it to be our duty to raise this note of warning. At the present time the Rangitikei Council has charge of the bridge and its protective works. When our representative passed that way on Tuesday last there were only two men employed at the work. We think that in a matter of such manifest importance as this the Engineers and overseers of the several local bodies interested should bo consulted and steps then taken to obviate any possibility of damage before the winter sets in. An estimate should at once be obtained of the probable cost of cutting a channel through the silt which has been thrown up above the bridge so as to again divert the course of the river under the centre portion of the structure. No time should be lost, for if the river breaks through this embankment the cost to the local bodies indicated may be very considerable.